Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Saturn Relay problems

Owners filed 12 complaints about the 2007 Saturn Relay with NHTSA between May 2008 and Nov 2018. The most-cited component is structure (4).

Complaints
12
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure4
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Fuel system, other2
  4. Latches/locks/linkages2
  5. Power train1
  6. Vehicle speed control1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Fuel/propulsion system1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Service brakes, electric1
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  12. Traction control system1
  13. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20084
20093
20100
20111
20121
20131
20140
20151
20160
20170
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

4 reports
“ON MAY 1, 2009 THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF MY 2007 SATURN RELAY. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND TO THIS DAY HAS YET TO BE FIXED. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NONE OF OUR 5 CHILDREN WERE HURT BUT THEY WERE TRAUMATIZED BY THIS INCIDENT AND ARE AFRAID TO RIDE BY ANY SLIDING VAN DOOR. NOT ONLY HAS THIS HAPPENED BUT BACK IN FEBRUARY WE HAD A INCIDENT WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE FOR NO REASON. I DO NOT FEEL THAT SATURN/GM IS TAKING THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO INSURE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE OR SAFE FOR PASSENGERS. THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY TOLD MY HUSBAND TODAY THAT WE COULD NO LONGER HAVE RENTAL AND MUST DRIVE OUR VAN EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT FIXED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY VIOLATION I HAVE A SET OF TWINS AND A SET OF TRIPLETS EVERY SEAT IN MY VAN IS OCCUPIED SO I CAN NOT JUST PUT SOMEONE IN A DIFFERENT SEAT TO AVOID A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR FALLING OFF. I REALIZE THAT GETTING PARTS IS SLOW BECAUSE OF THE CUT BACKS BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE IN DANGER BECAUSE A AUTO MAKER CAN NOT PRODUCE THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLES THEY MAKE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN, BACK IN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2009Steering, StructureODI 10269400

Electrical system

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE UNLOCK FOR THE REAR SLIDING DOORS. THE WIRELESS SYSTEM WOULD CLOSE AND OPEN INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. MA 10/22/2015 *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2015Electrical systemODI 10760358

Fuel system, other

2 reports
“THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A NEWS STORY I SAW ON 2005-2007 GM FUEL GAUGE ISSUES. WE HAVE A GM 2007 SATURN RELAY EXPERIENCING THE SAME ERRATIC FLUCTUATIONS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ADDED TO THE INVESTIGATION IF POSSIBLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2011Fuel system, otherODI 10405612

Latches/locks/linkages

2 reports
“I OWN A 2007 SATURN RELAY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SLIDING DOORS. I BOUGHT IN APRIL OF 2007. IT WAS USED. THE PASSENGER DOOR STARTED OPENING WHEN I WAS DRIVING. ONE NIGHT WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS A PASSENGER GOT OUT AND THE DOOR FELL OFF. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THEY ALSO HAD TO PAINT PASSENGER SIDE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED OPENING UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT OPENED UP AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND THE DOOR FELL OFF WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CLOSE IT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. NOW MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS OPENING AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP IS REPAIRING AGAIN AT NO CHARGE. THIS CAR SCARES ME. I HAVE 4-6 KIDS IN MY CAR AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IS IT GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THEM FALLING OUT WHEN THIS DOOR OPENS TO GET ANYONE TO SAY HEY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I AM CONSULTING A LAWYER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2009Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10265686

Power train

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2018Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11149773

Vehicle speed control

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.