45,000 miles · May 1, 2009
Power TrainInjury
MY WIFE PLACED OUR 2005 SATURN RELAY MINIVAN IN PARK, AND STEPPED OUT TO GET THE MAIL. THE VAN IMMEDIATELY STARTED BACKWARDS, WITH THE DOOR PUSHING HER DOWN. LUCKILY, AS IT PUSHED HER DOWN, SHE FELL TO THE INSIDE, AND WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE WITH HER HAND, STOPPING THE CAR. SHE DID RECEIVE A VERY MINOR KNEE…
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MY WIFE PLACED OUR 2005 SATURN RELAY MINIVAN IN PARK, AND STEPPED OUT TO GET THE MAIL. THE VAN IMMEDIATELY STARTED BACKWARDS, WITH THE DOOR PUSHING HER DOWN. LUCKILY, AS IT PUSHED HER DOWN, SHE FELL TO THE INSIDE, AND WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE WITH HER HAND, STOPPING THE CAR. SHE DID RECEIVE A VERY MINOR KNEE INJURY, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. OUR TWO DAUGHTERS WERE BOTH IN THE CAR, WHICH WOULD HAVE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND INTO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE, HAD SHE NOT STOPPED IT. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT SHE'D MADE A MISTAKE, BUT AFTER LOOKING AT THE SHIFTING MECHANISM, I CAN SEE HOW THIS HAPPENED. AS YOU KNOW, ON A STEERING MOUNTED SHIFTER (LIKE THIS) YOU PULL THE LEVER TOWARD YOU, MOVE IT TO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR, AND RELEASE IT, LOCKING THE MECHANISM IN THE NEWLY SELECTED GEAR. ON THIS VEHICLE, THERE IS A LARGE DEAD SPACE (FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD) BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK. IT'S POSSIBLE TO RELEASE THE LEVER BEFORE THE SELECTOR IS FULLY IN THE PARK DETENT. WHEN YOU DO THIS, THERE IS NO OUTWARD INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, OTHER THAN AN UNUSUAL FEEL TO THE LEVER THAT'S EASY TO MISS IF YOU'RE IN A HURRY. ONCE YOU DO THIS, THE LEVER (AFTER A FEW SECONDS) WILL EITHER POP INTO PARK, OR INTO REVERSE. OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE NO LONGER IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. I'VE CHECKED THIS ON OTHER SATURN RELAYS AND ON ONE CHEVROLET (SAME MODEL, DIFFERENT NAME) AND THEY ALL DID THIS. ALL OF THE ONES I CHECKED WERE 2005, SO I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT ANY OTHER YEAR MODELS. WE NOW ALWAYS SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN STOPPING, JUST IN CASE. THIS IS MORE A DESIGN DEFECT THAN A COMPONENT FAILURE, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267433
Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2007
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
PURCHASED S 2005 SATURN RELAY IN APRIL 06. SINCE DAY ONE THINGS HAVE BEEN WRONG, BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, AXEL BROKEN, INTERIOR PARTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A FILE OPEN WITH SATURN AND THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL. I HAVE 6 KIDS 5 OF WHICH DRIVE IN THE CAR QUITE A BIT AND …
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PURCHASED S 2005 SATURN RELAY IN APRIL 06. SINCE DAY ONE THINGS HAVE BEEN WRONG, BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, AXEL BROKEN, INTERIOR PARTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A FILE OPEN WITH SATURN AND THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL. I HAVE 6 KIDS 5 OF WHICH DRIVE IN THE CAR QUITE A BIT AND I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE. THE DEALER ADMITTED TO NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MY VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THEY MAKE PROGRESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10212428
2,142 miles · Jul 18, 2007
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train
RIGHT DOOR POPPED OPEN WHEN IT WANTED TOO. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C )DID NOT PROPERLY COOL, SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT DRIVETRAIN. 09/01/05 CLEANED CONTACTS, 10/8/05 MOTOR AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FOR DOOR, 02/27/06 DOOR CONTACTS AND CABLE, 04/19/06 RETURNED TO DEALER, 07/18/06 REPLACED CONTACTS, 0 AND ON 8/16/06 RETURNED TO DEALER. D…
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RIGHT DOOR POPPED OPEN WHEN IT WANTED TOO. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C )DID NOT PROPERLY COOL, SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT DRIVETRAIN. 09/01/05 CLEANED CONTACTS, 10/8/05 MOTOR AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FOR DOOR, 02/27/06 DOOR CONTACTS AND CABLE, 04/19/06 RETURNED TO DEALER, 07/18/06 REPLACED CONTACTS, 0 AND ON 8/16/06 RETURNED TO DEALER. DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS WAS WHAT THEY GAVE US FOR COPIES OF OUR RECORDS THEY NOW HAVE OUR RECORDS FROZEN SO WE COULD NOT VIEW THE HISTORY, DOORS WERE INOPERATIV AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10196775
12,746 miles · Apr 7, 2006
Power Train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED SLIGHTLY BACKWARD ON AN INCLINE WHILE MOVING FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONE DEALER DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL AND ANOTHER DETERMINED A RECENT DESIGN CHANGE WAS THE CAUSE. UPDATED 5/2/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154805