Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH
76 NHTSA complaints about exterior lighting:tail lights:switch issues across 15 makes and 44 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:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH
76 filings · 44 models · 15 makes · vintage August 2026
- FILINGS SPARSE 76 ODI rows
- MODELS 44 nameplates citing this part
- MAKES 15 manufacturers in corpus
- CRASH 1.3% 1 crash-flagged
- RANK #312 of 696 categories
- SEV QUIET 0 deaths · 1 injuries
Filing-volume peers
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH sits SPARSE on ODI intake volume (#312 of 696 standardized categories) with a QUIET severity stamp (0 reported fatalities across 44 models). Open Mercury Sable (category leader) →
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH severity reading
The standout signal for exterior lighting:tail lights:switch is severity: 0 reported fatalities and 1 injuries (QUIET stamp) on 76 filings (SPARSE volume).
Sparse categories can swing on a single high-volume nameplate; treat the leader row as the actionable signal, not the category headline alone.
Next step: compare Mercury Sable against Other/I am not sure on filing totals before treating exterior lighting:tail lights:switch volume as a purchase signal.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercury Sable | |
| 2 | Ford Taurus | |
| 3 | Chevrolet Blazer | |
| 4 | Saturn LS | |
| 5 | Ford Contour | |
| 6 | Volkswagen Jetta | |
| 7 | Mercury Grand Marquis | |
| 8 | Chevrolet Malibu | |
| 9 | Volkswagen Passat | |
| 10 | Volkswagen Golf | |
| 11 | Toyota Corolla | |
| 12 | Suzuki Vitara | |
| 13 | Suzuki Grand Vitara | |
| 14 | Pontiac Firebird | |
| 15 | Oldsmobile Silhouette | |
| 16 | Oldsmobile Alero | |
| 17 | Nissan Quest | |
| 18 | Mercury Villager | |
| 19 | Mercury Mystique | |
| 20 | KIA Sportage | |
| 21 | Honda CR-V | |
| 22 | Honda Accord | |
| 23 | GMC Jimmy | |
| 24 | GMC Envoy | |
| 25 | Ford Thunderbird | |
| 26 | Ford Explorer | |
| 27 | Ford Expedition | |
| 28 | Ford Escort | |
| 29 | Ford Crown Victoria |
Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. T
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ADJUSTABLE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN GREASE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, IT BURNED OUT. WHEN
2001 MERCURY SABLE VIN: (SEE OTHER PART OF COMPLAINT) I STOPPED AT A BUSINESS PUT CAR IN PARK GOT OUT. UPON RETURNING THE CAR WOULD START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I FOUND I HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS. I
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING WHEN STARTING TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN YOU REACH A POINT THAT YOU EASE UP ON THE PEDAL PRESSURE, (EVEN SO SLIGHT THAT YOU DON'
MULTI-FUNCTION STALK TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE HEADLAMP AND TURN SIGNAL SWTICHES HAS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE NOW. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS, THE IN
I AM AN OTR CDL-LICENSED DRIVER, AND, ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, I HAVE OBSERVED SEVERAL MODELS OF NISSAN AND HONDA VEHICLES CRUISING AT DUSK WITH THEIR DASH LIGHTS ON, BUT W
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WORKS, BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECH
I SAW THAT MY REVERSE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT LIGHTING UP WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR MICHAEL AUTOMOTIVE IN FRESNO CA AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO P
OUR 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM ABOUT THE TIME WE PURCHASED IT. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS , FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007 WE HAVE PUT $5000 INTO OUR VAN. WE R
I DRIVE QUITE A BIT DURING THE NIGHT TIME WITH MY VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUSE WITH THE WIRING OVER HEATING AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. I HAVE REPLACED 5 ... GOING TO BE 6 HEADLIGHT S
STRONG SMELL IN CAB SEEMINGLY ONLY AT NIGHT. GOT PULLED OVER FOR NO TAIL OR RUNNING LIGHTS BEHIND THE CAB. THEY WERE WORKING EARLIER. HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTING CAUSING NASTY SMELL WHICH RESULTED IN
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS ON HIS 2007 CHEVROLET AVEO DO NOT COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AS DO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THIS COULD BE
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS WERE NOT LIT EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE WORKING PROPERLY. T
THIS SPRING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY 1998 HONDA CR-V SUDDENLY STALLED. NO WARNING AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A WHILE AND RESTART THE
DT: 2004 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CHECK ENG
DT: WIRING LOOSENED ON FRONT HEADLIGHTS, HAD TO PULL OVER AT NIGHT, AND PLUG IN AGAI. CHECKED FUSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE ACTUAL ONES. ALSO, THE BULBS THAT WORKED THE BLINKERS FAILED, AND THE
NOISES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SUV ,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY CAME ON AND ONE NIGHT I WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH MY 15 YR OLD DAUGHTER,WE HEARD A LOUD POP IT SOUND LIKE WE HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE
2001 CHEVROLET BLAZER REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK , CANGED BULBS CHANGES FUSES, BUT YET NOTHING HAPPENS, A FEW YEARS BACK I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A RECALL ON A TAIL LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED Y
1.SPARKS FROM DASHBOARD AREA NEAR HEADLIGHT SWITCH WERE SEEN BY MY WIFE WHEN SHE BORROWED THE VEHICLE. 2.NOW THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION THE FOG LIG
TAIL LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE CAME VERY CLOSE TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT KNOW THE LIGHTS WERE OUT UNTIL SOMEONE BLEW THE HORN. SHE HAD THE TAIL LIGHTS REPL
Related Vehicle Components
Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.