Investigations
INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS
NHTSA Defect Petition DP05001 — closed, opened 2005-02-10 and involving the SATURN SATURN.
NHTSA investigation DP05001 is a Defect Petition opened on 2005-02-10 and currently closed. The subject of record is SATURN SATURN, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for SATURN. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-02-22 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Defect Petition like DP05001 starts when a person or group formally asks NHTSA to investigate a specific alleged defect. Petitioners submit evidence, NHTSA reviews it within 120 days, and either grants the petition (opening a PE) or denies it with a written explanation in the Federal Register.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "ON JANUARY 25, 2005, A SAFETY DEFECT PETITION WAS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS ON MY 2000-2002 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES. THE PETITIONER ALLE..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related SATURN files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ON JANUARY 25, 2005, A SAFETY DEFECT PETITION WAS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPS ON MY 2000-2002 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES. THE PETITIONER ALLEGES A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND ASSEMBLY OF THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CIRCUIT BOARD AND LIGHT SOCKET CONTACT. THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED 47 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE'S (VOQ'S) ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT, AND ODI CONCURS THAT 40 OF THOSE VOQ'S SATISFY THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION. ODI HAS FOUND AN ADDITIONAL 10 VOQ'S RELATED TO THE ALLEGATION. ODI HAS GRANTED THE PETITION AND OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-010).
About This Investigation Type
A Defect Petition (DP) is initiated when an individual or organization formally petitions NHTSA to investigate a potential safety defect. NHTSA reviews the petition and decides whether to open an investigation.
Other SATURN Investigations
Electric Power Steering Failure
Electric Power Steering Failure
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.