The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING COULD RENDER THE STOP LAMPS INOPERABLE OR CAUSE THEM TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION TO A FOLLOWING DRIVER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The risk
IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK" IF THEY FAIL IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SPEED CONTROL TO BE ACTIVATED. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Mercury Sable | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 2000 | 1,195 | 8 |
| Ford Taurus | 2001 | 1,037 | 9 |
| Ford Taurus | 2002 | 1,426 | 3 |
| Ford Taurus | 2003 | 1,223 | 3 |
| Mercury Sable | 2000 | 464 | 7 |
| Mercury Sable | 2001 | 430 | 8 |
| Mercury Sable | 2002 | 440 | 3 |
| Mercury Sable | 2003 | 201 | 3 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2004
24 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the exterior lighting; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 04V584000 16 Dec 2004 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 04V572000 7 Dec 2004 | HACKNEY |
| 04V566000 29 Nov 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V560000 22 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V558000 22 Nov 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V547000 16 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V527000 1 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V524000 1 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004