RoadVitals

2006 Saturn Vue Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest May 23, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 300 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceExterior lightingSteering
Filed May 23, 2020

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AND IT'S HARD TO STEER I LOSE POWER STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325644
Incident
May 19, 2020
Mileage
281,599 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2019

PURCHASED 2006 SATURN VUE REDLINE V6 3.5 AWD SUV USED ON FEBRUARY 5, 2019. SURPRISED DAYS LATER & SINCE TO SAFETY CONCERN INVOLVING BODY CONTROL MODULE. WITHOUT WARNING, LEADS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES & LIGHTS, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTING, DOME, HEAD AND BRAKE LIGHTS. SEEMS TO EFFECT ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS UNDER CONTROL OF THIS MODULE, UNCERTAIN OF ALL INVOLVED. ASSUME THIS WOULD INCLUDE AIRBAGS AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING LEADS TO POTENTIAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL COUNTLESS ENCOUNTERS BY OWNERS TO THIS SAME ISSUE. DURING COLD WEATHER ESPECIALLY, INITIAL START UP OF VEHICLE IN MORNING OR AFTER EXTENDED (FEW HOURS) PARKED, LEADS TO LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, 3 MINUTES AFTER START UP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS POSSESSED. ALL LIGHTS, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR FLASH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BELIEVE CODE IS P0685. SEEMS TO INDICATE PCM. ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING FOR PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE PERSONALLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL POWER AT 65 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ANYTHING. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, NARROWLY AVOIDING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH CEMENT MEDIAN DIVIDER. CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL! CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FOR OWNERS WITHOUT COST. WHAT WILL THIS TAKE? DEATH OF AN OWNER?

NHTSA ID
11191518
Incident
Feb 7, 2019
Mileage
230,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2017

ALL FOUR HEAD LIGHTS OUT OF NOWHERE JUST STARTED TO FLASH AND IT WENT FROM A FLASH TO OUT NOT COMING ON AT ALL AND I HAVE CHECKED ALL FUSES RELAYS AND LIGHTBULBS JUST DRIVING DOWN A DRY ROAD NO WATER AT ALL

NHTSA ID
11018783
Incident
Aug 4, 2017
Mileage
174 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 25, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, A PUFF OF SMOKE AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR FLASHED ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO SHUT OFF AS THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE LIGHTS BY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THEN SHUTTING IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,007.

NHTSA ID
10888099
Incident
Jul 16, 2016
Mileage
162,007 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 25, 2016

7-25-2016, I WAKEUP TO USE BATHROOM, THEN LOOKING OUT TO MY BACKYARD I SEE MY LIGHTS ON MY SATURN VUE ARE ON. SO I QUICKLY GET MY KEYS AND TRY TURNING LIGHTS OFF BUT THEY WOULDN'T TURN OFF, THEN I GO OUTSIDE TO VEHICLE TO TURN THEM OFF BUT THEY STILL WOULDN'T GO OUT. SO MY HUSBAND WAKES UP AND COMES OUTSIDE AND TURN VEHICLE ON AND SWITCHES SWITCH BACK AND FORWARD AND THEN THEY GO OUT. BUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

NHTSA ID
10888074
Incident
Jul 16, 2016
Mileage
16,207 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 24, 2016

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WON'T GO OFF OR SERVICE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10851516
Incident
Jan 2, 2013
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Dec 28, 2015

WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN IT'S COLD, ALL OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, RADIO COMES ON, AND THEN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GO OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES PASS, IT WORKS PROPERLY. SOME TIMES, UNEXPECTEDLY, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR START FLASHING, THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING. WE'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ALTERNATOR, AND HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY (2X IN 6MO). THIS CAR IS POSSESSED! I WORRY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
10816494
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
135,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2015

ON 1-19-2015 I STARTED MY CAR (AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 DAYS/IT WAS VERY COLD) AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, DASHBOARD, RADIO, BLINKER SIGNALS, ALL BEGAN FLASHING. IT WOULD STOP FOR A SECOND AND START AGAIN, DURING THIS TIME THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CONK OUT, BUT DIDN'T. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE FLASHING WOULD GO FASTER. ALSO THE SEAT CONTROLS AND DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT STOPPED AND THE CAR WAS FINE. THAT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ROUGHLY 4-5 MORE TIMES, LASTING 5-10 MINUTES EACH TIME. THE CAR HAS ONLY STOPPED RUNNING 1 TIME (LUCKILY IN FRONT OF HOME) AND STARTED FINE THE NEXT DAY. TOOK VIDEO AND WENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC. THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR (BOTH FINE-NO $ CHARGE), ALSO CHECKED RECALLS FOR CAR (NOTHING). TOLD ME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP OR ELECTRICAL MECHANIC. THOUGHT PERHAPS THE ALARM SYSTEM, DUE TO FLASHING. AFTER GOING ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. I COULD CAUSE A SEVERE, DEADLY ACCIDENT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, ALSO THE DOORS WOULD BE LOCKED BECAUSE THEY LOSE POWER. *JS

NHTSA ID
10682001
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
63,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 30, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A FIRE IGNITED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM AND THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE WERE UNABLE TO BE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,200.

NHTSA ID
10617506
Incident
Dec 31, 2010
Mileage
79,200 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 5, 2014

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STARTED AT 25K MILES AND CONTINUES THROUGH TODAY MAY 5, 2014 DOORS UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING . BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAGS LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT WILL. ALL PANEL LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. I HAVE REPLACED PARKING, BACKUP AND HEAD LIGHTS 4 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. TAG LIGHT KEEPS BLOWING, AND I HAVE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS I JUST REPLACED THEM SAT MAY 2 AND ONE IS OUT NOW. I HAVE TO REPLACE FUSES EVERY MONTH FOR VARIOUS THINGS REPEATEDLY THE FRONT OR ROOF INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ON EVERY MORNING AND THEY ARE NOT IN THE ON POSITION. THE SPEAKERS FADE IN AND OUT I FEEL LIKE I GOT A LEMON WITH THIS VEHICLE YEAR AND I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY PAYING FOR DEALERS TO TRACE THE ELECTRICAL BUT THEY ALWAYS CLAIM THEY CANNOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER 3 SATURN'S I PURCHASED. UGH! *TR

NHTSA ID
10586605
Incident
Nov 29, 2006
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. GAUGE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING . PULLED OVER JIGGLED THE KEYS AND AFTER RE-START EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES . IT ALL POINTS TO THE LOOSE IGNITION , JIGGLE THE KEYS AND ALLIS FINE . I REMOVED EVERYTHING FROM KEY RING , THIS SEEMS TO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576927
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
114,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 21, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED WHO REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING ON THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE LIGHT SWITCHES WERE BURNED. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,065. UPDATED 08/01/12*LJ

NHTSA ID
10462590
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
62,065 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSES THAT REGULATE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CONSTANTLY BLOW OUT. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10272580
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
25,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .