Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 60 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 60, 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.
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF ALONG WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS AND ALL THE GAUGES WILL GO TO ZERO, THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND IT WILL DING (IT ACTS LIKE YOU ARE SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND OPENING THE DOOR) A COUPLE SECONDS LATER EVERYTHING WILL TURN ON AND QUIT DINGING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WILL BE ON (LIKE WHEN YOU START THE CAR) BACK AND FORTH ON AND OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SMOKING, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT AND THE BOLT WAS CRACKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE TAIL-LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS LOSING CONTACT AND GOING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM, NOW STAYS OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ALL THE TIME. THERE IS A FAULTY CONNECTION AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST WITH THESE CARS ACCORDING TO REVIEWS. *TR
AFFECTED PARTS DROP BOX NOT FUNCTIONAL. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. NOTICED SMOKE FROM TURN SIGNAL AREA. PULLED TO EMERGENCY LANE, PULLED OFF RUBBER FLAP AND SMOKE WAS POURING INTO CABIN. TURNED CAR OFF. COULD NOT SEE FLAMES, SMOKE STOPPED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. NEEDLESS TO SAY TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHT DIMMER, RADIO, BLOWER MOTOR, DOOR LOCKS ARE NOW ALL MALFUNCTIONING. ALREADY HAD TO PAY FOR BCM REPLACEMENT AS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALLS. THIS MAKE/MODEL IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS ALL COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS MADE AWARE BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET AND PLASTIC INSERT HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR
APPROX. MARCH 2013 STARTED HAVING THIS PROBLEM, NEVER BEFORE! DRIVING HOME AS IT GOT DARK AND HEAD LIGHTS RUNNING ON DUSK TO DAWN "SENSOR" HEAD LIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED GOING FROM DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO LOW BEAM AND BACK TO HIGH BEAM THE WHOLE RIDE HOME WHICH TOOK APPROX. 1 HOUR. HAS HAPPENED AGAIN OFF AND ON AND HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT THE E-MAILS THEY GET SAYS IT IS " NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS???" I DON'T THINK SO WHEN YOUR LIGHTS KEEP GOING UP AND DOWN ( HIGH- LOW) AND EXPECTING SOMEONE THINKING YOU ARE LETTING THEM OUT AND PULL OUT IN FROM OF YOU. GARAGE CLAIMS THERE IS NO SOLUTION, SO THIS IS WHY WE ARE WRITING, WHAT DO WE DO?? REALIZE IT IS A 2002 BUT NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM AND NOW IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE SOLVED?? VERY SCARY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT?? *TR
THE FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET FUSED AND CEASED TO WORK. (POSSIBLY AN ARC FROM NEARBY LIGHTNING). I HAVE SEARCHED AND HAD REPAIR SHOPS SEARCH - ONLY TO FIND THAT CONTRARY TO THE PROMISE GENERAL MOTORS MADE TO CONGRESS IN THE BAILOUT AND THE AGREEMENT TO CLOSE SATURN -- THEY HAVE CEASED PROVIDING A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE CAR -- MUCH LESS A VITAL PART AT EXORBITANT RATES. *TT
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND LEAVING MY STREET TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. I LIFTED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TO INDICATE MY TURN AND THE BLINKER DID NOT WORK. I TRIED THE OTHER TURN SIGNAL DIRECTION AND THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE HAZARD BUTTON DID WORK. I INSTINCTIVELY USE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAVE HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, NEAR THE HAZARD BUTTON/SWITCH. BLINKERS WORK IF I PRESS THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT, USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND THEN DEPRESS THE HAZARD BUTTON. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH MAY BE THE CULPRIT. I'VE CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE 2000 SATURN LS BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND LEAVING MY STREET TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. I LIFTED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TO INDICATE MY TURN AND THE BLINKER DID NOT WORK. I TRIED THE OTHER TURN SIGNAL DIRECTION AND THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE HAZARD BUTTON DID WORK. I INSTINCTIVELY USE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAVE HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, NEAR THE HAZARD BUTTON/SWITCH. BLINKERS WORK IF I PRESS THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT, USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND THEN DEPRESS THE HAZARD BUTTON. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH MAY BE THE CULPRIT. I'VE CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE 2000 SATURN LS BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V245000 THIS ITEM HAD BEEN REPLACED YET THE REPLACED ITEM HAS THE SAME FAULT 40,000 MILES AFTER THE RECALL WARRENT.
2002 SATURN L100, 148000 MILES, PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERN IS HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE SPONTANEOUS/ERRATIC ACTUATION OF WIPERS, DOME LIGHT, AND DOOR LOCKS, AS WELL AS FLASHING OF HIGH BEAMS AND DRL LAMPS. ALSO ERRATIC INSTRUMENTATION ANOMALIES, E.G. "SECURITY" LAMP ILLUMINATES AND SHUTS OFF, "CHANGE OIL SOON" LAMP FLASHES, ALL GAGES FLICK FROM ZERO TO NORMAL, ETC. *CN
RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V245000. COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD MY RECALL SERVICE DONE ON DEC. 26 2005. ON NOV. 27TH 2009. I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. MY REAR RUNNING AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. NO TICKET BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH LIGHT BULBS WERE BROKE. PLASTIC MELTED DOWN AND HIT THE BULBS. TRIED TO REPLACE BULBS BUT THE MELTED PLASTIC WAS IN THE WAY. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE MELTED PLASTIC. WENT TO SATURN DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THAT A FRONT DRIVER SIDE PARKING LIGHT WAS OUT AND IT HAD CONDENSATION UNDER THE LENS. THEY SAID THAT SHORTED THE REAR LIGHTS. THEY REPLACED THE BULBS BY GRINDING THE MELTED PLASTIC OUT OF THE WAY. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET THE BULB PAST THE MELTED PLASTIC. I TOOK MORE PICTURES. SO THE LIGHTS WORK FOR NOW. BUT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE PLASTIC MELTS DOWN ONTO THE BULBS AGAIN. I DO BELIEVE THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE RECALL. IT READS-ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. NOT A BURNED OUT PARKING LIGHT WITH CONDENSATION UNDER THE LENS. THIS COULD BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. NO TAIL OR BRAKE LIGHTS! TAILGAITERS! I NOW CARRY EXTRA LIGHT BULBS AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT MELT DOWN. SATURN HAS BEEN NO HELP. JUST A BANDAID. *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE FAIL TO WORK, CHECKED BOTH THE BULBS AND THE FUSES AND BOTH ARE FINE. I BELIEVE IT CAUSED BY THE DISTORTED SOCKETS. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AT RANDOM TIMES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER PURCHASED THE 2002 MODEL IN 2003. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NORMAL / NOT MAJOR AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX IT. IT IS ANNOYING AND STARTLING TO ME, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I GET AN ADRENALINE RUSH AND AUTOMATICALLY FEAR THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT THE CAR MIGHT SHUT DOWN AT ANY MOMENT. I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I ALSO WORRY THAT OTHER DRIVERS MAY INTERPRET IT AS SOME SORT OF SIGNAL. *TR
MY UPPER BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I REPLACED 5 OF THESE LIGHTS TO GET MY INSPECTION STICKER. RIGHT NOW ONLY 2 ARE WORKING. YOU CAN ONLY GET THESE BULBS AT A SATURN DEALER AT A COST OF $7.00 EACH. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. THIS IS PART OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING $7.00 EACH TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ON THE SATURNFANS.COM WEB SITE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT SATURN OF NORWOOD,MA. I THINK THAT IT MAYBE A SHORT SOMEWHERE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED IN THE GAS TANK AND CAUSED FUEL TO POUR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HE SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED IT "DUMPING" OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALERTED HIM TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FUEL PUMP AS THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER COVERED $300 OF THE $650 REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,394 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,100.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SWITCHES FOR ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE ENGINE MODULE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER SENSORS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FAILED. WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL HOUSING SCREW WAS LOOSE AND THE FILTER COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,564 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
REAR TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASH AND FLICKER RANDOMLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER IN THE DAYTIME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT NIGHT. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A HANDOUT STATING THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER HEARS A WHISTLING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION, WINDOWS MAKE CHIRPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING THEM UP, AND HEATER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 11/27/07 *TR
2002 SATURN L-200 WITH HEAD LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SWITCH SHORTS OUT WHICH CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO COME ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT SHORTS AND CAUSES THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. AT TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR
ELECTRONIC CONTROLE COMPUTER SHORTED OUT. STOPPED WORKING AT 92000MI. ALARM DID NOT WORK, KEY FOB DID NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION INTER LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK, TEMP GAUGE DID NOT WORK, NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM LAMP ON PASS. SIDE INOP., FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO SATURN OF ABILENE, TX. TOLD IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT SATURN DOESN'T KNOW THE FIX. SATURN OF TEMPLE REPORTED THERE WAS A SHORT UNDER THE FUSE BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH SHORTED OUT THE BCM, HORN, HIGH BEAM AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. COST: $600 FOR ISSUES BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY.
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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