Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
7,660 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:headlights issues across 53 makes and 702 models.
The exterior lighting:headlights is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 7,660 filings from 53 manufacturers and 702 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 101 crashes, 133 fires, 60 injuries, and 20 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the LINCOLN MARK VIII with 493 filings, followed by TOYOTA PRIUS and PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. 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 | LINCOLN MARK VIII | 493 |
| 2 | TOYOTA PRIUS | 288 |
| 3 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 286 |
| 4 | FORD TAURUS | 160 |
| 5 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 150 |
| 6 | DODGE INTREPID | 130 |
| 7 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 126 |
| 8 | CADILLAC SRX | 126 |
| 9 | DODGE CARAVAN | 121 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 118 |
| 11 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 117 |
| 12 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 114 |
| 13 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 112 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | 102 |
| 15 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 101 |
| 16 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 98 |
| 17 | MERCURY SABLE | 77 |
| 18 | HONDA ACCORD | 73 |
| 19 | FORD CROWN VICTORIA | 73 |
| 20 | OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE | 72 |
| 21 | HONDA CIVIC | 66 |
| 22 | FORD CONTOUR | 65 |
| 23 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 63 |
| 24 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 62 |
| 25 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 59 |
| 26 | BUICK CENTURY | 58 |
| 27 | HONDA CR-V | 57 |
| 28 | OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE | 56 |
| 29 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 55 |
| 30 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 55 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights were extremely dim and failed to provide sufficient illumination of the roadway. The failure signif
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driverâs side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. No warning light was illuminated.
The contact owns a 2015 Acura RDX. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that the front low beam headlights failed to adequately illuminate the roadway while driving
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528XI. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), but the failure occurred. The contact stat
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle shifted into LIMP Mode, causing the vehicle to decelerate unintendedly. During the failur
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that the headlights failed to produce adequate lighting at night. While driving at 30 MPH in the dark with the headlights on, making a turn int
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the turn signal flashed two or three times and then stopped. In addition, the doors independen
The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH at night, one of the headlights became inoperable. The contact stated that both headlights had become intermittently inop
The contact owned a 2022 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while approaching the vehicle after it was remotely started, the contact discovered that both headlights had failed to function as neede
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the halogen headlights failed to function as intended and were dimmed, which reduced the
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at night, the headlights failed to provide adequate illumination and created a visibility hazard for the driver.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights failed to function as intended. The headlights failed to activate as intended. The
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights became inoperable. The blinkers and the radio were inoperable for several seconds bef
The contact owns a 2026 BMW X7. The contact stated that while driving at night, the front driverâs side headlight projected a dark shadow. The contact stated that the further the vehicle was away fr
The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front LED headlight was flickering. The driver was unable to drive at night. The
The contact owns a 2022 Genesis G70. The contact stated that there was condensation in the headlamps. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who placed silica bags in the headlamps to absorb the condens
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front headlights failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the front headlights
The contact owns a 2022 Genesis G70. The contact stated that there was condensation inside the passengerâs side headlight assembly after washing the vehicle. The contact stated there was a crack for
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500 Promaster. The contact stated that after parking and turning the vehicle off, he left it for approximately 10 minutes. The vehicle spontaneously caught fire. The conta
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the headlights on the driver's and passenger's side of the vehicle had identical stress fractures. The fractures allowed water to enter t
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.