2000 Saturn LS Headlight Problems

Which parts fail

• Brake lights
  30
• Tail lights
  17
• Turn signal › Switch
  4
• Headlights
  3
• Turn signal
  3
• Tail lights › Switch
  2

Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  721%
• 25k–50k
  618%
• 50k–75k
  927%
• 75k–100k
  412%
• 100k–150k
  39%
• 150k+
  412%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Saturn LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Saturn ls1. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic stop, another vehicle rear-ended the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the break lights failed to alert the other driver that she was braking. There was no damage to vehicle and the police were not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a repair shop or dealer for inspection or repair. The failure occurs intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, however provided no assistance. The current and failure mileage was 154,000.

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.

My problem is with Saturn not honoring recall number 05V245000. GM recall no. 05052 my brake lights have never worked correctly on my 2000 Saturn lw station wagon. All the lights work until the brakes are applied then one side goes out, (brake and running light). The first failure occurred about a week after I purchased the car, a. I attempted the repair myself by replacing bulbs and switching the bulb sockets. When I took the car in for servicing in 2001 they replaced several bulbs and a socket. After several weeks the brake light again went out this time when the brakes were applied the brake light went out and the dash lights would dim. I again attempted the repair by switching the bulb sockets. On or about 03/2005 when I was trying to figure out the problem with the brake lights I noticed that the plastic housing and the plastic bulb socket on one side was melted. …

Recently my infant daughter just barely avoided being seriously injured when the rear window brake light on the 2000 ls1 suddenly and unexpectedly detached and fell while driving. We had checked with the dealership, who told me that no recall had been issued because of this problem, and the technician could find no reason why it should have fallen. His solution was to have us order a new part and pay a large sum of money for the part and labor to install it. A check with the NHTSA informed us that this was a known issue with 2000 l-series sedans. The NHTSA representative told us that this was due to electronics which May shift over time. Furthermore, it appeared that this I was due to a defect in the design ,and replaced the brake light assembly .would do nothing to prevent further dangerous incidents. Saturn offered to pay $55 toward the cost of replacing the part. …

Rear turn signals and brakes lights work intermittently, new bulbs have been replaced 5 times; changed sockets from right to left lights and sometimes this will work for a while. Took to Saturn garage to check and they charged me $45.00 labor and $1.25 for a new bulb. They couldn't tell me why this problem keeps reoccurring. I took my Saturn LS, 2000 into them to find the cause for this problem but received no results; unless they consider a new bulb a final fix. But the problem reoccured 2 days afterwards. I switched the sockets from right to left in the rear lights and now they are working but for how long I do not know. I just found out through my September issue of highways magazine that a recall on exterior lighting: turn signal switch was recalled in July of 1999 of the 2000 models; I purchased my LS 2000 Saturn in April of 2000. I was never notified of a recall.

The 2000 Saturn l-series has an existing recall for hazard warning switch assembly replacement (Saturn refers to it as #00-c-03, jan. 4, 2005); however, my vehicle is outside the VIN series for that recall. Nevertheless, my vehicle exhibited the symptoms described in that recall (turn signal intermittently inoperative; hazard warning switch sometimes made a loud "buzzing" sound, especially in very cold weather); I contacted Saturn; however, since vehicle was outside recall VIN range, they would not address the problem as a recall issue (I would have had to bring the vehicle in and pay for the service myself). Instead, I acquired and installed the replacement hazard warning switch from a Saturn dealer and installed it according to the recall notice instructions. Since that time, the problem has not recurred.

The headlights tend to pulse intermittently when on the road at night. Other drivers assume that this is an emergency vehicle, and tend to stop and pull over unexpectedly, which the owner anticipates that an accident can occur. Manufacturer contacted and was aware of the problem..consumer has almost been hit by 18 wheelers twice when they thought that consumer was flashing the headlights to signal okay to come over, but was actually beside the trailers. Luckily, consumer's vehicle was able to move over and avoid an accident. Saturn claimed that the lights were operating within normal parameters, and will not fix them. Consumer disagreed claiming that pulsing lights, when vehicle was cruising at 65 MPH, was not normal. Could be dangerous, and very distracting.

Currently the blower motor for the heater/defroster is not working. I have had many many problems with this car, inparticular with the brakes and steering. The rack and pinion was repaired twice. I have had brakes replaced twice, and recently the brake drums, rotators and pads. I have had the power steering pump repaired and from time to time need to have the steering wheel lubricated when it starts to make noise again. I am wondering if I am the only one with these problems or are others with this same car having the same problems. I do not feel safe when I am driving this car. I have brought it to the dealer many times to have things checked with wheels and steering.

Dt: the windshield wiper control on the steering column broke off when the consumer tried to turn the windshield wipers on. This occurred in the middle of a storm. Consumer took the vehicle to a dealer and they said there were pins missing from the steering column that caused the failure. No corrections have been made at this time. Consumer said Saturn was contacted by the dealer about this problem. Also there is a problem with the rear taillights that make them go out when the consumer hits a slight bump or pothole. The consumer can tighten the taillight and it will work properly for a while then stop. Consumer feels he should not have to pay for this.

Related recalls

Headlight complaints in other LS years