RoadVitals

1992 Ford Taurus Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Mar 11, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 681 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING HIS HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM SCARED HIM, ESPECIALLY DRIVING AT NIGHT DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063056
Incident
Mar 11, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 2, 2002

FOR REASONS THAT HAVE PROVEN TO BE A TOTAL MYSTERY TO THE GARAGE I HAD THE PROBLEM EXAMINED AT, THE DIRECTIONALS HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID
769205
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
BrakesExterior lightingPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Dec 14, 2000

TRANSAXLE WILL NOT ENGAGE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. L/F BRAKE PAD STAYS PARTIALLY ENGAGED RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEARING OF SAID PAD; LUCKILY, I WAS COMING TO A SLOW STOP WHEN IT GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ANALYZED UNTIL MY SECOND FRONT BRAKE JOB WITHIN 25 0R SO MONTHS. WITH WIPERS IN USE, ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNAL IN EITHER DIRECTION CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STOP.THIS TENDS TO BRING ON A SLIGHT SENSE OF PANIC DURING A HEAVY RAIN. LIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT MY EXPENSEAS HAVE ALL OTHER BEFORE MENTIONED PROBLEMS EXCEPT THE WIPER ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 4 MONTHS AND CAN'T AFFORD FIXING THIS INCONVENIENCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
737788
Incident
Aug 21, 1998
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 29, 1999

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

NHTSA ID
546448
Incident
Mar 19, 1998
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Mar 18, 1999

LEFT FRONT MARKER LIGHT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
544470
Incident
Oct 21, 1998
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 1998

HARNESS THAT HOLDS LIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND MELTS, CAUSING LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS, RUNNING,AND DASHBOARD LIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
832092
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 23, 1998

AFTER APPROX. ONE HOUR OF OPERATION THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER BEGINS TO TRIP CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS EXPERINCED WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FURTHER TESTS BY OWNER SHOWED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE VEHICLE AT A STANDSTILL. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE TIME RELATED. HEADLIGHTS WORK NORMAL DURING THE FIRST FORTY TO FITY MINUITES. SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAMS WILL SHORTEN THE FAILURE TIME.

NHTSA ID
700040
Incident
Oct 22, 1998
Heating & air conditioningEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Jul 10, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
519334
Incident
Jun 14, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed May 19, 1997

EA-96019, BEHIND THE HEADLAMP SWITCH THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR MELTED ONTO THE LIGHT SWITCH, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHOCK THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, SMELLED. ALSO, THE HEADLAMP/DASHBOARD TAIL LIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF WILDLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
812371
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Nov 5, 1996

LEFT FRONT C V BOOT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
601871
Incident
Apr 28, 1994
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 21, 1996

REAR LIGHT BULB BLEW OUT.

NHTSA ID
510386
Incident
Oct 16, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 16, 1995

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR FAILED DUE TO A MELTED PIECE OF PLASTIC, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON/OFF WHEN VEHICLE GETS UP TO ABOUT 50 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
962042
Incident
Mar 8, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine217Transmission87Electrical71Body & structure68Brakes67Steering57Driver assistance49Airbags49Suspension48Visibility43Powertrain (other)23Seat belts22Fuel system19Tires & wheels18Heating & air conditioning13

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .