Component

INTERIOR LIGHTING

2,636 NHTSA complaints about interior lighting issues across 44 makes and 434 models.

The interior lighting is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,636 filings from 44 manufacturers and 434 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 40 crashes, 91 fires, 48 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD WINDSTAR with 120 filings, followed by FORD RANGER and JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. 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.

2,636
Complaints
434
Models Affected
40
Crashes
91
Fires
2
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD WINDSTAR 120
2 FORD RANGER 117
3 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 95
4 HONDA ACCORD 92
5 FORD F-150 73
6 FORD TAURUS 61
7 DODGE DURANGO 50
8 FORD EXPLORER 41
9 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 40
10 FORD CONTOUR 37
11 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 35
12 MERCURY SABLE 34
13 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 30
14 DODGE CARAVAN 30
15 PONTIAC GRAND AM 26
16 FORD EXPEDITION 26
17 CHEVROLET IMPALA 26
18 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 25
19 CHEVROLET BLAZER 25
20 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 24
21 HONDA ODYSSEY 24
22 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 23
23 DODGE INTREPID 21
24 BUICK LUCERNE 21
25 FORD FOCUS 20
26 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 20
27 FORD EDGE 19
28 TOYOTA CAMRY 18
29 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 17
30 FORD F-250 17

Recent Complaints

2017 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that upon entering and closing the door, the message "Door Ajar" was displayed. The dome lights failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken

2020 ACURA MDX

The contact owns a 2020 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Exterior Lighting, Interior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet a

2016 ACURA MDX

The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that the driver's side rear taillight bulb had burned out. The contact replaced the bulb, but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the

2023 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway turned off and unattended, the contact became aware that all the interior and exterior lights w

2014 ACURA MDX

The contact owns a 2014 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while approaching the vehicle after the vehicle had been started, the contact noticed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was ta

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500

See attached document for complaint.

2025 HYUNDAI KONA

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving 38 MPH, the exterior lights, taillights, daytime running lights, and interior lights became inoperable for two and a half seconds

2023 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

See attached document for complaint.

2017 KIA SORENTO

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the interior lights and headlights turned off and turned back on without driver's input. There were no war

2019 FORD F-250

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving over a pothole, the vehicle started shaking, and the steering wheel was uncontrollable. The contact stated that after it raine

2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull over to an open lane, where the vehicle stopped.

2017 NISSAN ALTIMA

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the interior dome light assembly detached from the ceiling of the vehicle and fell striking the head of

2013 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the door ajar warning light illuminated while none of the doors were opened. The contact stated that the failure persisted,

2021 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the GPS was inoperable. Additionally, the interior lights failed to illuminate as needed

2013 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, she became aware that the driver's side door had not latched properly. Upon entering the vehicle, the contact obse

2023 LAND ROVER DEFENDER

I have a 2023 Land Rover Defender 90. The instrumentation lighting auto adjusts on its own sometimes causing a hazardous situation. The issue is at dusk when the instrument panel goes haywire and wil

2014 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA Fire

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that while in the vehicle, she noticed smoke filling the interior of the vehicle. Upon visual inspection, she noticed the smoke originatin

2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR

The map light on the front passenger side would intermittently turn on while driving. This was concerning at night as it was quite distracting. It required driver intervention when operating the vehic

2022 TOYOTA PRIUS

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the driver's side front power door lock button failed to illuminate during the night. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informe

2022 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the service safety restraint system warning light illuminated, causing the air bag warning light to remain illuminated. The contact sta

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve interior lighting issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,636 complaints about interior lighting problems across 434 vehicle models from 44 manufacturers.
How dangerous are interior lighting defects?
INTERIOR LIGHTING issues have been linked to 40 crashes, 91 fires, 48 injuries, and 2 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most interior lighting problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for interior lighting issues is the FORD WINDSTAR with 120 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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