2001 Saturn LS Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2001 Saturn LS, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 59,627 miles.
- 51exterior lighting complaints
- 59,627median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the 2001 Saturn LS at $600, and half of them between $240 and $770.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2009), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 28 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 51 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury.
Saturn LS exterior lighting complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: 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.
Risk: This can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake lamps (including the center high-mounted stop lamp) or tail lamps. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Having trouble with brake lights bulbs and 3rd brake light
The saturn l series when filled with gasoline will stall causing imminent harm to the driver, passengers, and any other cars on the road. In addition, the dashboard at night is so dim that it cannot be seen by the driver. There are several electrical failures involving this vehicle.
I'm having the exact problem as recall 05v245000. Examining my car confirms this was not replaced. It has shorted out multiple times having me drive at night time with no lights! This is dangerous and has almost caused me an accident several times.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Saturn LSs have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2001 Saturn LS (9% of the 582 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Saturn LS exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 59,627 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the 2001 Saturn LS?
Owners report a typical cost of $600 (half paid between $240 and $770), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other 2001 Saturn LS problems
See all 2001 Saturn LS problems or exterior lighting problems across all LS years.