11 problems related to tail light have been reported for the 2001 Saturn LS. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Saturn has a recall on tail light assemblies. I have a 2001 l series Saturn. Bought it from olds dealer in helena mt. There are no Saturn dealers in montana. I called the 800# in the recall letter and they said to go to underriner olds in billings, approximately 240 miles away. I bought it at an olds dealer two miles from my house. Seems to me they could authorize that or pay me a couple of days wages, gas, motel, per diem or have it fixed in helena!!! this is really stupid, because my taillights are defective and keep wiggling lose and I lose my brake and tail lights.
Fyi - comment not a complaint the issue of the tail light going dim or just out. Saturn is aware of this issue and they are starting a campaign to replace the tail light on the 00-02 l series starting in October. If the taillight problem is causing to many problem - you local dealership at no cost replace with the same tail light, but you will still have to have your tail light replaced once the new design ones come in. Want more info - call Saturn customer service 1-800-553-6000.
The tail/brake lights on my 2001 Saturn l200 work on and off, more often off than on. I have been to the dealer and was told that there have been many complaints about the same problem but since there was no recall issued for this that I would be charged at least $350. 00 to make any necessary repairs. One of the service department employees told me that the tail/brake lamps were defective so I'm wondering why a recall has not been issued. How many complaints or accidents are required to have a product recalled. For over a year I was buying replacement bulbs and thinking that I didn't know what I was doing installing them when in actuality it's not the bulb at all, I'm wondering how many others have made my mistake.
Repeat tail lamp assembly failure. Circuitry at point where socket attaches has failed again, resulting in repeat replacement of tail lamp assembly. When the assembly fails, vehicle has no brake lights.
Dealer found brake tail lights were defective. The lights would not work or dim when driver applied the brake. Dealer says this problem is inherent to Saturn l series; apparently due to bulb not making contact with socket on circuit board assembly.
Right rear tail light went dim, then inoperative. Electrical connectors holding bulb socket to the circuit board has corroded or weakened. Necessary to replace tail lamp assembly. Left side already replaced for a similar concern.
Tail light assembly is poorly designed. Tail light fails so that brake lights, including the center mounted brake light, are "on" showing the car brakes applied anytime the car lights are on. Cruise control fails to engage, or if engaged at the time of failure forces car to accelerate. If I reset the plug in brake bulb the failure goes away for approximately 1 week when the failure reasserts itself.
Brought car in for Saturn "safety campaign" and for scheduled oil change and was told that one of my tail light assemblies was burnt out and needed to be replaced. Costly repair resulted from substandard parts, as seems many other people with this model of vehicle, who post on an internet message board are suffering from the same issue. Part replaced, old part not available.
The brake lights went out when the headlights were turned on. The dealership indicated it was due to a faulty circuit board in the tail light assembly. The dealership replaced the faulty part with an updated tailgate assembly.
I personally don't own one of these vehicles, but have worked for the manufacturer of these vehicles. I worked for Saturn for a couple years and have long since known there was a problem with the my 00-02 l-series taillights. Almost 100% of every l-series needs new taillights due to an electrical short. To add to the problem, Saturn has not redesigned the taillights, they are just putting the same products back on the car. When this occurs, the customer feels the vehicle was taken care of, then a couple months down the road, one or both of the taillights don't work again.
Tail lights have been failing intermittently since Jan 2002.