2005 Saturn Relay Consumer Reviews

Bought this with 117000 miles on it September of 2014. I was not sure of this when the wife picked it out. Turned out to be old reliable. Comfortable travelling vehicle, like a tank in the snow for being front wheel drive only. At 212000 miles only uses a quart of oil every 1500 miles.

We told our Saturn dealer years ago that we'd try a Minivan when they built one. We knew it was in the GM pipeline because of the Chevy Venture in their Minivan line. Traded a '98 Plymouth Grand Voyager in on it. Saturn turned out to be better, even though GVW was higher and size of vehicle slightly larger, as I remember. Only performance downside is that cruise control downshifts to climb hill on way home with Relay and the Voyager didn't (3.0 liter vs 3.8 liter). Gas mileage (for me) much better. I get over 20+ around town, and had one leg of a road trip with High Average Speed where my MPG was 28.3 with an avg speed of 64.5 mph! (100% gasoline, though, not ethanol blend). As a whole, family has liked Saturns, and wish GM hadn't dropped the Badge. One absolute downside is the way that the wheel sensors go out, have replaced 2 lefts and 1 right, with 55,000 miles on it. Another fail was that about 7.5 years in, the rear seat DVD-Entertainment center has electronic dementia. Turns on by itself, randomly, and will not play CD's or DVD's now.

I've owned my Relay for several years now and gotten to know most of the "bells & whistles" pretty well! The rear doors wont close half the time, but I've come to find out all I have to do is scrub the sensors with steel wool and the dinging stops! The ABS light will not go off; Even after the sensors have been replaced on three different occasions! These things drive my daughter wild, but I've just come to accept them as part of the personality of the Relay. Good things about it are we've never had any trouble from the engine or transmission. Runs like a top! Never have any trouble starting it, even in the coldest weather! Handles good on slick WV roads!

I bought it new with every accessory, back up sensors, DVD, leather and heated seats. The worst first. 65,000 miles right after warranty expired GM said it needed new front bearings and tie-rod ends at an outrageous price but they would guarantee them forever. I'm on my 3rd set.. ABS and traction lights still on. This is a sensor issue I got tired of replacing them $200 a pop. Transmission filter or modular got plugged once, I took it back several times while under warranty for the power doors. I now clean the contacts and grease the tracks. 140,000 miles and the rear seal is leaking a little. Minor issues are remotes didn't last long and one heated seat quit working but the plus is; if the rear seal doesn't get worse I'll drive it another 100,000.

Owned this van for six years. Has been great. No real issues. Only problems are heated seats never really worked and remotes went bad

Easy driving car, a little long for tight spots.

continual problems with electrical system, ABS system, sliding doors

The vehicle has been great to drive on trips. The DVD system works great, the seats are very comfortable. The handling on the road at high speed was incredible for a minivan. I was impressed with the handling. Cheaper than a Honda Odyssey. The one power door has trouble with the slide so it makes a little noise. The AC had a small o ring leak. One of the electric modules had to be replaced but we had an extended warranty. My daughter now uses it for her Nanny job. I heard about the AC problems for that year but we never had the problem. We recommended the van to my Brother in law and he had the AC problems on his Saturn Relay and traded it in. It would be nice to disconnect the power doors to manual like the Chrysler Town and Country does.