Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1,149 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:brake lights:switch issues across 41 makes and 240 models.
The exterior lighting:brake lights:switch is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,149 filings from 41 manufacturers and 240 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 26 crashes, 22 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 116 filings, followed by CHEVROLET BLAZER and FORD TAURUS. 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.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 116 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 71 |
| 3 | FORD TAURUS | 66 |
| 4 | CHEVROLET COLORADO | 62 |
| 5 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 39 |
| 6 | MERCURY SABLE | 37 |
| 7 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 36 |
| 8 | FORD MUSTANG | 33 |
| 9 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 24 |
| 10 | VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 22 |
| 11 | FORD WINDSTAR | 22 |
| 12 | FORD EXPLORER | 21 |
| 13 | HYUNDAI SANTA FE | 19 |
| 14 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 16 |
| 15 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 15 |
| 16 | GMC CANYON | 14 |
| 17 | MERCURY COUGAR | 12 |
| 18 | GMC JIMMY | 12 |
| 19 | FORD F-150 | 11 |
| 20 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 10 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 10 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 10 |
| 23 | PONTIAC G6 | 9 |
| 24 | FORD ESCORT | 9 |
| 25 | HONDA CIVIC | 8 |
| 26 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 8 |
| 27 | VOLKSWAGEN GTI | 7 |
| 28 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 7 |
| 29 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 7 |
| 30 | VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE | 6 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contactâs daughter attempted to turn off the vehicle, and the brake lights remained illumi
The contact owned a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 35-45 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and rattling. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle wa
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while coming to a stop, the contact was informed by another driver that while coming to a stop the brake lights were inoperable. The contac
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, it was later discovered that the rear brake lights had remained illuminated. Upon inspection, t
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the word "Malfunction" was d
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, she was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact st
The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the passengerâs side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repair
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his partner was driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brake lights failed to activate or respond
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STUCK AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THIS REPAIR COMPLETED. IT STATES I HAVE NO ACTIVE RECALLS, HOWEVER, THE PA
My break light switch pad is broken and is causing the car to not maintain speed and sluggish acceleration. I have seen other drivers report the same failure with their cars.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to actuate as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift ou
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the brake light switch failed to operate as designed. The brake light would remain illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The c
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake light was illuminated, and the brake pedal stopper pad detached. The dealer was made aware o
Break lights stay on when truck is moving. It confuses drivers following the truck.other motorists would not know whether the truck is slowing down
Traveling on highway using cruise control at posted speed limit. Approached slowdown due to accident and applied brakes. Accelerated to limit (manually) after passing accident. I was in middle lane. V
Brake pedal stopper deterioration. The brake pedal stopper pad deteriorates, allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. If the brake light switch plun
Brake light switch pad broke , So the car thinks the brakes are on so it goes into "limp mode" and it starts turning off assist modes.
The issue is the Brake Light switch stop pad on the brake pedal which is a rubber type of plug. At 70,000 miles the brake light switch stop pad cracked and fell into floor board (see pictures). When t
Brake pedal pad failed, causing car to suddenly brake even though brakes were not being applied. Ford Dealership recommended replacing brake light switch assembly. Brake lights stayed on even after th
While driving on Interstate 10 just past SR129 in Florida my cruise control disengaged and my throttle pedal began working intermittently.Since there was no exit for about 12 miles I proceeded at the
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.