2002 Saturn LS: headlights failing or too dim

Filed May 26, 2020 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · WI

Mechanic found short circuit in tail lamp assemblies causing brake lights to come on, and stay on, when headlamps do.

Filed Apr 16, 2017 · Driver assistance, Lights · IN

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.

Filed Nov 10, 2015 · Engine, Lights · 186,000 miles · IA · fire

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.

Filed Apr 3, 2014 · Lights · 89,500 miles · GA

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.

Filed Nov 21, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 128,000 miles · KY · fire

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.

Filed Apr 4, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 68,000 miles · PA

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??

Filed Jan 27, 2010 · Lights, Locks · 148,000 miles · MS

2002 saturn l100, 148000 miles, primary safety concern is headlights will shut off spontaneously while driving at night. Other issues include spontaneous/erratic actuation of wipers, dome light, and door locks, as well as flashing of high beams and drl lamps. Also erratic instrumentation anomalies, e.g. "security" lamp illuminates and shuts off, "change oil soon" lamp flashes, all gages flick from zero to normal, etc.

Filed May 8, 2009 · Lights · NC

Headlights flicker at random times. I am the second owner purchased the 2002 model in 2003. This has happened for as long as I have had the car. I reported the problem to the dealership and was told this is a known problem, but it is normal / not major and nothing can be done to fix it. It is annoying and startling to me, especially when I am driving on a dark road. When it happens, I get an adrenaline rush and automatically fear there is a serious electrical problem and that the car might shut down at any moment. I have to remind myself that it is a known problem. I also worry that other drivers may interpret it as some sort of signal.

Filed Mar 7, 2008 · Engine · 56,423 miles · KY

This vehicle has had 3 catalytic converters replaced. The first one when the car was made, second one was installed 09/17/2004, which was put on backwards by the dealership, which caused my exhaust manifold to crack in several places and the third catalytic converter was installed on 03/03/2005, six months after the second one. I have strong exhaust fumes inside my vehicle. I have asked the saturn dealership why so many converters are having to be replaced and they tell me it's either cheap gas or lack of tune-ups. They want $2,000.00 to replace the manifold and another converter. Also, my head lights keep flickering. I am the second owner of this car, so when I started having problems with it, I had the dealership do a history summary on the vehicle and noticed the first owner had the same problems that never had been resolved.

Filed Nov 2, 2007 · Electrical, Lights · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saturn l200. While driving 20 MPH, the instrument panel lights and headlights flash and flicker randomly. The instrument panel lights flicker in the daytime and the contact noticed the headlights flickering at night. She has taken the vehicle to the dealer and was given a handout stating that it was normal. The dealer was unable to remedy the failure. She filed a complaint with chrysler. The current mileage was 49,700 and the failure mileage was unknown. The dealer stated that consumer hears a whistling noise upon acceleration, windows make chirping noise when rolling them up, and heater works intermittently. Updated 11/27/07

Filed Aug 23, 2007 · Lights · 27,877 miles · CA

2002 saturn l-200 with head light switch problem customer states that the switch shorts out which causes head lights to come on and drain the battery**cc the consumer stated that his vehicle had a faulty headlight switch that shorts and causes the battery to go dead. At times the headlights would come on when the vehicle was parked.

Filed Jul 13, 2007 · Electrical, Lights · 92,116 miles · TX

Electronic controle computer shorted out. Stopped working at 92000mi. Alarm did not work, key fob did not work, transmission inter lock would not disengage, fuel gauge did not work, temp gauge did not work, no instrument lights, high beam lamp on pass. Side inop., flickering headlights and dash lights reported multiple times to saturn of abilene, tx. Told it's a known problem, but saturn doesn't know the fix. Saturn of temple reported there was a short under the fuse box on the driver's side which shorted out the bcm, horn, high beam and turn signal switch. Cost: $600 for issues brought to their attention multiple times while under warranty.