The defect
A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE IN THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM CAN MALFUNCTION. IF THE "AUTOLAMP" SYSTEM IS BEING USED TO ACTIVATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHT (INCLUDING HEADLAMPS), THE HEADLAMPS COULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS TURNED ON MANUALLY BY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
The risk
IF THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "AUTOLAMP" CONTROL MODULE. OWNERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE THE MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH UNTIL THE CONTROL MODULE CAN BE REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lincoln Continental | 1995, 1996 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Continental | 1995 | 70 | 1 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1996 | 48 | 2 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 1996
10 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the exterior lighting; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 96V258000 27 Dec 1996 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 96V250000 17 Dec 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V192000 12 Nov 1996 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 96V213000 28 Oct 1996 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 96V111000 1 Jul 1996 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 96V061000 19 Apr 1996 | WALKER EQUIPMENT |
| 96V059001 3 Apr 1996 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 96V056000 3 Apr 1996 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996