RoadVitals

2013 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.
9
Latest Oct 26, 2025
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 581 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.
1
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 2013 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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

ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2025

No heat gauge, oil pressure gauge on vehicle. Blend door issue, one side blows hot, other cold. Radio not working. Weird noise in dash by ignition. Ignition sticks when trying to start car, keeps turning over. Dimmer switch doesn't work. Car can be tracked by unknown people, without permission.

NHTSA ID
11695650
Incident
Oct 17, 2013
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 1, 2019

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE PRESENT A HAZARD AS THEY PROVIDE LITTLE TO NO PERIPHERAL LIGHT. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE EQUIPPED WITH ONLY ONE BULB PER SIDE WHICH PROVIDES LIGHT STRAIGHT AHEAD BUT VERY LITTLE LIGHT TO THE SIDE. THUS WHEN ONE MAKES A TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD ONE CANNOT SEE THE ROAD BEING TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE TURN. I AM PUTTING A DATE IN BELOW ONLY BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID
11283180
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Nov 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. SEELYE FORD OF KALAMAZOO (3820 STADIUM DR, KALAMAZOO, MI 49008, (269) 375-3820) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE PART OF THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA, HE COULD FILE FOR REIMBURSEMENT IF A RECALL WERE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
11280256
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
98,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE LICENSE PLATE BULBS WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS TO PASS THE INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THE BULBS HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT AND THE VEHICLE FAILED THE INSPECTION AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14S08 REGARDING THE LICENSE PLATE LAMP ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS MADE WITH PHIL FITTS FORD & LINCOLN (3250 WILMINGTON RD, NEW CASTLE, PA 16105, (724) 658-3521) FOR DECEMBER 12, 2018. IN ADDITION, THE TOUCH SCREEN BUTTONS FAILED TO FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE CONTROLS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11155738
Incident
Nov 30, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed May 13, 2015

RECALL 14R01 CLEARLY STATES THAT IF LENS IS CRACKED, OR IF I OPERATE IN CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT , OR IF THE CUSTOMER IS CONCERNED THEY WILL REPLACE LENS. WELL, I'M CONCERNED AND FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE PART BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT. AGAIN, THERE IS AN OR IF THE CUSTOMER IS CONCERNED CLEARLY STATED IN THE RECALL. WHO WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED IF THESE THINGS ARE CRACKING ANYWHERE. I WANT THE LENS REPLACED AND THEY WON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT CRACKED. I JUST WANT THEM TO LIVE UP TO THE CLEARLY STATED OR THAT I AM CONCERNED AND REPLACE THE LENS. THEY ARE REFUSING. I CONTACTED FORD AND MY CASE NUMBER IS CAS-7167349. I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONVINCE FORD THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE UP TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE RECALL IN ITS ENTIRETY.

NHTSA ID
10716126
Incident
May 13, 2015
Mileage
19,200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 2, 2015

THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUES THE DESIGN OF THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT LAMP SYSTEM ON THIS CAR DOES NOT GIVE OUT ENOUGH LIGHT. MY LIGHTS ONLY FOCUS IN ONE SPOT WITH LIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS DARK. IF AIMED CORRECTLY I ONLY HAVE LIGHT MAYBE 15 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN IT RAINS I AM BLIND DRIVING BY OTHER CARS LIGHTS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO FORD TWICE NOW AND THE KEEP READJUSTING THE LIGHTS TO THROW THE LIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR LEAVING ME NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE CAR. FORD HAS ALSO TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680462
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 5, 2014

HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IS POOR ON LOW BEAM. THERE IS A HORIZONTAL LINE MAKING DEFINITE DIVISION IN VISIBILITY THAT EXTENDS ACROSS THE COMPLETE HORIZONTAL LINE OF VISION. GOING TO HIGH BEAMS STOPS ELIMINATES IT. I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT AS I CANNOT SEE WELL ON LOW BEAMS. THE SAME THING IS REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I STOPPED AT THE DEALER, WE LOOKED AT IT, TRIED THE LIGHTS AND ALSO TRIED TO ADJUST THEM BUT THE LOW BEAMS JUST DO NOT HAVE A LIGHT PATTERN THAT ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO SEE AT A SAFE DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAR AT NIGHT. THIS LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM JUST PLAIN STINKS FOR A CAR THAT HAD A MSRP OF $35K. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596541
Incident
Aug 28, 2013
Mileage
2,500 mi
BrakesExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Mar 14, 2014

WHILE BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM WORK,DOWN A CITY STREET, SHE YELLED OUT TO ME TO WATCH OUT...DEER! AUTOMATICALLY, I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT IN PEOPLE YARDS AND WOODED ARE,THEN LEFT, ONLY TO FIND THEM JUST SLIGHT TO MY RIGHT FORM THE CENTER OF OUR CAR. AT THIS POINT I KNEW THE BRAKES WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. HOWEVER THESE HALOGEN PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS HAVE A DECENT PATTERN, BUT ARE LIKE HAVING TWO CANDLES. WHY IS IT MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO HAD FACTORY HID HEADLIGHTS AND NOW 7 YEARS LATER THEY WENT BACKWARDS, AS OTHER CARS ARE NOW USING LED HEADLIGHTS? THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY TIME. THE NEXT TIME MY WIFE NOTICED A PERSON WALKING IN THE ROAD,WHY WHO KNOWS? EXCEPT I AM NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT I THINK IS POLITICS FORD IS DOING. THESE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS SO BAD IF I HAD THE HIGH BEAMS ON WHILE DRIVING WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC NOBODY BLINKS AT ME. (I KNOW THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE FOR SAFETY REASONS, BUT I HAD TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME DUE TO THE CHANGE OVER FROM HID TO HALOGEN LIGHTING. PS) TODAY MARCH 14 2014, I WROTE THRU THE WEBSITE PLANET FEEDBACK TO THE CEO OF FORD OVER THIS ISSUE. I ALREADY MENTIONED THIS ON SURVEYS FORD GAVE ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE AUTO, AND MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572512
Incident
Nov 13, 2013
Mileage
5,122 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 11, 2014
Fire reported

HAD ISSUES WITH LIGHTS NOT WORKING. TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED. THEY "FIXED" IT. HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. WENT BACK IN TO GET FIXED. LATER WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE BACK TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE. BUMPER WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK LID. ITEMS INSIDE WERE FINE. IF IT WAS BEING DRIVEN, I'M SURE THE DRIVER WOULD BE DEAD. THE FIRE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563928
Incident
Feb 4, 2014

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .