The 2005 draws 2.67 complaints per run and the 2007 1, a 2.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age, so 49.5% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 36 complaints, typically at 4 years.
Saturn Relay years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | yes | |
| 2006 | 19 | 14 | yes | |
| 2005 | 72 | 27 | yes |
Among the 3 Saturn Relay years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2005, 2006, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2007, 2006, 2005.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 19.6% | covered | |
| 1 year | 37.1% | covered | |
| 2 years | 50.5% | covered | |
| 3 years | 58.8% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 63.9% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 70.1% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 74.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 80.4% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 87.6% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 93.8% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 95.9% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 97.9% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 99% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 50.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 49.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for few of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Saturn Relay, the early trouble is Service Brakes and Hydraulic — reported at around 4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 5.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 5.4 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 2.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 1.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | 3.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1.6 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Relay's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Sienna draws 6.57, the Honda Odyssey 7.17 and the Kia Carnival 2.83, against 2.02 for the Relay. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Relay | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna | 165 | 1995–2026 | |
| Honda Odyssey | 206 | 1995–2026 | |
| Kia Carnival | 16 | 2022–2026 | |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 98 | 2004–2026 | |
| Chrysler Town and Country | 174 | 1990–2016 | |
| Kia Sedona | 70 | 2001–2021 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Saturn Relay reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.02 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Relay years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2005, 2006, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2007, 2006, 2005. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Relay problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 4 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover Relay problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and 50.5% of reported failures fall inside it.
Is the Relay more reliable than the Toyota Sienna?
Yes: 2.02 complaints per production run for the Relay against 6.57 for the Toyota Sienna.
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