Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

7,660 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:headlights issues across 53 makes and 702 models.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

7,660 filings · 702 models · 53 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS HEAVY 7,660 ODI rows
  • MODELS 702 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 53 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 1.3% 101 crash-flagged
  • RANK #35 of 696 categories
  • SEV FATAL 20 deaths · 60 injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS (this)EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS…7,660STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS7,639SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTSSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FO…7,597LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS…7,242
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS vs nearest complaint-total peers

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS sits HEAVY on ODI intake volume (#35 of 696 standardized categories) with a FATAL severity stamp (20 reported fatalities across 702 models). Open Lincoln Mark Viii (category leader) →

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS filing-volume reading

The standout signal for exterior lighting:headlights is ODI intake volume: 7,660 filings (HEAVY band · #35 of 696 standardized categories) across 702 nameplates. Crash-flag share is 1.3%.

Heavy intake categories like this one often reflect a shared supplier or a stressed FMVSS test, open the affected-vehicles table to see whether filings cluster on a few platforms or spread evenly.

Next step: compare Lincoln Mark Viii against STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS on filing totals before treating exterior lighting:headlights volume as a purchase signal.

7,660
Complaints
702
Models Affected
101
Crashes
133
Fires
20
Deaths

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

2015 Cadillac SRX

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

2021 GMC Canyon

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. No warning light was illuminated. In

2015 Acura RDX

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

2012 BMW 528xi

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

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

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

2019 Toyota Rav4 Crash

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

2020 Chevrolet Equinox

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

2015 Tesla Model S

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

2022 Dodge Durango

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

2018 Nissan Altima

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

2024 Ford Bronco

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.

2019 Dodge Charger

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

2020 KIA Sorento

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

2026 BMW X7

The contact owns a 2026 BMW X7. The contact stated that while driving at night, the front driver’s side headlight projected a dark shadow. The contact stated that the further the vehicle was away from

2021 Dodge Durango

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

2022 Genesis G70

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

2017 Nissan Altima

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

2022 Genesis G70

The contact owns a 2022 Genesis G70. The contact stated that there was condensation inside the passenger’s side headlight assembly after washing the vehicle. The contact stated there was a crack forme

2020 RAM 1500 Fire

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

2018 Nissan Altima

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

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.