2000 Saturn LS Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 62about this part
- Share
- 16%of 382 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 62 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2000 Saturn LS, 16% of the 382 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The brake and tail lights reapeatedly fail to work correctly. The lights will fail to illuminate. There is a design problem in the tail light assemblies. Saturn is aware of the problem and has issued a service bulletin but has failed to recall the assemblies. I've also noticed the lamp sockets are starting to overheat and melt. I've replaced the sockets.”
NHTSA complaint #10116843, filed 2005-04, 35,000 miles“I noticed my brake lights and tail lights were not working all the time...upon further inspection it appears that the brake lights do not work when the headlights and/or tail lights are on. There is definitely a wiring problem... I have had several electrical problems with this vehicle, which is only 4 years old... The door locks and electric windows have been broken, and the intermittent wiper setting does not work properly.”
NHTSA complaint #10098456, filed 2004-11, 70,000 miles“Constantly having people tell me my brake lights don't work. I've replaced bulbs and get them working for awhile and now I've come to the conclusion that tail light assembly is a bad design. The bulb holder contacts that light up the brake light does not always stay in contact with the tail light assembly. I get it working for awhile and then someone tells me my brake lights don't work. Other electrical problems with this car - heater/AC blower quit working and truck release switch on dash board quit working.”
NHTSA complaint #10106324, filed 2005-01, 12,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10033374, filed 2003-08, 57,000 miles“Rear taillight assembly improperly manufactured on 2000 Saturn l-series sedan causes arcing in brake light bulb/socket and caused fuse to blow rendering parking lights inoperable. I have replaced the sockets 3 times and replaced an entire left rear tail light assembly. The right assembly is original. Dealership stated there was a redesign of the tail light assembly to correct the problem. The tail light assembly cost $100 to replace (I did the labor myself). The cost to replace 3 sockets has been at a cost of $25/socket=$75 so far. …”
NHTSA complaint #10095877, filed 2004-10, 44,000 milesRelated recalls
- 05V245000Jun 2, 2005On 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.Covers: Saturn LS 2000–2002, L200 2003, L300 2004
- 99V199000Jul 26, 1999Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated…Covers: Saturn LS 2000
Related service bulletins
- 10232136Feb 15, 2023This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2000 Saturn LS
140 complaintsElectrical system
63 complaintsSteering
35 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsSuspension
28 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsTires
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsFuel system
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 Saturn LS
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology