Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
99V275000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 06/19/1991 to 09/09/1993V (Vehicle)16473111/15/1999ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY10/12/199910/26/1999
Defect SummaryVehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with fog lights, in which the headlights may go out for various intervals and which may be preceded by flickering or blinking as a result of the circuit breaker opening.
Consequence SummaryDriver's could experience a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will install a headlight switch which incorporates a circuit breaker of revised design, and install a wiring harness connector, if needed.
NotesFord recall no. 99s30.owner notification began november 15, 1999. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS
9913906/28/1999606508Conditions with the brake lamps inadvertently disabling the brake shift interlock. *tt08/26/1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
1219912/01/1998615466Some vehicles may require headlamp switch (11654) replacement during a normal service visit. *tt01/16/2001
524412/01/1998615362Some vehicles may require headlamp switch (11654) replacement during a normal service visit. engineering is investigating. *tt01/13/2001

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EA99005FORD MOTOR COMPANY01/20/199912/14/1999HEADLIGHT SWITCH99V275000
 Subject vehicles have a headlight switch with an internal, bimetal circuit breaker that can open due to overheating during headling operation.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
08/15/2011164431
 Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. while driving approximately 45 mph, the contact noticed that the headlights began to flicker. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 164,431.
08/15/2011164431
 Tl- the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. while driving approximately 45 mph, the contact noticed that the headlights began to flicker. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 164,431. kmj
08/15/2011164431
 Tl- the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. while driving at approximately 45 mph the contact noticed the headlights began to flicker. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). the dealer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 164,431. ds
 The plastic head light covers have yellowed to the extent that consumer has lost at least 30% of lighting, dealer contacted but says theirs nothing they can do about it.*et
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BACK UP LIGHTS
04/30/199903/01/1993
 The intensity of the mounted brakes lights was so high that they melted through the plastic and burned out the wire, causing smoke to come form the rear window. manufacturer has been notified. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS - SWITCH
 Wiring harness that holds the bulb on the mounted rear brake light is melting. please give any further details. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS
09/03/20061440004507/28/2005
 Lights periodically stopped working eliminating visibility. *jb
12/13/200490000109/14/1993
 While driving down the road, at night headlights flickered off and on. consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. consumer was told that this defect was not an open recall. previous replacement of the headlights were undetermined by the manufacturer. *ak the consumer was told that his vehicle being old is to blame for failure. the consumer had the headlight switch replaced. *tc
01/01/1999103/01/1998
 Left hub is starting to go out..the lock is stuck on my ignition switch so i cann't crank my car..motor mount broke.*ak
05/01/1998
 The headlights start to flicker, flash on and off, when the ambient temperature rises above about 90 degrees. these symptoms are quite similar to those described by recall 99v275000, but my car does not have fog lights, so it does not qualify. this especially happens, when i am using my brights (high beams).*ak
06/16/2000104/01/1994
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
01/06/20000
 Cover over the headlights has turned yellow. consumer has to use the high beams to see at night. consumer feels that he haas lost at least 30% percent of lighting. *ak
11/01/1999
 Nhtsa recall #99v-275 000/headlights: vehicle has been experiencing headlights going out for various intervals preeceded by flicking/blicking. dealer noticed, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not part of recall. asking nhtsa to shed some light on this matter. *ak
06/01/1998
 Headlight lenses frosted, causing poor visibility while driving at night. dealer notified and refused to replace the part unless cost goes to consumer. manufacturer informed consumer that vehicle wa s out of warranty and there is nothing they could do.
 While driving at night the headlights go out without warning. please provide further details. *ak
01/16/1998605/01/1994
 Head lights go on and off for no apparent reason.
01/16/1998
 Headlight failure; when using the headlights they will go out for about 2 or 3 seconds, come back on again and go out again. the problem has not been corrected. *ak
01/01/1995
 Headlights will come on and off intermittently. tt
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - CONCEALMENT DEVICES
10/12/1993
 Headlights flash intermittently as a result of a circuit breaker malfunction. fix requires replacing the headlight switch or installing a new connector and wiring. ea96-019 prompted a recall, however dealer informed owner that his vehicle was out of scope.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
09/01/19934000308/17/1993
 Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. while driving 75 mph, the instrument panel lights and the headlights dimmed. the contact also noticed smoke rising from the dashboard. the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new headlight switch and they made the repair. approximately one year later, the failure recurred. the dealer stated that his vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). the failure mileage was 4,000 and current mileage was 189,000.
07/05/2006102/02/2004
 I was driving home going down a country road and my headlights quit working. i almost wrecked,and i almost lost control of my vehicle. i ended up driving it home with nothing but parking lights on which was a good half hour journey. *nm
03/13/20031200003309/22/1998
 Head lights flicker off and on. i had to play with the headlight switch to finally get them back on. at first the instrument cluster would not come on, but barely pulled on switch and they came on. pulled dash apart and noticed the switch bracket was melted a little and a (brown and gray?) wire was scorched, melted, frayed.*jb
01/15/2002110/07/2000
 Internal lights and headlights come on and off intermittently. dealership is aware of problem. *ak recall 99v275 deals with this same problem, however consumer was informed by the ford recall hotline that her vin was not included, consumer will not drive the vehicle at night. *jb
105/01/1998
 Headlights started flashing, and blinking, after a few miles of driving. while i was driving on a country road, this flashing attracted a deer onto the road, which caused some body damage to my car. the problem was in the headlight switch. my car does not have foglights, so it did not qualify for recall 99v275000, but was acting just the same. the repair shop changed the headlamp switch, and the flashing ended. i was told the headlamp switch had a short in it.