Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

506 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:headlights:high/low beam dimmer switch issues across 36 makes and 177 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:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

506 filings · 177 models · 36 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS MODERATE 506 ODI rows
  • MODELS 177 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 36 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 0.6% 3 crash-flagged
  • RANK #207 of 696 categories
  • SEV QUIET 0 deaths · 2 injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH (this)EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS…506TIRES:VALVE510FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICESFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAG…520SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB489
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH vs nearest complaint-total peers

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#207 of 696 standardized categories) with a QUIET severity stamp (0 reported fatalities across 177 models). Open Chevrolet Impala (category leader) →

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH severity reading

The standout signal for exterior lighting:headlights:high/low beam dimmer switch is severity: 0 reported fatalities and 2 injuries (QUIET stamp) on 506 filings (MODERATE volume).

Moderate-volume categories still show a fingerprint in the model table below, cross-check each nameplate's recall and investigation history before inferring a defect pattern.

Next step: compare Chevrolet Impala against TIRES:VALVE on filing totals before treating exterior lighting:headlights:high/low beam dimmer switch volume as a purchase signal.

506
Complaints
177
Models Affected
3
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 Chevrolet Impala
33
2 Buick Century
19
3 Chevrolet Corsica
18
4 Ford Thunderbird
11
5 Mercury Sable
10
6 Honda Civic
10
7 Dodge Intrepid
10
8 Toyota Camry
8
9 Pontiac Sunfire
8
10 Pontiac Grand AM
8
11 Lincoln Town CAR
8
12 Ford Explorer
8
13 Lincoln Mark Viii
7
14 Ford Taurus
7
15 Dodge RAM
7
16 Dodge Neon
7
17 Chevrolet Blazer
7
18 Chevrolet Beretta
7
19 Pontiac Grand Prix
6
20 Mercury Grand Marquis
6
21 Ford F-150
6
22 Ford Aerostar
6
23 Dodge RAM 2500
6
24 Dodge RAM 1500
6
25 Chrysler Town AND Country
6
26 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
6
27 Buick Lesabre
6
28 Plymouth Voyager
5
29 Dodge Durango
5
30 Dodge Caravan
5

Recent Complaints

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. While the contact’s wife was driving in a school zone, several unknown error codes became displayed. The Lane Departure warning light illuminated, and the

2021 Nissan Versa

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while attempting to reverse at 2 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the high-beam headligh

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact attempted to change lanes and the high beams automatically activated without driver input. The ve

2020 KIA Telluride

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at night at an undisclosed speed, the high-beam headlight switch was activated; however, the high beam headlights failed to

2020 Nissan Titan

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Titan. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH on a dark roadway, the automatic high-beam headlights failed to activate as needed. The contact was able to manually activ

2020 KIA Telluride

High beam lights stopped working. Bulbs are ok. Lamp assembly has a part that physically moves to change high to low.

2022 Toyota Camry

The contact rented a 2022 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at night at undisclosed speed, they noticed their daytime running lights were still running even at night on the auto setting

2016 Cadillac SRX

2016 CADILLAC SRX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY FLAW WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *JS

2015 Cadillac SRX

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the headlights were significantly dim, and she was unable to see the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The

2013 Nissan Altima

MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I AM WRITING TO YOU REGARDING MY 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. APPARENTLY I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ONE EVENING WITH MY BABY AND I HAD ON MY LOW

2001 Honda Civic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT CAUSED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FAILURE,

2004 Chevrolet Impala

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE ONLY ONE SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. T

1998 Jeep Laredo

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP LAREDO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN PARKE

2013 Chrysler Town AND Country

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAI

1998 Chevrolet Blazer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK AND THE WINDS

2006 Honda Element

2006 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT COMBINATION SWITCH WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WI

2002 Honda CR-V

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND

2004 Honda CR-V

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY LOW BEAMS STOPPED WORKING AND I COULD SMELL SMOKE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO JUST ALL OF THE SUDDEN HAVE YOUR LIGHTS GO OUT. I COULDN'T SEE AND OTHERS COULDN'T SEE ME. I TU

2005 Ford Crown Victoria

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. MUST PULL & HOLD DIMMER LEVER TO ENGAGE "BRIGHT" LIGHTS TO HAVE ANY ILLUMINATION OF THE STREET. *KB

2007 Honda FIT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS ROTATING AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE GOING TO STALL.

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