RoadVitals

2008 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.
11
Latest Apr 16, 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.
3%
of 406 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.
0
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 2008 Saturn Vue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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

Body & structureExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2020

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES(BOTH SIDES) AND WIRE HARNESS KEEPS MELTING. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT BEFORE AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I HAVE NOW PURCHASED THE WIRE HARNESS AND I HOPE THIS WILL NOT BURN ALSO. 2. THE CAR JUMPS WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE WHICH INDICATES THE PARKING PAWL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND NO RESPONSE RETURNED. 3. WATER IS LEAKING INTO MY CAR. THE FRONT AND BACKSEAT FLOORS ARE SOAKED. LOOKS LIKE THE SEAL AROUND THE FIREWALL IS NOT SEALING PROPERLY. I SAW MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2008-2010 SATURN VUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321338
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
160,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 5, 2019

BOTH HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED. REPLACED BOTH SIDE HEADLIGHTS AND AFTER 2 YEARS THE WIRE HARNESS MELTED AGAIN THE PARKING PAWL GETS STUCK OFTEN. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE PARKING PAWL GETS STUCK. THEN IT WILL EVENTUALLY GO INTO REVERSE BUT THE CAR JERKS AND MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. THE LIGHT ISSUE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS NOW. THE PARKING PAWL ISSUE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ID
11266537
Incident
May 15, 2016
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2018

THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND, STABILITY, ANTISKID LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. THE CAR WILL DIE AND RESTART W HIKE DRIVING. THE AC BLOWS FROM BOTTOM HEATER VENTS. BATTERY WILL ACTS AS IF DEAD UNTIL I BANG TERMINAL WITH A HAMMER

NHTSA ID
11104133
Incident
Feb 14, 2009
Mileage
35,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Apr 13, 2018

NOW THIS IS LIKE THE 5TH TIME I THINK I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO THIS COMPANY AND NO ONE HAS ANSWERED ME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR BEING PARKED ON A HILL AND IT ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN NO ONE'S INSIDE OF IT AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS THATS ON THE SATURN RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST. BUT NOW I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY BACK DOOR NOT SHUTTING WHEN I SHUT IT IT OPENS UNEXPECTENTLY. IN THE WORDS OF CAR TALK IT'S CALLED 1. TRANSMISSION CASE POROSITY AT PARK PAWL 2. OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE STICKS/BIND. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE TRANS STICK IS OUT, MY WARNING DASH BOARDS LIGHT COME IN FOR NO REASON 1ST IT WAS OIL LIGHT WHICH I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH AGO AND NOW IT'S THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR ALARM GOES OFF WHEN THE BACK DOOR ACTS UP. NOW I HOPE TO HERE FROM SOMEONE SOON. I MIGHT GO TO THE NEWS CAUSE I NEED HELP AND YOU PEOPLE NOT HELPING SO THAT MIGHT MAKE U MOVE FASTER. BUT IF I DIE OF MY CAR ROLLS AWAY AND KILLS ONE OF THESE KIDS OUTSIDE I WILL SUE YOU PEOPLE SO HARD. WAITING FOR AN AWSER BYE. FYI IVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2014.

NHTSA ID
11085014
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Mar 13, 2017

N/A

NHTSA ID
10960267
Incident
Mar 13, 2017
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Mar 13, 2017

IT'S MY TURN SIGNALS MY LOCKS AND MY FLASHERS HEADLIGHTS

NHTSA ID
10960266
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Mileage
5 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 26, 2015

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON.THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND NEVER CAME BACK ON.TOOK THE HEADLIGHT OUT AND THE CONNECTORS ARE MELTED..THIS I THINK IS NOT GOOD AND ITS GOING TO COST ABOUT $150 TO FIX

NHTSA ID
10759577
Incident
Aug 22, 2015
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TILTED STEERING WHEELING WAS MANEUVERED IN A DOWNWARD POSITION AND THEN THE DRIVER 'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10550484
Incident
Sep 27, 2013
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 25, 2011

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, BUT A NEW BULB DOESN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WIRING GOING TO THE LIGHT IS MELTED AND THERE ARE NOTICEABLE BURN MARKS AROUND THE LIGHT AND LIGHT HOUSING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441184
Incident
Dec 5, 2011
Mileage
48,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 11, 2008

TAIL LIGHTS QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234015
Incident
Jul 5, 2008
BrakesElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Feb 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS DIMMED. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER BODY SENSOR. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENTAL GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,719 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,070. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START

NHTSA ID
10217487
Incident
Jan 25, 2008
Mileage
2,070 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

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .