Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Saturn LS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 98 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 98, in the owner's own words
Rear tail lights will not work. Have checked all fuses relays,and even changed the turn signal switch. My car is currently at the garage. Original appointment was only for inspection. Mechanic has not yet located the issue. Also has no dash lights. Parking lights. Had I known this in advance would have returned car immediately.
The contact owns a 2002 Saturn J-Type. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle's brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V245000 (Exterior Lighting), however, the part to do the recall repair is no longer being manufactured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
MECHANIC FOUND SHORT CIRCUIT IN TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON, AND STAY ON, WHEN HEADLAMPS DO. *TR
TAKATA RECALL VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN STARTED. LIGHTS DIM AN GO BRIGHT ON DASH. FAN GOES ON WHEN MOTOR NOT HOT. WHEN FAN GOES ON AND CAR IS BEING DRIVEN CAR WILL JUMP WHEN CAR SHIFTS GEARS. I ONLY CAN DRIVE ON SIDE ROADS. TO NERVOUS TO GO ON HIGHWAY NOW. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN COOLING FAN IS ON. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF REPORTS THAT PEOPLE POST OF OTHER CARS LIKE MINE HAVING SAME ISSUES. WAS TOLD THEY REPORTED IT. NOTHING WAS DONE. SERIOUSLY THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SHOULDN'T MATTER WERE THE CAR WAS MADE. PARTS ARE THE SAME. I HAVEN'T BROUGHT IT IN SINCE 2017. I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR REPAIRS OR FIX IT IF IT'S THE MANUFACTURS FAULTY PARTS. I'VE ALREADY PUT 1400 DOLLARS FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP AN OTHER PARTS. AN THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF AN WHEN YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.
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
FUEL AND COMPUTER FUSE UNDERHOOD 10AMP BLOWING UPON INSERTED
I LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT FULL THROTTLE THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. IT MADE A LOUD BOOM LIKE A BACKFIRE AND A LARGE PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT LOOKED FIBERGLASS MATTING AND ROCKS BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE CAR ACCELERATED FINE FOR ABOUT 15 MILES THEN STARTED TO BOG DOWN AGAIN. SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RESTART UNSUCCESSFUL, WAITED A FEW HOURS THEN CAR RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES RAN VEHICLE OFF AND ON OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD, THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN WITH VERY ROUGH IDLE, ALMOST DIES, EXTREME LOSS OF POWER W/ALMOST NO ACCELERATION AT FULL THROTTLE. CONTACTED MECHANIC THE VEHICLE RESONATOR WAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT OF SPLITTING THE SEAM, HE REMOVED THE RESONATOR TO FIND ALL THE FIBER PACKING GONE AND THE RESONATOR PACKED WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE ROCKS. HE STATED THE BITS THAT LOOKED LIKE ROCKS WERE PART OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PACKING THAT HAD BEEN HEATED ABOVE THE LIMITS OF THE MATERIAL. THE DISINTEGRATED MATERIAL MADE A BLOCKAGE IN THE RESONATOR NOT ALLOWING THE EXHAUST GASSES TO FLOW HE CHECKED FOR TSB'S AND RECALL CAMPAIGNS AND FOUND CAMP # 03V231000 ACTION # 03033 RECALL # 03-C-06 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION CONTROL MODULE) AND CAMP # 07V519000 ACTION # EA06009 RECALL # 06074. (ENG. TIMING CHAIN) CALLED GM RECALL CENTER GIVEN CASE #8-2430110427 PER BRANDY SHE IS GETTING MANY CALLS ON THIS, SHE SHOWS ONLY THE RECALL 03-C-06 ONLY AND SHE IS TO DENY ANY ADDITIONAL CLAIMS EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED THE PART WITH THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED TO BEGIN WITH. INVESTIGATED RECALL # 06074 AND FOUND THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 SATURN L SERIES HOWEVER PER MY MECHANIC BOTH RECALLS ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WITH THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE 2002 SATURN L SERIES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE AN ACCIDENT OR A DEATH BEFORE YOU PEOPLE DECIDE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SATURN L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. ...UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/15/16
SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IT GOT WORSE AND THEN THE HANDLE MELTED OFF AND THEN IN MINUTES THE FLAMES IGNITED AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY INFLAMED. RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR UP THE STREET TO TAKE MY SON TO THE BUS STOP WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT BACK HOME THE SMOKE STARTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT 30 FEET FROM MY HOUSE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,528.
I WAS GOING TO WORK & ALL OUT OF THE BLUE WITH NO WARNING MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE & MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY & WOULD NOT START BACK. ALSO, MY TAIL LIGHT WON'T WORK BECAUSE THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS BROKEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START, THE KEY FOB FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 02/05/15*LJ
BATTERY DRAIN. *TR
PLEASE HELP! MY KEY AND IGNITION ARE BURNING HOT, MY CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS START, THE POWER CUTS OFF, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND WHEN I START IT IN THE MORNING THE EXHAUST IS SUPER STRONG. GM TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY A DEALER $110.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED AND RECALLED IN 2003 BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR THAT RECALL. I BROKE MY NECK AND AM A SINGLE, DISABLED MOM OF A 12 YEAR OLD. I DO NOT WANT TO BE TRAPPED IN A FIRE OR REARENDED AND TOTALLY PARALYZED OR DEAD! WHAT THE HECK IS GM THINKING? THEY SAID THEY ONLY ACT ON RECALLS IF THEY COME FROM YOU! *TR
A CORDON TO THE VEL. DADA THE BSM WAS REPAIR BACK IN 2005 BUT HEAR IT IS 2014 AND IT HAS GONE HAYWIRE AGAIN CAR START FOR ABOUT 10 SEC. DASH LIGHT DON'T WORK SPEEDO DON'T WORK FUEL GAGE DON'T WORK DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK IF THIS PROBLEM SEEM TO BE THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2005 SHOULDN'T IT STILL BE COVERED ON THE 2003 RECALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MILEAGE DON'T SHORE I THINK AROUND 135000. *TR
IGNITION KEYS CAN BE REMOVED WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AT ANY SPEED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY LOW AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY LOW AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/23/14*CN
INITIALLY, KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. NOW CAR NO LONGER STARTS. STARTER REPLACED BUT CAR STILL DOES NOT START. POSSIBLY FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER/SWITCH. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED OUT OF THE SWITCH CAUSING THE ALARM TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE, THE KEY HAD TO BE INSERTED BACK INTO THE IGNITION AND SWITCH BACK TO THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
SECURITY ISSUE: WHILE DRIVING CAR SUDDENLY SECURITY LIGHTS UP. DRL START FLASHING. ON AND OFF DURING THE TRIP THE DOORS LOCKS PROCEED TO GO UP AND DOWN. GAS GAUGE GOES DOWN TO EMPTY(HAD FULL TANK) AND LOUD BING SOUND(LIKE DOORS OPENED WHILE KEY IN IGNITION. SPEDOMETER I THINK WENT TO SOMETHING CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT, BUT IT WAS WRONG. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. OUTSIDE LIGHTS ALSO ARE FLASHING LIKE A POLICE CARS. DRIVE HOME AND UNPLUG BATTERY(WHICH READ ONLINE TO TRY) OKAYISH UNTIL MAY12, 2014. WHILE REVERSING INTO DRIVEWAY SECURITY LIGHT IS BACK ON. SPEDOMETER IS NOW AT 694978 MILES AND HASN'T CHANGED IN 4 DAYS! I HAD UNDER 110K ON THE CAR. CAN NOT LOCK MY DOORS. THEY MAKE A BUZZING SOUND WHEN IN GEAR OR I HIT LOCK/OPEN BUTTON. AND THEY HAVE SUDDENLY LOCKED THEMSELVES WHEN I'M AWAY FROM THE CAR. READ MANY SATURNS HAVE AN BCM ISSUE. FOUND AN CHEVORLET DEALER THAT IS GOING TO CHECK MY CAR OUT TOMORROW. HE INFORMED ME SO FAR THERE ARE 2 OTHER RECALLS ON MY CAR, BUT NOT FOR WHAT I'M EXPLAINING TO HIM. 1 (TAIL LIGHTS) I ALREADY FIXED! LOVE TO GET MY MONEY BACK ON THAT!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY CAR BEGAN BY RUNNING WITH THE IGNITION KEY BEING ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT WHILE RUNNING. I NEVER KNEW WHEN IT WAS GOING TO START OR NOT. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED U WOULD BE STRANDED AND LOSE POWER BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. I ALSO HAD THE EXPENSE OF A NEW KEY AND MANY TOWS THE CYLINDER SWICH AND HOUSING WERE A HUGE EXPENSE AROUND 500.00 WITH THE LABOR AND TOW. *JS
NO ACCIDENT IGNITION PROBLEM AND THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL. THE KEY COMES OUT WHILE THE CAR IS IN GEAR. *JS
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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