FaultScore

Which cars have the most headlight problems

Owners have filed 64,754 complaints with NHTSA about the lights. These are the models and model years that account for most of them.

Read these as volume, not as a reliability ranking: a model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone.

Worst model years for headlight problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2007 Toyota Prius 1,069 44% 50,000 F
2006 Toyota Prius 948 56% 49,000 F
2008 Toyota Prius 587 31% 56,451 D
2013 Nissan Altima 443 15% 80,000 B
2005 Toyota Prius 349 27% 100,500 C
2015 Acura RDX 337 76% 75,000 F
2005 Mercury Grand Marquis 306 48% 78,252 F
2015 Cadillac SRX 303 56% 51,100 F
2014 Nissan Altima 298 21% 80,000 C
2000 Chevrolet Malibu 283 21% 65,000 C
2015 GMC Yukon 269 39% 59,000 F
2015 Nissan Altima 269 22% 68,000 C
2014 Cadillac SRX 267 59% 58,000 F
2014 Dodge Durango 260 25% 60,000 C
2011 Hyundai Sonata 251 5% 73,000 A
2008 Saturn Outlook 250 27% 45,000 D
2008 Pontiac G6 246 15% 74,000 C
2007 Pontiac G6 235 13% 77,200 B
2012 Cadillac SRX 234 45% 75,500 F
2010 Cadillac SRX 226 36% 79,000 F
2013 Cadillac SRX 217 44% 65,000 F
2004 Mercury Grand Marquis 216 51% 86,000 F
2008 Toyota Avalon 214 51% 59,700 F
2003 Mercury Grand Marquis 210 47% 96,000 F
2006 Pontiac G6 208 8% 77,700 A

Headlight problems by brand

Every brand's record for this part, across its whole range.

Models with the most headlight problems

Toyota Prius 3,536 13.4%

Worst in 2007

Chevrolet Malibu 2,060 7.8%

Worst in 2000

Cadillac SRX 1,570 6.0%

Worst in 2015

Nissan Altima 1,235 4.7%

Worst in 2013

Dodge Durango 1,118 4.2%

Worst in 2014

Hyundai Sonata 1,040 4.0%

Worst in 2011

Pontiac G6 987 3.8%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2005

KIA Sorento 864 3.3%

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2002

Pontiac Grand AM 747 2.8%

Worst in 2000

Chevrolet Impala 737 2.8%

Worst in 2002

Honda Accord 708 2.7%

Worst in 2016

Ford F-150 702 2.7%

Worst in 2021

Ford Taurus 700 2.7%

Worst in 1993

Ford Edge 691 2.6%

Worst in 2013

Worst in 1997

Acura RDX 602 2.3%

Worst in 2015

Honda Cr-V 598 2.3%

Worst in 2005

Worst in 2005

Worst in 1993

Worst in 2005

Volkswagen Jetta 522 2.0%

Worst in 2001

Dodge RAM 1500 521 2.0%

Worst in 2006

Buick Lacrosse 502 1.9%

Worst in 2006

Ford Explorer 486 1.8%

Worst in 1999

Saturn Outlook 485 1.8%

Worst in 2008

GMC Yukon 466 1.8%

Worst in 2015

Hyundai Elantra 440 1.7%

Worst in 2013

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files each complaint against a specific sub-assembly. These are the ones named most often inside lights.

Exterior Lighting 42,592 66.4%
Headlights 7,849 12.2%
Interior Lighting 2,669 4.2%
Brake Lights 2,081 3.2%
Turn Signal 1,683 2.6%
Switch 1,177 1.8%
Switch 1,175 1.8%
Tail Lights 1,167 1.8%
Switch 1,031 1.6%
Switch 644 1.0%
Flasher Unit 595 0.9%
High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch 518 0.8%
Concealment Devices 381 0.6%
Hazard Flashing Warning Lights 320 0.5%
Back UP Lights 256 0.4%