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.

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.

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 fr

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 for

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve exterior lighting:headlights issues?
The NHTSA has received 7,660 complaints about exterior lighting:headlights problems across 702 vehicle models from 53 manufacturers.
How dangerous are exterior lighting:headlights defects?
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS issues have been linked to 101 crashes, 133 fires, 60 injuries, and 20 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most exterior lighting:headlights problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for exterior lighting:headlights issues is the LINCOLN MARK VIII with 493 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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