1998 Ford Taurus: headlights failing or too dim

Filed May 26, 2005 · Lights · 167,959 miles · NC

Both headlight lenses are clouded, discolored and have moisture on the inside. The headlight system is supposed to be a sealed unit. The consumer indicated that this problem causes poor visibility while driving at night.*ak

Filed Oct 30, 2004 · Electrical · 159,350 miles · TN

I'm not sure why this problem is happening. Whenever I push the button to let my windows up, turn off my read defrost, or hold any buttons too long the battery light will flash. I was driving down the highway and I turned off my rear defrost and my battery light flashed, then my head lights went out and my car almost shut down, then the lights came back on. The next day, it was night time, and I saw another taurus do the same thing. Being that time is changing and I need my head lights, I would hate to have an accident due to the fact I cant see. I have had my car checked to see if the alternator or battery was going out, but all the checks were good. Please help with this problem.

Filed May 7, 2003 · Electrical · MO

The headlights remained on at all times, even when the fuse was removed. Dealer notified.

Filed Dec 6, 2002 · Body · MA

Problem: door-ajar warning lamp on; all doors checked, including tailgate; all are closed firmly (not slammed shut). Interior overhead lamp and underdash lights do not go out consistently after the engine's started and put into gear. Appears that random order of check/re-close doors; lock and unlock doors and tailgate by smartkey or manually; set and release emergency brake. There's no consistent pattern to getting the lights turned off. Gervais ford suggests that it's one of the contact switches, usually the driver-side, that contributes to this, rather than a relay or timer; but that they have to catch it in the act to properly diagnose it. Really aggravating to have to pull the fuse in order to avoid running down the battery in the winter, until we can get it to gervais's shop. Dt

Filed Mar 3, 2001 · Lights · MS

The headlights on the 1998 ford taurus are extremely insufficient regarding the quantity and quality of illumination. This is a result of poor headlight reflector design. Other taurus owners I have talked with expressed the same grave concern about the headlights. I've driven a 2000 ford focus, which did not exhibit the same problem. My previous car, a 1996 ford contour, had excellent headlights. The lights on the taurus are easily "over driven" at any speed over 35 m.p.h. At night. This results in a dangerous situation for the taurus driver and passengers. Can you investigate this problem? I believe that ford should offer an improved replacement headlight for dealer retrofit to correct this very hazardous safety deficit.

Filed Nov 18, 2000 · Lights · FL

Car came equiped with daytime running lights from factory. At this time the headlights will not go off unless I disconnect the battery. This problem has not effected the back lights in any way. They are controlled with the light switch, but not the head lights. Please advise.

Filed Jun 3, 2000 · Airbags, Suspension · AR

The dealership I purchased the car from replaced a battery on 05/20/00. After replacement of the battery, the airbag light came on. The service department said it needed a new airbag module. Since this light had never come on before, I believed it had to do with the new battery replacement. I refused the installation of the new airbag module to see if the light would go off on its own. After three weeks it has not. I have an extended warranty which will not cover the replacement of the airbag module. My second concern is with the daytime running lights (drl). They have occasionally gone on and off while driving and have stayed on after the car has been turned off as well. I can make them go off by turning the headlamps on and off. The dealership can find no cause for this.

Filed Jan 14, 1999 · Electrical, Lights · TX

While driving electronic parts are not responding properly, the panel lights will blink, as well as the headlights. Sometimes consumer can't get the headlights to come on at all. Dealer has been contacted. Vehicle has been in to dealer three tims and they still have not found the problem.

Filed Dec 16, 1998 · Airbags · GA · crash · 1 injury

Consumer's wife was in involved in an accident which totaled the vehicle. Vehicle was struck on the driver's side front headlight, caused the vehicle to spin around and push the rear trunk lid into the vehicle, which struck the consumer's wife vehicle. Both air bags did not deploy. Dealer notified.

Filed Aug 13, 1998 · Lights · OH

The headlights don't give enough visibility on the left and right sides of the vehicle. Dealer says they can't do anything. *ak consumer states that there is an object in the corner of the lenses that keeps the light from spreading out.

Filed Feb 2, 1998 · Lights · NY

Headlight switch was burned causing the headlights to remain on when the switch was off.

Filed Feb 2, 1998 · Lights · NY

Headlight switch was burned causing the headlights to remain on when the switch was off.