Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH

32 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:back up lights:switch issues across 13 makes and 29 models.

The exterior lighting:back up lights:switch is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 32 filings from 13 manufacturers and 29 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 10 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 2 filings, followed by DODGE NEON and DODGE CARAVAN. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

32
Complaints
29
Models Affected
2
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2
2 DODGE NEON 2
3 DODGE CARAVAN 2
4 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1
5 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 1
6 TESLA MODEL Y 1
7 SAAB 9000 1
8 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1
9 PLYMOUTH NEON 1
10 NISSAN VERSA NOTE 1
11 JEEP CHEROKEE 1
12 HYUNDAI GENESIS 1
13 GMC SIERRA 1
14 FORD FOCUS 1
15 FORD EXPLORER 1
16 FORD BRONCO 1
17 EAGLE TALON 1
18 DODGE SRT-4 1
19 DODGE RAM 3500 1
20 DODGE RAM 2500 1
21 DODGE RAM 1500 1
22 DODGE RAM 1
23 DODGE DURANGO 1
24 DODGE DAKOTA 1
25 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1
26 CHEVROLET SONOMA 1
27 CHEVROLET S10 1
28 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1
29 CHEVROLET BLAZER 1

Recent Complaints

2020 TESLA MODEL Y

In a recent software update, my Model Y’s backup camera has essentially become inoperable. Sometimes the backup camera does not display, or if it does the video feed lags significantly from real tim

2009 HYUNDAI GENESIS

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that she noticed that the brake lights would not illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated there was no warning ligh

2015 NISSAN VERSA NOTE Crash

2015 NISSAN VERSA NOTE SV SUFFERS FROM FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT LIGHT UP THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE BRAKE LIG

1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK: 1. THE WHEELS ARE MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING; REPLACED BRAKES, ROTORS, HAD TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED AND NEW ALIGNMENT DONE WITH NO HELP

1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

TAIL LIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE FAULT WA S THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE WHICH HAD A RECALL ISSUED. PONTIAC WAS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE R

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

REGARDING RECALL 07V063000. I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL DAY. I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A PROB

1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 4/30/07 PER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E049000. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE

2005 DODGE SRT-4

***MODEL IS INCORRECT BECAUSE TRUE MODEL, 3500 PICKUP, IS NOT OFFERED AS SELECTION*** BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN SHIFTER WAS HELD IN REVERSE. BACK UP LIGHTS EVENTUALLY BECAME INOPERATIVE

2005 DODGE RAM 3500

BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN SHIFTER HELD IN REVERSE. EVENTUALLY BACK UP LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS SWITCH FAILURE. NOT REPLACED YET. *NM

2004 DODGE RAM 2500

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE SENSOR IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT TURNS ON MY REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED. I REPLACED MY SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. I AM CONC

2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT YET ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE SAFETY/SIGNALLING LIGHT SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. RECENTLY, MY REVERSE LIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, REDUCING VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING UP AT NI

2001 FORD FOCUS

THE LIGHT BULB AND FUSES OF THE REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS MELTED TOGETHER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTBULBS, THUS THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS FIN

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Fire

TAILIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. COMPONENT CAUGHT FIRE.

1998 DODGE DURANGO

VEHICLE ACQUIRED IN JULY OF 2004. ALL COMPONENT SYSTEM FAILURES LISTED HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THAT TIMEFRAME. ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO TWO (2) FREEZE PLUGS THAT FAILED BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AN

1987 FORD BRONCO Fatal

I HAVE A 1987 FORD BRONCO XLT THAT I BOUGHT FROM J AND L AUTO. IT HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO BLINKERS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE STUCK ON BRIGHT. THE BACK WINDOW IS PLEXY GLASS, ALSO NONE OF THE HOSE ARE H

1997 FORD EXPLORER

CONSUMER IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED HAS HAD TO REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. SWITCH CONTROLS FUNCTIONS OF HEAD LIGHTS, WIPERS, HIGH/LOW BEAMS, ETC. THE MOST

1996 GMC SIERRA

THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM

1995 EAGLE TALON

REVERSE LIGHT FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BACK UP LAMP SWITCH . *YH

1994 CHEVROLET SONOMA

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IF CONSUMER JIGGLES CIRCUIT BOARD THEY WILL COME BACK ON. BUT, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNEC

1998 DODGE DAKOTA Crash

ENGINE EXPERIENCES ROUGH AND LOW IDLE, AND STALLING, DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE BODY, MANIFOLD GASKETS, AND VALVE BODY, HOWEVER STALLING STILL EXISTS, DEALER STATED THE COMBINATION OF STOPPING, SHIF

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve exterior lighting:back up lights:switch issues?
The NHTSA has received 32 complaints about exterior lighting:back up lights:switch problems across 29 vehicle models from 13 manufacturers.
How dangerous are exterior lighting:back up lights:switch defects?
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH issues have been linked to 2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 10 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most exterior lighting:back up lights:switch problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for exterior lighting:back up lights:switch issues is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 2 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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