FaultScore

Saturn LS headlight problems

213 of the 1,885 complaints filed about the Saturn LS are about the lighting — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

213

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

8

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

2000 LS 74 34.7%

Median failure at 60,500 miles

2001 LS 57 26.8%

Median failure at 58,876 miles

2002 LS 81 38.0%

Median failure at 61,050 miles

2004 LS 1 0.5%

Median failure at 86,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Saturn LS Nanticoke, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #11519745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn LS Livingston, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HAVING TROUBLE WITH BRAKE LIGHTS BULBS AND 3RD BRAKE LIGHT

NHTSA complaint #11030708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn LS Ecorse, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE SATURN L SERIES WHEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE WILL STALL CAUSING IMMINENT HARM TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ANY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD AT NIGHT IS SO DIM THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE DRIVER. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11011455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS Logansport, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10978673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn LS at 190,000 miles Salem, OR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I'M HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS RECALL 05V245000. EXAMINING MY CAR CONFIRMS THIS WAS NOT REPLACED. IT HAS SHORTED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES HAVING ME DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME WITH NO LIGHTS! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10970631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn LS at 7,704 miles Springfield, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SIGNAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CANCEL CAM ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,704.

NHTSA complaint #10864012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS Abon, IN Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10845598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 186,000 miles Mason City, IA Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10789655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn LS at 152,680 miles Aurora, CO Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE HIGH BEAMS FAILED TO TURN OFF CAUSING THE CONTACT TO DETACH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,680.

NHTSA complaint #10758726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 60,000 miles Raleigh, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10607530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn LS at 253,625 miles Traverse City, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2000 SATURN LS 1 THAT I HAD BOUGHT IN JUNE 14 2012 @ THE US TRUCK & AUTO ON US. 31 SOUTH HERE IN TRAVERSE CITY MICHIGAN 49685. THE SALESPERSON'S NAME IS[XXX]. I WAS ON CRAIGS LIST LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE CAR AND I CAME UPON US TRUCK & AUTO AND WYANE WOULD NOT LET ME TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND THAT THE CAR IS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION UNTIL MARCH 14,2014 MY WHEEL CAME OFF AT A STOPLIGHT GETTING TO GO ON GREEN BUT DIDN'T MOVE FAR. AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR THE DOME LIGHT WASN'T WORKING AND A WIRE HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE DAYTIME HEAD LAMP AND BURNED OUT TAIL LIGHTS. SINCE I PURCHASED IT AT A CAR DEALERSHIP I TOOK THEY HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BUT LEARNED LATER THAT WAYNE DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE VEHICLES INSPECTED THAT HE PUTS ON HIS LOTS BUT SELLS LEMONS. HE WOULD RATHER SALE A LEMON OR A VEHICLE THAT WILL IN DANGER A PERSON THEN TO FOLLOW THE LAWS AND MAKE SURE THE VEHICLES ARE ROAD SAFE BEFORE HE SELLS THEM. I NEEDED A CAR BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS ISSUES WITH HER BACK AND LEGS PLUS WE LIVE 7 TO 8 MILES OUT OF TRAVERSE CITY, MI AND DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. MY FRIEND AND I LOVE THIS CAR THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE FAIRLY NEW. WE HAVE TRIED TO ASK FOR HELP GETTING THE CAR FIXED FROM CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BUT EVEN THEY BARELY HAVE THE MONEY TO HELP. THE BUSES HERE REFUSE TO WORK FOR US AND TAXIS ARE WAY TO MUCH MONEY TO TAKE US SHOPPING FOR FOOD OR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. PLEASE HELP US GET OUR CAR FIXED OR MAYBE EVEN A DIFFERENT 4 CYLINDER CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10598667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 89,500 miles Duluth, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10577138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 107,000 miles Rockford, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10575766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn LS at 77,800 miles Kihei, HI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB HAD BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE TAIL-LIGHT ASSEMBLY AROUND THE BULB OPENING TO MELT AND PREVENT THE BULB FROM BEING PULLED OUT. I CHECKED THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT MELTED BUT THERE WAS BLACK BURN MARKS ON THE WIRE HARNESS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB PLUGS INTO. FIVE OF THE SIX CENTER-HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHTS HAD ALSO BURNED OUT BUT NO MELTING OR CHARRED MARKS WERE NOTED. I ALSO HAVE A CRACK IN THE CENTER PART OF THE VANITY TRUNK ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER, HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO LIGHTS IN THE ASSEMBLY SO IT IS NOT A BIG CONCERN FOR ME.

NHTSA complaint #10565007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn LS Stoneham, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, TAIL LAMPS HAD OVER HEATING ISSUE, NHTSA ISSUED RECALL ON 2 JUNE 2005, SATURN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, SAYING AUTO IS TO OLD. DATE FOR FIXING ISSUE IS 10 YEARS FROM DATE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. WAS TOLD BY A SATURN "CUSTOMER CARE REP." THAT ADAPTERS WERE INSTALLED IN FEB 2009. AUTO WASN'T REGISTERED IN 2009, AND NO ADAPTERS HAVE EVER BEEN INSTALLED. I AM A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN LIVING ON A VERY MEAGER MONTHLY INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THESE LAMPS. I AM DRIVING THIS AUTO WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, ASIDE FROM ANTI-COLLISION LAMP AT TOP OF REAR WINDSHIELD. I HOPE THIS LETTER HAS MORE IMPACT THAN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AS OF TODAY. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #10563367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 128,000 miles Lexington, KY Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10553183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn LS Long Beach, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WASN'T IN A ACCIDENT THANK GOD BUT I BOUGHT THIS CAR GOING ON A YEAR FROM A AUCTION AND IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO NOTICED THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT AND THEN JUST WOULDN'T COME BACK ON I TRIED EVERYTHING. AD OF 10/6/2013. I CHANGE THE FUSES THE BRAKE. LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ONE NIGHT AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.SO NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS. AND I WANTED.TO SEE IF I COULD STILL GET IT FIXED ON THE RECALL BECAUSE I CANT DRIVE MY CAR LIKE THIS AND IT NEED TO BE FIXED. AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS CAR AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL AND THIS IS SERIOUS AND ANY OTHER RECALLS ON THIS CAR THAT NEED TO BE FIXED I NEED IT.

NHTSA complaint #10547216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn LS at 130,000 miles Olathe, KS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AND STARTS BLINKING ALSO THE TAIL LAMP BULB MELTS THE PLASTIC ON BULB.

NHTSA complaint #10531873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 110,000 miles Schertz, TX Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10508236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn LS at 68,000 miles Hanover Township, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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??

NHTSA complaint #10507188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn LS problems