The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saturn L200 | 2003 |
| Saturn L300 | 2004 |
| Saturn LS | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn L200 | 2003 | 138 | 4 |
| Saturn L300 | 2004 | 61 | 2 |
| Saturn LS | 2000 | 382 | 6 |
| Saturn LS | 2001 | 582 | 7 |
| Saturn LS | 2002 | 493 | 3 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2005
23 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the exterior lighting; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 05V562000 20 Dec 2005 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 05V559000 13 Dec 2005 | QUALITY COACHES INC. |
| 05V553000 6 Dec 2005 | COAST MACHINERY, INC. |
| 05V530000 7 Nov 2005 | SANTA FE VANS |
| 05V505000 1 Nov 2005 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 05V477000 14 Oct 2005 | EXPLORER VAN |
| 05V444000 4 Oct 2005 | WEEKEND WARRIOR TRAILERS INC. |
| 05V410000 15 Sept 2005 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005