Eletrical woes continue

NHTSA Campaign ID: 05V245000 (also GM Recall No. 05052)
* Affected Vehicles: Certain 2000-2002 Saturn LS and 2000-2004 Saturn LW (L-Series sedans and wagons). This recall affected over 300,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.
* Reason for Recall: The plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly could become distorted if the brake lamps remained on for an extended period.
* Consequence: This distortion could lead to:
* An intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb.
* A short circuit that opens a fuse, causing inoperative brake lamps (including the center high-mounted stop lamp) or tail lamps.
* This poses a significant safety risk as a following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, increasing the risk of a rear-end crash.
* Remedy: Dealers were instructed to install a reinforcing socket adapter (and corresponding new socket) to the back of the existing lamp assembly. If necessary, a new lamp assembly would be installed. This repair was to be performed free of charge.
* Recall Start Date: Expected to begin in September 2005.
This recall was initiated partly due to a defect petition by the North Carolina Consumers Council, a consumer advocacy organization, which highlighted repeat brake and tail light failures in these vehicles.
How to Check if Your Specific Saturn L-Series has an Open Recall:
Even though this recall is from 2005, it's possible that some vehicles were never brought in for the repair. To determine if your specific Saturn L-Series has any open recalls, you should use your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
* Find your VIN: It's usually on the driver's side dashboard (viewable through the windshield) or on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb. It's also on your vehicle's registration or insurance documents.
* Use the NHTSA website: Go to NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. This is the most authoritative source for recall information.
* Use RepairPal or Kelley Blue Book: Websites like RepairPal (e.g., repairpal.com/saturn/recalls) or Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com/saturn/recall/) also offer VIN lookup tools for recalls.
If your Saturn L-Series has this or any other open recall, contact a former Saturn (now typically a GM-affiliated) dealer to schedule the free repair.

 

You may need to get the recall kit to retrofit the new bulb sockets. Can't say

Also, check for distortion of the tail light housings as described above. That may be the root cause for your issues. I'm thinking the recall was of course done back in the day but if they did not replace the tail lamps, it's possible that they continued to distort over the years and those burn marks are from it creating shorts. It's a lot of current running back there to do the lights.