FaultScore

Saturn SL headlight problems

44 of the 2,891 complaints filed about the Saturn SL are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

44

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1993 SL 2 4.5%
1994 SL 4 9.1%
1995 SL 4 9.1%

Median failure at 103,500 miles

1996 SL 5 11.4%
1997 SL 3 6.8%
1998 SL 8 18.2%

Median failure at 180,000 miles

1999 SL 3 6.8%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2000 SL 7 15.9%

Median failure at 25,500 miles

2001 SL 3 6.8%

Median failure at 190,000 miles

2002 SL 5 11.4%

Median failure at 35,000 miles

What owners said

2001 Saturn SL at 190,000 miles Sanford, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10826037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 60,000 miles Bronx, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS LOW ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V158000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10594901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Cincinnati, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE GM IGNITION PROBLEMS PROMPTING THE CURRENT RECALL ALSO AFFECTED THE CAR ABOVE. I BOUGHT THE 2002 SATURN NEW IN MARCH OF 2003, AND OWNED IT FOR OVER 10 YEARS, SELLING IT LAST FALL TO A FRIEND. I HAD IT AT THE JAKE SWEENEY (CINCINNATI) DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR STRANGE "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS. (CAR DID NOT HAVE AUTO DOOR LOCKS OR WINDOWS - EVERYTHING WAS MANUAL). I WOULD BE DRIVING, WHEN ALL THE DASH GAUGES WOULD GO OUT. IT WOULD REGISTER NO SPEED, NO TEMP, NO GAS, NO RPMS. ODOMETER DIDN'T MOVE. I COULD DRIVE THE CAR, STOP AND START. THEN SUDDENLY IT WOULD "COME TO". THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT I WAS NUTS, UNTIL FINALLY IN EARLY 2013, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS DOING IT. AFTER DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS, THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION. THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE THING (AT MY EXPENSE) AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEY SAID "WERE YOU AWARE THAT YOU COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE?" (I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE).

NHTSA complaint #10569374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL at 180,000 miles Halifax, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL2 SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #10386884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 35,000 miles Torrington, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BULB WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

NHTSA complaint #10368496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 90,000 miles Orange, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE HAS REPLACED THE FUSE AND BOLTS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SHORTAGES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10197898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL Bonner Springs, KS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

2002 SATURN SL1. CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY**CC THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORK FINE. THE DASH LIGHT ALSO STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10183710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL Spotsylvania, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS BOARD HAS ALLOWED THE USE OF "DRIVING LIGHTS" ON CARS ON OUR HIGHWAYS. THESE LIGHTS ARE MISUSED CONSTANTLY AND POSE (IN MY OPINION) A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE USED FOR DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT DURING DUSK AND EVENING HOURS. THEY PRESENT A REDUCED VISIBILITY AND A DANGER TO OTHER DRIVERS. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM SINCE THEY DO NOT TURN ON THE TAIL LIGHTS. COMING UP ON SUCH A VEHICLE USING DRIVING LIGHTS AT DUSK IN THE RAIN IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC ACCIDENTS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I BET THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE. I AM NOT SURE THE AUTHORITIES ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL CAUSE OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

NHTSA complaint #10174922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Appleton, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

I WAS STOPPED BY A FELLOW DRIVER A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED MY LIGHTS AND REALIZED THAT WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL OF THE 2000 SL1'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10146283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Saint Louis, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER DRIVER TO OBSERVED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKE LIGH CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10090050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 33,000 miles Worthington, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ELECTRICAL, OVERHEATING OF CONTACTS RESULTS IN FAULTY OPERATION, DELER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS TYPE ON THIS VEHICLE. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10030935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 9,500 miles Green, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON OR OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS, FLICKERED. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. *AK *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10027101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 18,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR,

NHTSA complaint #10005204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Saturn SL at 103,500 miles Bloomfield, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

THE TURN SIGNAL HAD BROKEN WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSED THE SIGNALS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. TS THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE MOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, BUT SEIZED ONTO THE COLUMN. THE COLUMN WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10001364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Hermitage, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BACK IN AUGUST I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ONLY TO LEARN THAT I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE. BASED ON THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW YET SATURN CORP DOES NOT FEEL IT WARRANTS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PART HAS APPARENTLY BEEN REDESIGNED TO FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM. (THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD SEEN MANY CARS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE FAULTY PARTS HAD SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED). I EXPRESSED MY DISGUST IN A SATURN CUSTOMER SURVEY AND REQUESTED THAT I BE CONTACTED BY PHONE. TWO MONTHS LATER, ON 10/16/02 I SPOKE WITH "BRIAN" FOR ABOUT 30 MIN AND AFTER IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD POSSIBLY DO REGARDING THE SITUATION, HE SAID HE WOULD PASS MY COMPLAINT(S) ON TO THE AUTHORITIES AND SOMEONE WOULD FOLLOW-UP. I'M STILL WAITING. IRONICALLY, PRIOR TO GETTING THE CALL FROM "BRIAN" AT SATURN, I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM ANOTHER VISIT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE OIL CHANGE TO BE COMPLETED, THE SAME SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO HAD INFORMED ME OF MY BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM PROCEEDED TO GIVE THE EXACT SAME SPEECH TO A WOMAN WAITING NEXT TO ME. SHE TOO WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN SHE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND THIS CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT (AS THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED AFTER HIS STAFF HAD ALREADY TOLD ME OTHERWISE DURING MY PREVIOUS VISIT). DT

NHTSA complaint #770336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Saturn SL Albany, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HEADLIGHTS ON SUVS ARE TOO HIGH. HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHTS & WELL THEY COME INTO THE BACK OF YOUR WINDOW AND THEY BLIND YOU COMPLETELY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #760716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Lansdowne, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #757707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL West Sacramento, CA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR OVERHEAD SAGGING ABOVE DOME LIGHT, TRIED TO HAVE DEALER FIX (SAME CONDITION AFTER "REPAIR"). TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON FAILED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. ASH TRAY LIGHT FAILED 3 TIMES, DEALER REPLACED. VENTILATION BLOWER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED - ALL OTHER SPEEDS BURNED OUT OVER 2 WEEKS (COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING). REMOTE CONTROL WORKS HALF OF THE TIME, NO IMPROVEMENT AFTER DEALER REPLACED BATTERIES, SAYING "WHITE FILM" WAS A KNOWN CAUSE OF REMOTES NOT WORKING. CHANGE OIL LIGHT CAME ON 1000MILES AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE, COINCIDING WITH FAN BLOWER BURNING OUT. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES BECAUSE OF IRREGULAR WEARING ON REAR AND PREMATURE ALIGNMENT DRIFT ON THE FRONT. BRAKE DUST IS EXCESSIVE - FRONT RIMS ALWAYS COATED BLACK FROM DUST. SOME HESITATION WHEN AUTOMATIC IS SHIFTING GEARS. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED AFTER 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" COMING ON WHILE ACCELERATING. ADDING 1LITER ENGINE COOLANT PER MONTH - NO LEAKS NOTED UNDER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #754463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL West Islip, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC

NHTSA complaint #898710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Saturn SL Deltona, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #753787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn SL problems