Component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

1,132 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:tail lights issues across 42 makes and 335 models.

The exterior lighting:tail lights is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,132 filings from 42 manufacturers and 335 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 16 crashes, 35 fires, 16 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 45 filings, followed by SATURN LS and CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. 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.

1,132
Complaints
335
Models Affected
16
Crashes
35
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET MALIBU 45
2 SATURN LS 35
3 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 32
4 MERCURY VILLAGER 27
5 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 24
6 TOYOTA CAMRY 21
7 HYUNDAI SONATA 19
8 FORD TAURUS 18
9 CHEVROLET VENTURE 17
10 FORD CONTOUR 16
11 DODGE DURANGO 16
12 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 13
13 MERCURY SABLE 13
14 MERCURY MYSTIQUE 13
15 FORD EXPLORER 13
16 CHEVROLET BLAZER 13
17 FORD FOCUS 12
18 DODGE NEON 12
19 DODGE CARAVAN 12
20 PONTIAC GRAND AM 11
21 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 11
22 HONDA CIVIC 11
23 GMC YUKON 11
24 FORD F-150 11
25 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 11
26 CADILLAC DEVILLE 11
27 NISSAN FRONTIER 10
28 NISSAN D21 10
29 JEEP CHEROKEE 10
30 FORD THUNDERBIRD 10

Recent Complaints

2024 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT

The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact stated that an ambient warning light appeared on the instrument cluster, indicating that the rear passenger’s side taillight unit wa

2007 MERCURY MONTEGO

The contact owns a 2007 Mercury Montego. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towe

2023 AUDI Q4 E-TRON

See attached document for complaint.

2016 HONDA HR-V

The contact owns a 2016 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that water had accumulated in the tail lights, causing the lights to become inoperable. The contact stated that he had noticed an abnormal water

2017 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the driver's and passenger's side taillight housings were filled with water. Th

2014 DODGE DURANGO

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was pulled over by a Police Officer, and was informed that both taillights were inoper

2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

Rear lights located both on the tailgate and body of the vehicle. The lights covers failed to remain adhered to the lights themselves and fell off and are partially adhered as a result of what appears

2023 FORD F-150 LIGHTNING BEV

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the rear taillights were inoperative, and the taillight housings were full of water. No

2024 GMC ACADIA

The contact owns a 2024 GMC Acadia. The contact stated there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehic

2013 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving on the highway at an undisclosed speed, the contact pulled over by the local Police because the taillights were inoperable. The

2019 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was water inside the driver's side rear taillight, causing a malfunction of the rear brake lights. The contact stated that the brake l

2017 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of condensation inside the rear taillight assembly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or r

2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without impact. The contact stated that the rear fogger had been activated independentl

2017 GMC YUKON

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the driver’s and passenger’s side taillights failed to illuminate as designed. The contact called the d

2016 GMC YUKON DENALI

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the contact was notified by another driver that the rear taillights were inoperable. No warning light was illumi

2023 FORD MAVERICK HYBRID

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillight detached from the taillight housing. The contact stated that the taillights were set a qu

2019 KIA SORENTO

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was informed that parts for the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitche

2010 BMW 128I

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the headlights and taillights became inoperable. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated

2016 FIAT 500X

The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear taillights failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independen

2015 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact’s husband observed condensation in the rear gate light bar. The vehicle was taken to a dealer whe

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve exterior lighting:tail lights issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,132 complaints about exterior lighting:tail lights problems across 335 vehicle models from 42 manufacturers.
How dangerous are exterior lighting:tail lights defects?
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS issues have been linked to 16 crashes, 35 fires, 16 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most exterior lighting:tail lights problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for exterior lighting:tail lights issues is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 45 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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