Headlights suddenly go off.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

On the evening March 18,2010 I started my car..it was dark. I proceeded for about 1/2 mile at which time I entered the interstate I87.II was driving for 5-10 minutes when all of a sudden the headlights went out. I was in the middle lane, with cars passing on both sides. I managed to slow down and move to the shoulder.scary wasn't the word. I tried turning the headlight switch off/on. Nothing happened while II was working the switch, the lights came on..lights on, I started driving. Within 10 miles, the same thing happened. The lights went out. On off for the next 20 miles..home>>>>II figured out that I could have lights if I held the flasher bar on bright. Oncoming traffic didn't like the brights, but I had lights..temporary.. so the problem continues when driving in the dark. There seems to be no pattern..the lights will go out..then, hold the flasher bar for lights..I went on the internet and found 100's of other S with the similar problem. I called Ford and they are not doing nothing. What a serious incident looking to happen...

- Petersburgh, NY, USA

My 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis has automatic headlights which switch off leaving you driving in the dark. This has happened several times and when it does happen the lights do not work on manual and won't reset for several minutes. I am told through several forums that this is a lighting control module problem that Ford Motor Company is well aware of. I am also told the repair without additional cost of diagnosis and installation runs between $400 & $600 dollars. I feel this is a serious safety issue that Ford Motor Company is ignoring.

- Davenport, FL, USA

My wife was driving our 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis after dark and the low beam headlamps went out. Fortunately she was close to her destination and was able to navigate with the street lights. I don't want to think what may have happened on the interstate had she been heading home. Everything checks out fine except for the light control module. Dealership says this is a common problem and will cost about $500 for the part and $200 labor. We currently do not drive this car at night until we have enough money saved to get the repairs done. Someone is going to die because of this (if it already hasn't happened - we were fortunate).

- Cement City, MI, USA

2005 Mercury Grand Marquis headlights turn off on their own & can't be turned back on by driver - very unsafe! this event has occurred many evenings with lights on and operating the vehicle for less than 10 minutes with lights ok. Then suddenly they go out. There have been other 2005 mgm with same problem occurring. This is a safety issue. Please provide recall information and/or method to get fordmoco to replace bad lighting control module (lcm). Please call [xxx]@ cell [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Conroe, TX, USA

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I would like to report a serious safety issue with my 2005 Mercury marquis. The headlights go off after a few minutes. They will not come back on for at least 30 minutes. This is when the light switch is turned on. The other lights stay on (parking and taillights), but the headlights go off. I did a google search on this situation today, and learned that this is occurring on several year models of Mercury Grand Marquis and Ford victorias. The problem is described on the internet as a faulty circuit board in the lcm (light control module). I took my Mercury to a Ford/Mercury dealer today for a diagnostic test, which confirmed: "diag pin test isolated to erratic relay internal to lcm modu" to replace this part, I was quoted almost $800 by the dealer, installed (part price is $511). I called Ford/Mercury customer service today, 800-241-3673, and learned that there have been no recalls (tel. Call ref. [xxx]). the Ford representative gave me your website. This is a very serious problem, to be driving and have headlights suddenly go off, and remain off. It started approximately Feb. 15 and continues to present.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

I have a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis in which the headlights turn off by themselves while driving at night. You will be driving and all of a sudden the road is dark because the headlights turns off. It usually turns back on about 15 minutes cooling off. I have contacted several service repair company who informed me that it is the lightning control module that gets heated. If it does not cool down, it can cause a fire. I was approaching a turn on a bridge at one occurrence when I almost got into a crash.

- Dundee, FL, USA

I have a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. Recently I was doing 65 mph on the highway and my lights just shut off. It scared the '!@#$% out of me so I pulled over. 5 min later the came back on. Come to find out its the lcm or lighting control module. I also found out that this happens all the time and Ford Motor Company knows about it. This could have caused a serious accident, it went totally dark.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

While driving the headlights go off without warning and will not come back on. This happens every time the vehicle is driven. According to what I have researched on the internet there are thousands of people with the same problem. If you replace the defective part, the replacement parts goes bad as well. These parts are very expensive and Ford is aware of the problem. I contacted them but they will do nothing about it. This is a major safety issue when driving on the highways and interstates. It has even happened on the police vehicles. Evidently you have already investigated this problem and closed your investigation. I hope people don't have to die before something is done to protect consumers. I wouldn't want that on my conscience. Maybe you should consider reopening this investigation. I am not sure everyone has reported this problem.

- Manchester, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving the exterior lights intermittently failed. As a consequence, his visibility was impaired. He was in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle identification number was available. The failure and current mileages were 65,000. Updated 11/10/09 the lighting control module was replaced. The dealer stated it was bad. Updated 11/13/09.

- Duluth, MN, USA

Headlights going out intermittently for a 3 to 10 minutes is occurring daily. Just driving the car around town this could be very dangerous.much less the open highway. I have not had it repaired. The Ford dealer here wanted to replace a module at a cost of $735 which I cannot afford at this time.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

While driving the headlights will turn off and on. There seems to be no cause to them turning off but when they do come back on it is usually when I use a blinker or lock the doors. While the lights are off pushing the signal stick to turn on the brights does not work but pulling the stick to flash someone does. The running lights remain on the whole time and I notice no other issues with the car during the time the lights are out.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

Just started one night head lights turn off at whether on auto lamp or manual and will not come back till what tends to be an extended cool off period.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

Headlights would not stay on--would go out unexpectedly when driving. Needed to hold bright lights on to have any headlights.

- Annandale, VA, USA

PE08066, headlight failure, several times the headlights have shut off while driving or failed to come on.

- Lindstrom, MN, USA

The contact's company owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. While driving 35 mph at night, the headlights dim and do not illuminate again. A mechanic performed a diagnostic, which indicated that the headlight switch was faulty. The switch has been replaced numerous times. There is a defect investigation (number PE08066) for the faulty headlight switch. The failure mileage was 117,000.

- Hialeah, FL, USA