2005 Saturn Relay 3 review from North America

Day 1 - body side molding peeling off along with drivers side sill plate. Salesperson notes this on sales paperwork.

9/13/05, 279 miles:

1. Body side molding peeling off again.

2. Defect drivers side arm rest.

3. Passenger slider not working properly (they found no power to scan tool and a short from the fuse block to datalink (Onstar) replaced right slider door motor and latch).

4. Sill plate that holds down carpet loose (same as when car was picked up).

5. Outside temperature display not working properly (they said there was no power to the instrument cluster - removed and replaced).

6. Headlights dim when DVD player is on (they said it is performing as designed).

9/13/05, 308 miles:

1. Check engine light is on (they found evap can vent leak and fuse hanging out of the fuse box, causing intermittent connection).

2. Remote start not working (this was due to the above).

10/3/05, 757 miles:

1. Passenger power sliding door harder to shut than drivers side. Would not shut automatically with remote (found RPSD module had internal fault and was bad.. removed and replaced).

2. Headlights dimming when DVD player running (second complaint) (they stated they tested all Relays on the lot and that they all did the same thing due to voltage variation and was a 'characteristic of the Relay'..'car performing per design').

3. SES light is on (found sensor reading out of range).

10/24/05, 1300 miles:

Passenger side sliding door keeps bouncing back open, and when it shuts the motor keeps running and then bounces back open again. Happens with drivers door, but not as often (found replaced the upper unlock actuator and module.

10/28/05, 1523 miles:

Passenger door in-operable (checked door plunger connections and alignment, found OK, calibrated PSD module).

1/17/06, 4600 miles:

1. Radio fades in and out on all stations especially when cold (unable to verify).

2. Fake wood molding around the radio peeling off (removed and replaced).

3. Fake wood trim on passenger side armrest pulling off (removed and replaced).

4. Car shimmies in the front end over bumps (unable to verify).

5. Wind noise while on the highway (unable to verify).

6. Drivers side sliding door hard to open manually (unable to verify).

1/19/06, 4979 miles:

1. Headlights and interior lights dimming (removed and replaced he alternator).

2. Rear sliders sticking and not working properly (found you have to moved the doors 3 to 5" before they start to open). Replaced all power door modules, adjusted strikers, both door pads, plungers, detent, and latch.

3. Radio fading in and out (replaced radio).

1/24/06, 5021 miles:

Radio controls on steering wheel not working as well as satellite radio (reprogrammed radio controls).

2/8/06, 5561 miles:

1. Drives side slider bounced back open a few times (unable to verify).

2. Chime for "open slider" going off when doors are closed (unable to verify).

#%$%&^&^*&%^* (&^%^#$@$@#^#$@%&&

8/7/09, 11251 miles:

Drivers seat collapsed (ordered new seat pad).

9/7/06, 12615 miles:

1. Installed failing front seat pad.

2. Thumping noise in front end (unable to verify).

3. Plastic roof rail pieces popping up (removed and replaced).

10/10/06, 13309 miles:

Thumping and/or rattling noise front end (found noise from front sway bar links - replaced links - found some noise from the left front power door seal, applied silicone to all seals).

12/26/06, 15457 miles:

Replaced more side door moldings.

1/31/07, 15980 miles:

Drivers side window is down and won't go back up (found window off the track and regulator broken).

2/26/07, 16844 miles:

Remote not working (unable to verify, but reprogrammed them).

5/7/07, 18467 miles:

Horn not working (removed and replaced horn/airbag assembly).

7/17/07, 20100 miles:

1. Replaced molding on front door and left rear.

2. Rubber weatherstripping on back of both sliding doors peeling off (removed and replaced right side strip).

3. Grille on front of the car loose (removed and replaced).

4. Drivers inner door panel loose (clips broken replaced them).

5. Drivers side door molding peeling off... again (removed and replaced).

6. Drivers side power slider won't open with remote (found remote bad).

7. High mount brake light lens cracked (removed and replaced).

11/19/07, 23985 miles:

1. Brake pulsates at highway speeds (front rotors and pads gone).

2. Drivers side inner door panel loose again (replaced panel push pins).

3. Headlights on when stepping on the brake, the interior lights flicker (bulletin replaced generator voltage regulator).

11/26/07, 24105 miles:

1. Heater is blowing cold air when starting with remote starter - car not warm (Unable to verify, but found 8 calibrations for HVAC control needed).

2. Drivers side door handle trim loose (replaced handle bezel).

1/24/08, 25251 miles:

Front end clunking noise mostly while braking and over bumps (inspected, found no problem).

5/13/08, 27881 miles:

1. Both sliding doors kicking back open and not close properly (both lower seals torn and binding. Removed and replaced both lower seals)

2. Button on ceiling near passenger rear sliding door not illuminating (unable to verify).

3. Car will intermittently not start and engine light comes on. (Performed an ARBS test found battery is failing.. removed and replaced battery).

5/17/08, 27970 miles:

1. Wipers are not working properly (unable to verify).

8/14/08, 30500 miles:

1. Air bag light on (found loose pin connector under the seat).

2. Drivers side front door and rear drivers side molding loose (inspected, all secure).

3. Intermittently extended crank before turning over (updated software for powertrain control module and reprogrammed).

3/5/09, 35216 miles:

1. Car took 3 times to turn over, and both remotes will not start vehicle (found vehicle crank sensor shorted.. removed and replaced crank sensor... see #6).

2. Panel on drivers side front fender pulling away. (re-secured panel).

3. Map light not working (found shorted connector.. replaced connector).

4. Radio cuts in and out on 93 and 108 (unable to verify).

5. Remotes intermittently work (remote dead... not covered on WTY).

6. Later after pick-up, the vehicle took 3 times to turn over (found mass air flow sensor failure and replaced).

3/16/09, 35593 miles:

1. When turning the vehicle on for the 1st time, it will just crank and not turn over, and then it starts on 2nd try (found fuel draining back into tank and fuel module shorted... removed and replaced fuel pump module).

2. Radio cuts in and out for one minute or more, then I will shut off the car and restart and radio will work OK (Unable to verify).

4/16/09, 36006 miles:

GM Warranty runs out now on extended warranty.

1. Vehicle will intermittently not start and crank, but takes a few times to start (tested several times, could not duplicate, scanned, unable to verify).

2. Radio preset #6 cuts out for a minute then comes back on (found electrical failure in the radio... removed and replaced).

5/1/09, 37700 miles:

1. Vehicle takes 2 to 3 times to start and then finally turns over (Unable to verify... performed throttle body clean and decarb).

2. Rear electric side windows not working (verified ordered parts).

3. Temperature reading 115 degrees (unable to verify).

8/5/09, 40262 miles:

Traction control light comes on and engages when coming to a stop on dry road (found right wheel speed sensor shorted... removed and replaced front wheel bearing with sensor).

8/7/09, 40325 miles:

Traction control engaging when braking and ABS/traction light comes on (found... new R/F circuit needed).

8/19/09, 41062 miles:

1. Drivers side sliding door when closing will ding and bounce back open (unable to verify... "may be debris in the track").

NOTE ABOVE: when car was picked up that night, found door did what was originally reported... car was left at dealership).

2. Outside temperature reading 112 degrees (working properly "sensor may range differently depending on engine temperature and how long vehicle sits").

3. Remote not working (cleared and added battery to remote).

NOTE ABOVE: tried to use remote to start in the dealership parking lot and it now sets off the alarm.

9/14/09, 41667 miles:

1. Drivers side sliding door will open even with power button shut off (found corroded door harness... removed and replaced).

2. Remote keypad not working (no comment left from repair).

At this point October 1, 2009, the car was traded, and at the time both rear sliding doors were dinging and bouncing back open several times on several occasions.

The 2005 Saturn Relay 3 for me was a lemon. I would recommend staying as far away as you can from this model. It had proven to be a true disaster in GM engineering. Lack of quality design and workmanship.

What we liked about this van... Very comfortable, roomy, nice design, OK gas mileage and would have loved to make all the payments and drive for well over 100,000 miles.