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Light NHTSA footprint — 19 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2006 Saturn Relay has 19 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 4 complaints, typically surfacing around 131,350 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Relay | 91 | 3 |
| 2006 Relay (this page) | 19 | 2 |
| 2007 Relay | 12 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
AWD disabled when needed in snow. It seems to be caused by icy slush. I confirmed with the dealer that the hub assembly's AWD sensor can get covered up with mud or slush and the AWD system will disable. Any AWD system that gets disabled by slush is ludicrously designed, and…
I started getting "service traction control system" warning message and light with "service ABS system" warning message and light and "service stability system". All are always at the same time. Shutting off the engine and restarting (per owners manual) temporarily causes the…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Saturn relay. The contact stated that the driver's side door repeatedly opens and closes. She has taken the vehicle to the dealer more than four times within two months to have the door repaired. The dealer has seen many of the same vehicles with…
2006 Saturn van is designed with the characteristic of running out of fuel when operating on an incline (nose up or nose down), with a 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. After this occurred the 2nd time I complained to the dealership and asked them to repair. They stated they were…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Saturn Relay is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2006 Saturn Relay does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 4 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 131,350 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 19 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 131,350 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 4 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 131,350 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 131,350 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 19 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.