NHTSA — Exterior Lighting Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
600,850 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Saturn Vue lights problems

lights problem

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2003 Saturn Vue Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 102019

Vue

  • 3,230,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It started after turning on my headlights. I was driving home and seen and smelled like he smoke, it was coming from the ignition switch the wires were burning. I turned off car and called my boyfriend. He unclamped the ignition switch and checked, the wires were burned. Once I started the car again my dash lights were not on nor the tail lights but the headlights worked, hazard lights and blinkers all worked. So I drove home with my hazard lights on and my boyfriend following behind me. Had all fuses checked, replaced ignition switch, tail light wiring harness and the fuse box, still no dash lights nor tail lights. I did call your company for help and was told by the agent that he could not help. I did recently found out about some kind of recall. The information I found is below. Recall 05V245000 electrical & lights, October 17, 2005 original recall from the NHTSA model year(s): 2001, 2002, 2003 manufacturer's report date: October 17, 2005 NHTSA campaign id number: 05V245000 NHTSA action number: PE05010 component: Exterior lighting:brake lights potential number of units affected: 291,652

- Townsend, GA, USA

problem #5

Mar 302017

Vue

  • 156,000 miles
I bought this vehicle used as so far have lost power steering, gauges speedometer, tachometer, and have been locked in car after parking and couldn't even use manual locks, car turns itself on when rebooting computer without key in ignition..lights blink on and off, and locks lock and unlock while driving.car would not start for over an hour after putting in park.

- Needmore, PA, USA

problem #4

Dec 112016

Vue

  • miles
Car key kept getting stuck in ignition. Car will come out while it is on. Car alarm failed no warning. We replaced battery and now car has no power. When we turn key nothing happens. No lights. No power at all.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 042012

Vue 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While returning on a trip and using the turn signal normally, there were several incidents in which the turn signal sounded like it was working at about twice the normal rate, however there was no indication that the turn lights were coming on. On one particular instance, when this happened, the turn signal got extremely warm to the touch and smoke was observed coming from the switch. There were several subsequent incidents during this trip and on subsequent days, but only the one in which the switch actually smoked (which is why I indicated a fire above). When I called Saturn (GM dealership) about this, they mentioned that a similar switch was under recall, but not this one. After having replaced the turn signal switch, I had asked if Saturn wanted the defective unit. Surprisingly, Saturn didn't seem too concerned and asked me to contact the dealership. The dealership, in turn, told me that all they could determine is that there was a problem with the switch and to contact Saturn customer service. I am quite certain that if we hadn't corrected the issue (which is difficult to describe) that a more dangerous situation could've been caused, and that this switch design is faulty and may pose a safety (thermal) concern. I have kept the old switch and will gladly provide it to NHTSA if requested to do so. I didn't feel it safe to keep using the old switch, and while the cost was rather minimal to have it replaced, I'm surprised that Saturn didn't offer to reimburse me and as I stated previously, didn't request the faulty part to be returned. I have not had any similar incidents since replacing the switch, which certainly corrected it. The part number listed on the old switch is shown as being AR339790736/22679804. In order to not cause the switch to go into the mode described above, it was best to not use the turn signal any more than possible.

- Grabill, IN, USA

problem #2

Jun 172009

Vue 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 80,100 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Vue. While driving various speeds, all of the instrument panel gauges and daytime running lamps fail; however, the engine continues to operate. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and the technician stated that the master control panel was failing. The vehicle is in the process of being repaired; however, the part is currently on backorder with the manufacturer. The manufacturer will be notified. The vehicle is currently not being driven. The failure and current mileages were 80,100. Updated 08/27/09 updated 08/31/09.

- South Attleboro, MA, USA

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problem #1

Oct 092003

Vue 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles
The headlight and daytime run lights burn out when it rains... instead of finding out the cause of the problem is, the dealer just replaces the bulbs and sends me on my way. The following rainy day, there I am back at the dealer with the same problem. So far this will be the third time, not including the problems with the drivetrain/rear diff that had to be replaced, the dash and cabin rattles that none can seem to fix, and the transmission that once left me stranded at a stop sign.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

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