Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

2,042 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:brake lights issues across 44 makes and 380 models.

The exterior lighting:brake lights is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,042 filings from 44 manufacturers and 380 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 43 crashes, 30 fires, 26 injuries, and 10 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 137 filings, followed by PONTIAC G6 and CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. 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.

2,042
Complaints
380
Models Affected
43
Crashes
30
Fires
10
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET MALIBU 137
2 PONTIAC G6 119
3 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 96
4 SATURN LS 54
5 CHEVROLET BLAZER 54
6 HYUNDAI SONATA 48
7 FORD TAURUS 48
8 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 37
9 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 36
10 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 35
11 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 34
12 MERCURY VILLAGER 28
13 MERCURY SABLE 26
14 FORD WINDSTAR 26
15 FORD F-150 26
16 FORD EXPLORER 26
17 CHEVROLET VENTURE 24
18 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 23
19 CHEVROLET LUMINA 23
20 TOYOTA CAMRY 20
21 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 19
22 FORD FOCUS 19
23 SATURN AURA 18
24 GMC JIMMY 17
25 FORD RANGER 17
26 CHEVROLET COLORADO 16
27 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 15
28 HONDA ACCORD 14
29 BMW 325I 14
30 FORD ESCORT 13

Recent Complaints

2019 KIA FORTE

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact was notified by her son that the third brake light was burned and was melting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted a

2012 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake lights and taillights failed to function as intended. The neighbor who was driving behind t

2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V438000 (Electrical System). While placing the

2021 RAM 3500

Both front ball joints wore out at 20,000 miles The 3rd break light leaks into the cab at 26,000 miles & won't be warrantied even though there's an active recall for our same truck, same part just di

2023 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that the brake light located near the rear window was inope

2025 FORD MAVERICK

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the brake light located near the rear window was inopera

2023 FORD F-450 SD

Notable brake application pressure without brake light illumination. See attached file for details.

2019 MINI CLUBMAN

The contact owns a 2019 Mini Clubman. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Left Brake Light Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle returned to normal functional

2019 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off

2026 TESLA MODEL Y

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in the Standard Mode or in Cruise Mode, depressing the brake pedal, there was a delay with the brake lights illumin

2021 FORD BRONCO

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the roof. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle started rolling down the hill. The contact state

2014 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the brake lights remained illuminated. The brake and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additi

2017 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the center high-mounted third stop light was full of condensation, causing the light to become extremely dim. There was no warning light illu

2021 FORD BRONCO

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the brake warning lamp remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the

2025 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L

The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illumi

2023 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact's wife owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the right turn signal light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact's wife

2019 DODGE JOURNEY

The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear brake lights intermittently illuminated independently. The brake warning light was illuminated.

2019 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was water inside the driver's side rear taillight, causing a malfunction of the rear brake lights. The contact stated that the brake l

2019 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owned a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle before the vehicle jerked forward. There was no

2007 PONTIAC G6

The contact owns a 2007 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control became inoperable. The contact stated that the cruise control inadvertently disengaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve exterior lighting:brake lights issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,042 complaints about exterior lighting:brake lights problems across 380 vehicle models from 44 manufacturers.
How dangerous are exterior lighting:brake lights defects?
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS issues have been linked to 43 crashes, 30 fires, 26 injuries, and 10 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most exterior lighting:brake lights problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for exterior lighting:brake lights issues is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 137 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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