Saturn LS Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Saturn LS across 3 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (102). The words owners use most often: “control module” (9% of reports).
- 245electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $740typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Control module: mentioned in 23 of 245 complaints (9%)
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 17 of 245 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Saturn LS at $740, and half of them between $500 and $1,100.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2012), 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 electrical system problems happen?
Based on 149 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 245 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 21 a fire, 1 an injury.
Saturn LS electrical system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:module
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002
Problem: 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. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure will result in the "service engine soon" light flashing, and may lead to secondary failures of the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and exhaust resonator.
Risk: Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
Fix: 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 calibration. Owner notification began on august 4, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt 3.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
Mechanic found short circuit in tail lamp assemblies causing brake lights to come on, and stay on, when headlamps do. *tr
Car leaking oil - now engine trouble
Well first my engine control monitor is sending a bunch of random off codes from ma's air sensor vol low to crankshaft sensor volume low to o2 sensors to transmission codes, my side airbag on driver side blue up out of no were my key fob stopped reading and now my car won't start i know all of a…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saturn LSs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 245 owner complaints about electrical system for the Saturn LS. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Saturn LS electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Saturn LS?
Owners report a typical cost of $740 (half paid between $500 and $1,100), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Saturn LS?
The most frequent phrase is “control module”, in 23 of 245 complaints, followed by “ignition switch” (17).
Other Saturn LS problems
See all Saturn LS problems.