Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The contact stated that the headlights failed to shut off, which required the battery cable to be disconnected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact felt that the vehicle was unsafe to drive in the event that the day time running lamps, high beams, and fog lights short out. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
2000 Ford Taurus lights problems
87 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 53,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 87
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- typical mileage
- 53,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 4
Which part fails
- Brake lights: switch24
- Brake lights18
- Headlights: switch12
- Tail lights: switch11
- Headlights9
- Tail lights5
- Turn signal3
- Back up lights3
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Taurus lights problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2000 Ford Taurus lights
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- In addition, if the switch and/or associated wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not actuate and the driver will not be able to shift the vehicle out of "park" if they fail in the closed position, the brake lights will remain on, which will not allow the speed control to be activated. This could also cause the battery to discharge.
- Remedy
- Dealers will remove the stop lamp switch and associated wiring assembly and install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin on april 5, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 04V106000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. Due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch.
- Risk
- This would cause difficulty for the driver to activate the headlamps, which could affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the headlamp switch knob. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V075000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: tail lights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals. If the grease from the adjustable pedal assembly enters the stop lamp switch, it can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit.
- Risk
- A short circuit could lead to either the brake lamps staying on, or to a loss of brake lamp function, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch and wipe down the adjustable pedal assembly to remove excess grease. Owner notification began march 22, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V078000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: back up lights
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger sedans with factory or dealer-installed deck lid spoilers with LED center high mounted stop lamps (chmsl). Vehicles produced with spoilers were manufactured from march 1 through october 31, 2000; and vehicles with spoilers installed by dealers were manufactured from january 1 thorough december 30, 2000. With the ignition switch in the start or run positions and the hazard warning lights operating, the chmsl can illuminate (at reduced intensity) even though the service brakes have not been applied. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." also, in some cases the vehicle brake-shift interlock would not function properly, allowing the shift lever to be moved from park without applying the brake.
- Risk
- Under the requirements of the standard, the chmsl shall be activated only upon appplication of the service brakes. Also, the vehicle could roll increasing the risk of a crash, if the shift lever can be shifted out of park without depressing the brake pedal.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a jumper/resistor assembly at the spoiler that provides an electrical resistor to ground and corrects the chmsl and brake-shift interlock conditions. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V048000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Brake light switch failure
Ford conducted a recall in march, 2001 to correct a defect affecting the brake light switch in my 2000 through early-2001 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with power adjustable pedals (recall 01v‑078).rq03-008 was opened to investigate complaints concerning the remedy and scope of 01v‑078.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in recalled vehicles,failures in my 2001-02 vehicles with adjustable pedals that were not included in recall 01v‑078, and failures in my 2000 vehicles with fixed pedals.(note: the manufacturer failure data in this resume includes all crashes and injuries, but the complaint information is limited to my 2001-02 vehicles that were not included in the scope of recall 01v‑078.)on march 1, 2004, ford notified the federal safety agency of a safety defect in my 2000 through early-2003 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals and my 2000 subject vehicles equipped with fixed pedals (recall 04v‑106).the notification identified three factors contributing to brake light circuit failures:(1) continuing grease contamination issues that prompted 01v‑078; (2) misalignment of the booster rod pin and the brake light switch; and (3) wire assembly fatigue.the first two conditions were limited to vehicles with adjustable pedals and the latter condition affected vehicles with fixed pedals.ford will instruct owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the brake light switch and associated wiring replaced with a re-designed brake light switch and wiring assembly.
RQ03008
What 2000 Ford Taurus owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Started to smell burned wires in car. Look under dash and smoke and wires where burned. Brake lights dont work. Reading online and other issue with this car and people where having same issue. When I called dealer they said theres nothing they can do because they are no more recalls on that. But I think this is a safety issue and can cause great danger.
The brake lights not actuate and not be able the shift out of park is.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The vehicle was included in the recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v106000 (exterior lighting:brake lights:switch) and was repaired. Approximately two years after the repair, the brake lights would not illuminate and the gear shifter could not be released from park. The contact was able to move the gear shifter to neutral and took the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing but the vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
I am having issues exactly as described in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v106000. I have a 2000 ford taurus where the the stomp lamp malfunctions when using the brakes. When I called future ford of roseville, ca in the automall they looked up my VIN # and informed me that this recall is not in their list for my vehicle. But that the owner of the vehicle had the stop lamp replaced already in year 2000 for the same symptoms. I told them that this is a safety recall of the same year, make and model as my car with the same exact symptoms as found in the federal safety agency recall article. There was not much interest in my problem and was told there is no recall for my vehicle. To me this appears that this should apply to my car also. Too much of a coincidence to have the same year, make, and model with the same issues as described in the recall and having the part already replace when the vehicle was less than a year old.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The contact stated that the headlight knob failed and the contact was not able to activate the headlights. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle at night as a result. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 01v075000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) but was advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 54,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus which was purchased in 2009. He stated that the headlight knob inside of the vehicle was broken. He had to utilize pliers in order to turn the headlights on and off. The manufacturer was contacted and although recall number 01v075000, exterior lighting, headlights switch was related to the failure, his VIN was not included. The current and failure mileages were under 75,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. While driving 55 MPH the headlamp switch knob fractured and separated from the headlamp switch. His vehicle identification number was excluded from recall campaign id number 01v075000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). No repairs were made. The failure mileage was 90,000. The current mileage was 110,000. The vehicle identification number was available.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The contact observed that his brake lights weren't operating normally. While the vehicle was being serviced the dealer also observed that the brake lights were inoperable. The current mileage was 75,000 and the failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford taurus. The contact twisted the headlight knob to the right to illuminate them and the knob detached. The failure occurred because the back of the knob that secured it to the panel detached. There was recall # 01v075000 concerning exterior lighting:headlights:switch, but the contact's vehicle was not included. The current and failure mileages were 85,000.
Questions about the 2000 Ford Taurus lights
Does the 2000 Ford Taurus have lights problems?
Owners have filed 87 complaints about the lights of the 2000 Ford Taurus, 7% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Taurus lights problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 53,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2000 Ford Taurus lights?
Yes, 4 recalls: 04V106000, 01V075000, 01V078000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Taurus have the most lights problems?
The Ford Taurus model years with the most lights complaints are 1993 (142 complaints), 2000 (87 complaints) and 1994 (51 complaints).
Other 2000 Ford Taurus problems
Suspension 443Brakes 108Engine 108Transmission 99Airbags 88Acceleration 87Fuel system 66Electrical 62Tires 56Visibility 45Seat belts 39Body 33Steering 29Locks 10Seats 8Wheels 7Driver assistance 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2000 Ford Taurus?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history