Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Saturn LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recall NHTSA campaign id number 05V245000. Component: exterior lighting brake lights. I had my recall service done on dec. 26 2005. On nov. 27th 2009. I got pulled over by the police. My rear running and brake lights were out. No ticket because I was close to home. Took it to a mechanic the next day to find out that both light bulbs were broke. Plastic melted down and hit the bulbs. Tried to replace bulbs but the melted plastic was in the way. I took pictures of the melted plastic. Went to Saturn dealer to have them look at it and they said that a front driver side parking light was out and it had condensation under the lens. They said that shorted the rear lights. They replaced the bulbs by grinding the melted plastic out of the way. They said they did not but there was no way to get the bulb past the melted plastic. I took more pictures. So the lights work for now. …
Like several other registrants to this site, my 2002 Saturn l200 sedan is experiencing intermittent headlight flickering (off). This problem started after some front work was necessary last year following a collision with a deer and restorative front end work including a new headlight, body and air conditioning/cooling components replacement. The headlights momentarily flicker off while driving. This was initially accompanied with the turn signal stalk becoming hot. We had the car into the dealership twice for the problem and they changed the stalk, but the problem with the headlights continues. They were unable to duplicate the problem and suggested that electrical consumption requirements in the vehicle cause momentary fluctuations. Of course, we never experienced these "fluctuations" prior to the repair work. The headlight flickers off at regular 27 second intervals intervals. …
1. My 2002 Saturn lw200 has intermittent flashing of head lights and dash lights, it has gotten worse with the age of the vehicle. 2. Happens multiple times while traveling at night on dark country roads, causing momentary loss of road visibility and gauges. This will happen up ten times consecutively after lifting off the accelerator pedal. This will occur nearly every time the car is driven, yet not knowing if it is happening on daytime driving lights. 3. The manufacture is stating this is a "normal characteristic" of the vehicle and will not service the car to correct it. This will happen on all 2000 my through 2005 my Saturn l100, l200, lw200 models. The manufactures bulletin number is as follows #04-08-42-001a and states that the cause of it is from "transient current loads on electrical system". …
Dt*: the contact stated recall letter #05V245000 concerning the brake lights was received in December 2005. However, the vehicle was not experiencing any problems and was not taken to the dealer for immediate repair. Recently, the contact was alerted by another driver that the brake lights were not working. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for inspection, and the dealer installed two tail lights, reinforced socket adapters and sockets under the recall. Also, the dealer determined the brake light switch needed to be replaced, but this work has not been completed. When the vehicle was taken from the dealer, the cruise control no longer worked, the gear shift became difficult to shift into drive, and the parking lights and brake lights no longer worked. The dealer informed the contact these items failed as a result of the need to replace the brake light switch. Updated 05/30/06.
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??
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
Remedy: Dealers will install two new tail lamp reinforcing socket adapters and sockets free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2005. Owners May contact Saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
NHTSA investigations
Headlamps flicker off and on
This pe was opened based on six odi complaints that headlamps flicker off and on, and two odi complaints that the switch is hot to the touch.the investigation has found no occurrences of headlamps going out.the complaints are due to sporadic dimming (flickering) of the headlamps as a result of variation of the voltage to the headlamps.GM has shown that a 1.5 -2.0 voltage drop occurs when other electrical devices are…
Headlight complaints in other LS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Saturn LS?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Saturn LS, 15% of the model year's 493 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Saturn LS headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-245 (brake lights, Jun 2, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Saturn LS headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.