Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2002 Saturn J-Type. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle's brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V245000 (Exterior Lighting), however, the part to do the recall repair is no longer being manufactured. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
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.
My daughter [redacted] was the passenger and [redacted] was driver. The kids went for drive and were found the next early morning around 6 am. The car was so burned and destroyed the kids could not be identified, and all who were there questioned the straight tire tracks without any correction or over correction in the steering of tire tracks, no braking in the county road tracks, and with fracture and damage of the skull area we later were told that the air bags never deployed! The tracks were approx 150 yrds long and went at an angle of perfection gradually pointing towards a ravine that would end both of the kids lives. We sent a forensic specialist to look at car 2 months later and was told to save our money on full report because the specialist said the car was so destroyed he couldn't make heads or tails as to a case against GM. …
A short circuit of some sort in the the headlight/turn signal switch caused a small electrical fire. While driving, the dashboard indicators showed that the daytime running lights and high beams were turning on and off on their own. When the car was turned off, the daytime running lights remained on. After a few moments, I began to smell the odor of something burning and smoke began to come out of the steering column. The smoke subsided only after I pulled the fuses on the two headlamps. The fuses did not break the circuit on their own -- the headlights did not go out until I pulled the fuses. I then called the Saturn roadside assistance hotline and asked them how to completely turn off the electrical power to the entire car (to prevent anything else from catching fire) but they were of little help. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Saturn LS. The contact stated that the rear tail lights failed to illuminate. The contact mentioned that there was an electrical malfunction that burned the sockets and wires causing the bulbs to short. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician replaced the rear tail lights three times and the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 05V245000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was not available.
Driving home I smelled an electrical burning smell. I then noticed smoke coming from the steering column. With the car off the smoke continued and the high beams were on. I drove to Saturn and they found an internal short in the head lamp switch (p/n 22679804). At no time did any fuse blow to protect the circuit. I have the old part and can see evidence of burnt/melted wires. This is a fire hazard. 2000 Saturn ls1 VIN [redacted].
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2l l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module May cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle May be hard to start.
Remedy: Dealers will (1) replace the ignition control module, (2) replace the ignition control module and spark plugs, or (3) replace the ignition control module, spark plugs, and update the powertrain control module…
NHTSA investigations
Inoperative tail lamps
General motors has decided that a safety related defect exists on certain model Saturn 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.this can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake or tail lamps (including the center high-mounted stop…
Inoperative tail lamps
On January 25, 2005, a safety defect petition was received by the office of defects investigation (odi), requesting an investigation of inoperative tail lamps on my 2000-2002 Saturn l-series vehicles.the petitioner alleges a defect in the design and assembly of the tail lamp assembly circuit board and light socket contact.the petitioner identified 47 vehicle owner questionnaire's (voq's) associated with the alleged…
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn LS years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (102), 2001 (80) and 2000 (63) model years. Electrical complaints make up 21% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for Saturn LS electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 03V-231 (module, Jun 23, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Saturn LS electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition › module (22 mentions), followed by the ignition (18).
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.