The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
The risk
LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1993, 1994 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1993, 1994 |
| Lincoln Mark VIII | 1993, 1994 |
| Mercury Sable | 1993, 1994 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS: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 | 1993 | 1,557 | 6 |
| Ford Taurus | 1994 | 923 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1993 | 121 | 4 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1994 | 190 | 5 |
| Lincoln Mark VIII | 1993 | 239 | 3 |
| Lincoln Mark VIII | 1994 | 167 | 2 |
| Mercury Sable | 1993 | 674 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1994 | 387 | 4 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 1998
16 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the exterior lighting; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 98V196002 7 Nov 1998 | DAMON CORPORATION |
| 98V097001 28 Sept 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V234000 21 Sept 1998 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 98V218000 8 Sept 1998 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 98V212000 8 Sept 1998 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 98V196001 25 Aug 1998 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY |
| 96V253003 17 Aug 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V253004 17 Aug 1998 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998