Problems · by component

2003 Ford Taurus exterior lighting problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Taurus cite exterior lighting, 4% of all 1,223 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
46
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to actuate as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of park(P) into gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake light switch or wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V106000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11460786
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT SPOKE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIKELY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2017Power train, Exterior lightingODI 11003046
“ALL MY LIGHTS WORK EXCEPT MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE IT OUT. ALSO KNOW I HAVE TO START IT IN NUMERAL ONLY. IT WAS STATIONARY I THINK I JUST KNOW IT HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME AND NO BODY KNOWS WHY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10940029
“THE CAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND STOPPED. WHEN I PRESSED TO ACCEL THE TRANSMISSION DID'NT PULL OVER 15 FEET AND STOPPED PULLING. IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT HAD GON OUT. AND THEN I GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL ABOUT OTHER RECALLS BUT NOT ON THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 27 YEARS AS AN ENGINEER AND BUILT TRANSMISSIONS UNDER RECALLS. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THESE PAOPLE! BUT THE 2004 HAS THAT RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2016Power train, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 10926580
“MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE FIREMEN SAID IT WAS A ELECTRIC FIRE. MY CAR WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING AT 8:30 P.M. AND THAT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 A.M. A CAR THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I WAS NOT EVEN DRIVING IT WAS JUST SITTING THERE PARK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineFire reportedODI 10893337
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS BEING SIGNALED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED THE CONTACT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED IN 2004 FOR THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 29, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10838916

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 2, 2004NHTSA 04V106000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.