Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
365 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:headlights:concealment devices issues across 31 makes and 125 models.
The exterior lighting:headlights:concealment devices is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 365 filings from 31 manufacturers and 125 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 4 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET VENTURE with 22 filings, followed by PONTIAC GRAND PRIX and LINCOLN MARK VIII. 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 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 22 |
| 2 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 21 |
| 3 | LINCOLN MARK VIII | 21 |
| 4 | DODGE CARAVAN | 18 |
| 5 | DODGE INTREPID | 15 |
| 6 | CADILLAC DEVILLE | 12 |
| 7 | PONTIAC TRANS SPORT | 10 |
| 8 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 10 |
| 9 | FORD MUSTANG | 9 |
| 10 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 9 |
| 11 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 8 |
| 12 | OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE | 8 |
| 13 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 8 |
| 14 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 7 |
| 15 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 6 |
| 16 | FORD TAURUS | 6 |
| 17 | FORD CROWN VICTORIA | 6 |
| 18 | CHRYSLER CONCORDE | 6 |
| 19 | PONTIAC FIREBIRD | 5 |
| 20 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 5 |
| 21 | CHRYSLER LHS | 5 |
| 22 | MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE | 4 |
| 23 | MERCURY SABLE | 4 |
| 24 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 4 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 4 |
| 26 | MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER | 3 |
| 27 | MAZDA TRIBUTE | 3 |
| 28 | LINCOLN LS | 3 |
| 29 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 3 |
| 30 | FORD CONTOUR | 3 |
Recent Complaints
Nisan 2014 Rogue headlight covers are cloudy and get cloudier daily. It is in the factory plastic cover. I need to know if there is a recall on this problem because an owner can't afford to pay to h
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated while parking the vehicle the contact noticed that the headlights were inoperable. The contact replaced the headlight bulbs; however, the head
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and the engine running the contact noticed that their front driver and passenger headlight were very low in bo
2013 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS
2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR HOUSING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED. THE FAILURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT MOISTURE ENTERED THE HEADLIGHT AND
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, BOTH TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS OVERHEATED. AS A RESULT, THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING AND SOCKET MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PREVENT A CRASH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN OUTER SHIELD THAT CAUSED THE LIGHT BEAMS TO PRODUCE DIM VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE OXIDIZED AND REDUCED THE VISIBILITY WHENEVER DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
PLASTIC COVERING OVER FRONT HEADLAMP HOUSING HAS GOTTEN FOGGED OVER ENTIRE OUTSIDE. THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THROWN BY THE HEADLAMPS IS REDUCED. I NOTICE THIS ON MOST CARS AS THEY GET OLDER. THIS IS A SAFE
ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLIGHTS - THE BACK OF THE PROJECTOR BOWL IS MADE OF PLASTIC (VS. METAL IN THE AL/BOSCH BRAND, ALSO USED BY BMW), WHICH OVER TIME BURNS FROM THE HEAT PUT OUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS. THE
2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. REPLACED BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AGAIN. HEADLIGHT WIRING HAS MELTED - HAVE TO REPLACE WIRING AND WIRING HARNESS. THIS SHOULD BE A R
THE TURN SIGNAL BULB GETS TOO HOT AND MELTS THE ORANGE PLASTIC COVERING THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. I REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE ORANGE PLASTIC COVERINGS HAD HOLES MELTED INTO THEM, AND WE
HAVING RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW 330I WITH XENON HEADLAMPS, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE CAR AND ANY RECALLS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED OR ARE ONGOING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE XENON H
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGER RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSPARENT PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERING WAS ABNORMALLY BECOMING FOGGY FROM DEW AND MOISTURE. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE LIMITED ILL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BEGUN TO CRACK ON THE EXTERIOR SHELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND OR R
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PLASTIC COVERS BECAME FOGGY DUE TO THE SUN LIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED AS TH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD ENTER THE HEAD LIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE BULBS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT DUE T
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE COVERED WITH SOME TYPE OF FILM. HE HAD TO USE THE HIGHBEAMS TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve exterior lighting:headlights:concealment devices issues? ▼
How dangerous are exterior lighting:headlights:concealment devices defects? ▼
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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.