Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

1,146 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:headlights:switch issues across 38 makes and 221 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:SWITCH

1,146 filings · 221 models · 38 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS MODERATE 1,146 ODI rows
  • MODELS 221 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 38 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 1.0% 12 crash-flagged
  • RANK #144 of 696 categories
  • SEV QUIET 0 deaths · 11 injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH (this)EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS…1,146EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHEXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGH…1,149POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSM…1,149STEERING:LINKAGES1,134
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH vs nearest complaint-total peers

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#144 of 696 standardized categories) with a QUIET severity stamp (0 reported fatalities across 221 models). Open Ford Taurus (category leader) →

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH severity reading

The standout signal for exterior lighting:headlights:switch is severity: 0 reported fatalities and 11 injuries (QUIET stamp) on 1,146 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 Ford Taurus against EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH on filing totals before treating exterior lighting:headlights:switch volume as a purchase signal.

1,146
Complaints
221
Models Affected
12
Crashes
59
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 Ford Taurus
96
2 Ford Thunderbird
65
3 Ford Contour
59
4 Mercury Sable
50
5 Dodge RAM
46
6 Dodge RAM 3500
40
7 Dodge RAM 1500
28
8 Mercury Grand Marquis
27
9 Honda CR-V
21
10 Dodge Caravan
21
11 Dodge Durango
20
12 Mercury Cougar
19
13 Mercury Mystique
18
14 Dodge Dakota
18
15 Dodge RAM 2500
16
16 Dodge Neon
15
17 Dodge Intrepid
15
18 Ford Excursion
14
19 Ford Crown Victoria
14
20 Chevrolet Impala
14
21 Ford Mustang
13
22 Ford Aerostar
13
23 Dodge Grand Caravan
13
24 Lincoln Mark Viii
12
25 Chrysler Town AND Country
12
26 Ford Explorer
11
27 Chevrolet Cavalier
11
28 Volvo S70
10
29 Ford Escort
10
30 Chevrolet S10
10

Recent Complaints

2020 KIA Telluride

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact received Kia Campaign Number: 296 for the "Halogen Headlamp High Beam". The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on one occasion while driv

2019 Hyundai Elantra

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights were dim and became inoperable. The driver was unable to see the roadway clearly. There was no warning light i

2021 Ford F-53

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F53. The contact stated that the automatic headlight switch failed to turn on. The contact was unable to view the instrument cluster. The contact had to utilize the windsh

2018 KIA Sorento

Headlights completely turn off on their own at random times at night. Has happened twice when entering into a curve at night. I have to frantically turn the knob off and then back on to make them func

2017 KIA Sorento

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTO LIGHT SWITCH FAILED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTOFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWIC

2016 KIA Sorento

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLAMP SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE OR WAS VERY DIM. THE BULB WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER,

1997 Dodge RAM 3500 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. CALLAWAY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (809 S WESTMI

2014 KIA Forte Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PERCEIVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE ORIGIN OF THE ODOR

2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, JIGGLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE HE

2017 Lincoln MKZ

2017 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPUTER TOUCH SCREEN MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS CONTROL SWITCH PROBLEMS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE

2007 GMC Acadia

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ALSO, WHIL

2010 Dodge Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REMEDIED. T

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND LATER TURNED BACK ON. THE HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE C

2010 Dodge Grand Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEAD LAMPS WERE ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICL

2005 Buick Century

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE LOW BEAMS STOPPED WORKING AND HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT HAD TO H

1994 Mercury Grand Marquis

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WA

2013 Chrysler Town AND Country

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO LIGHT SWITCH FAILED HOWEVER, THE MANUAL SW

2006 Buick Lacrosse

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECU

2000 Ford Excursion

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED T

2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THA

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