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Electrics and electronics

Problems with headlights and lights: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 46 faults with headlights and lights in 44 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: exterior light failure without warning (2006-2009 production) (Peugeot 307), out-of-specification electronic component in the built-in systems interface (BSI): lights, wipers and sat nav may fail (Citroën C-Crosser) and brake light switch with contacts contaminated by silicone grease (Citroën C-Crosser).

Documented faults
46
14 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
44
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
44
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

How we work

How it works and why it fails

Headlights and lights

Headlights and tail lights combine bulbs or LEDs, control electronics and sealed housings. Over the years they can lose brightness, cloud over, let water in or fail because of the electronics, and some models have had campaigns over lights that come loose or software faults.

What to do

Cloudy headlights give much less light: they can be polished and protected, or replaced if they are crazed. If water gets into a headlight or tail light, check the seal and the drains: moisture ends up damaging the LEDs and the electronics.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with headlights and lights. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with headlights and lights by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1High severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 307Exterior light failure without warning (2006-2009 production)On cars built between 2006 and 2009, the exterior lights can go out or fail without warning; Peugeot issued two recalls for this reason, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently documents a lighting problem on models from those years.
  2. 2High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C-CrosserOut-of-specification electronic component in the built-in systems interface (BSI): lights, wipers and sat nav may failYes: an electronic component in the Citroën C-Crosser's built-in systems interface (BSI) may not meet the specification and cause the audio-navigation, the wipers and the exterior lighting to fail, with a warning light on the dashboard. The DVSA states that the BSI's build date is checked and the unit is replaced if it falls in the affected range.
  3. 3High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C-CrosserBrake light switch with contacts contaminated by silicone greaseYes: in 2014 a campaign was registered because the brake light switch on the C-Crosser, built between April 2007 and June 2009, could have its contacts contaminated with silicone grease from the factory, and the brake lights might not come on when the pedal is pressed. The switch is replaced and its wiring harness cleaned.
  4. 4High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Tucson IBrake light switch failure from burnt contacts (2007 to 2009 Tucson)Yes: a 2013 campaign affects Tucsons built between May 2007 and February 2009. The brake light switch can fail and leave the lights either not working or stuck on, and the same signal can knock out the cruise control, the ESP and the shift lock that holds the automatic gearbox selector in P.
  5. 5High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Carens IIIFaulty brake light switch: the lights may not come on when brakingA 2013 alert notified by Germany covers 2006 to 2011 Carens over a brake light switch fault, which can stop the lights coming on when the pedal is pressed or leave them on, and which can also affect stability control (ESC), cruise control and the automatic gear lever.
  6. 6High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Optima IIIIntermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switchYes: in 2013 the British DVSA logged a recall of several Kia models, including some Optimas built between August 2010 and April 2011, because the contacts of the brake light switch could become carbonised. The switch is replaced.
  7. 7High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Sportage IIBrake light switch failureYes: the British DVSA registered two campaigns to replace the Sportage's brake light switch: one in 2009 for a defective switch (units built between September and October 2006) and another in 2013 for carbonised contacts that caused intermittent failures and could affect the ESC and cruise control.
  8. 8High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi LancerETACS control unit fault: headlights and wipers can stop workingYes: in 2015 a campaign was registered over a non-conformity in the ETACS electronic control unit of Lancers built between October 2008 and September 2010, as a result of which the headlights or wipers, among other systems, could stop working. The remedy described is to replace the control unit if its manufacturing date falls within the affected range.
  9. 9High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Outlander IIETACS control unit fault that can leave you without headlights or wipersA non-conformity in the ETACS control unit could disable the headlights, the wipers or other systems on the 2008-2010 Outlander II. Mitsubishi corrected it with a recall (Safety Gate A12/1379/15) that replaces the control unit on affected cars.
  10. 10High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 4007Out-of-specification electronic component in the Built-in Systems Interface (BSI): lights, wipers and satnav may failYes: an electronic component in the Peugeot 4007's Built-in Systems Interface (BSI) may not meet specification and cause the audio-navigation, the wipers and the exterior lighting to fail, with a warning light on the dashboard. The DVSA states that the BSI's production date is checked and the unit is replaced if it falls in the affected range.
  11. 11High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Master IIIInsufficient earth on the towing socket: lighting failure and fire risk (2019)A campaign notified in the EU in October 2020 (code 0DAB) affects Masters built between 27 February and 7 November 2019: the earth connection of the trailer socket is insufficient, which can cause the trailer lights to go out and increase the risk of fire.
  12. 12Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 107Water leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Peugeot 107 IOwners describe water getting in through the boot, rear light and door seals, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault, with no official campaign, according to reports compiled by fiches-auto.fr.
  13. 13Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaTailgate wiring breakage from use (third brake light and number plate light)According to a German used-car guide, repeatedly opening and closing the Giulietta's tailgate fairly often breaks a wire in its harness, which can leave the third brake light or the number plate light not working.
  14. 14Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi A6 C6Loss of brightness of the xenon headlights over the yearsgebrauchtwagenberater.de notes that the A6 C6's xenon headlights lose brightness over the years, wear that German technical inspections (TÜV) go so far as to flag; fiches-auto.fr documents specific replacements between 75,000 and 198,000 km.Appears at around 75,000 km
  15. 15Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q3 IFlickering rear lights caused by a tailgate sensorSeveral owners report that the rear lights (brake and tail lights) flicker or fail to light when the brake is pressed, with the cause traced to a poorly closed or faulty tailgate sensor, not the bulbs.
  16. 16Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C1 IWater leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Citroën C1 IOwners describe water getting in through the seals of the tailgate, the rear window, the doors and the third brake light, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault, with no official campaign, according to reports compiled by fiches-auto.fr.
  17. 17Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCupra AtecaSoftware fault in the headlight control unit (incorrect aim and dazzle, 2018)Yes: Auto Express cites for the Cupra Ateca a November 2018 recall for incorrect headlight aim, resolved with a software update; Germany's KBA records in 2018 a software fault in the headlight control unit of the Seat Ateca that caused dazzle.
  18. 18Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 7 CrossbackWater ingress into the rear lights due to inadequate sealingSeveral DS7 Crossback owners, with different engines, document water getting into the rear lights because of inadequate sealing, with visible condensation and a risk of the light unit failing.
  19. 19Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat Panda IIIntermittent damp-related electrical faults: electric windows, headlights and startingFiches-auto.fr describes electric windows with broken cables or worn motors, temperamental headlights and difficulty starting on the Fiat Panda II, put down mainly to damp and poor contacts in the electrical connectors.
  20. 20Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Kuga IIIAutomatic high-beam system fault (recall 16753R)A fault in the driver-assistance control unit can make the automatic high beams switch on or off without the driver deciding it, dazzling other road users; Ford issued a recall in 2026 for several models, including the Kuga.
  21. 21Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Mondeo VSoftware fault in the LED cornering lights (headlights may switch off)A software fault related to the LED cornering lights can cause the headlights to switch off on Mondeo V vehicles built between May 2014 and December 2015; Ford corrected it with a software update of the lighting control module.
  22. 22Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Tourneo CustomFront camera module fault controlling the automatic high beamsAccording to Gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford recalled models such as the Tourneo Custom built between February and April 2026 because the control unit of the front camera module can switch the automatic high beams on or off for no reason and dazzle other drivers. It is fixed with software.
  23. 23Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-5 ILED daytime running light failure due to corrosionYes: first-generation CX-5s built between December 2014 and December 2015 were recalled because corrosion can make the LED daytime running lights fail, so that they no longer come on.
  24. 24Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 2008 IIWater condensation in the headlights and rear lightsSeveral Peugeot 2008 II owners have documented persistent condensation, or even visible water, inside the headlights and LED rear lights after rain; according to the accounts, Peugeot has gone as far as replying that it is "normal".
  25. 25Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo IWater leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Toyota Aygo IOwners describe water getting in through the third brake light seal and the floor and rear door seals, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault with no official campaign, according to owner reports gathered by fiches-auto.fr.
  26. 26High severityRareFrequency: RareBMW Serie 2 Active Tourer F45Inner rear light clusters that can come loose (early-year units)On early-year F45 units, the inner rear light clusters could come loose because of defective mounts; gebrauchtwagenberater.de says BMW fixed it voluntarily ('kulant') on the affected units, without it being recorded as a mandatory campaign with a reference number.
  27. 27High severityRareFrequency: RareBMW X1 F48Rear lights that may come off (production from October 2018 to January 2019)Yes: BMW recalled X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i cars built between October 2018 and January 2019 because a contaminated material in the rear light mounts can crack and let the light come loose or even fall off.
  28. 28High severityRareFrequency: RareDS DS 7 CrossbackSoftware error in the adaptive headlight that can dazzle (built January 2022-March 2023)DS recalled DS7 Crossback cars built between January 2022 and March 2023 because a software error can set the adaptive headlight beam too high, dazzling other drivers.
  29. 29Low severityCommonFrequency: CommonDacia Sandero IIElectrical faults in the battery and the light switchThe Sandero II's original battery rarely lasts beyond four years, and the combined light and indicator switch on the steering column fails fairly often; these are cheap faults to fix but can stop the car passing the MOT.
  30. 30Low severityCommonFrequency: CommonHyundai i30 IIMisaligned dipped beams and indicator faults at the technical inspectionThe same German technical inspection analysis describes misaligned dipped beams as a frequent problem of this generation, along with indicator faults that also appear in the following generation.
  31. 31Low severityCommonFrequency: CommonRenault Clio IIClouding and yellowing of the headlightsThe polycarbonate plastic of the Clio II's headlights becomes cloudy and yellow over the years, reduces light spread and can end up causing problems at the MOT.
  32. 32Medium severityRareFrequency: RareFord Mondeo IVSoftware recall over headlights and indicators (2010 cars)According to the KBA, a software error in one of the vehicle's modules can cause a variety of faults in the on-board electronics of Mondeo IV cars built in 2010: the headlights or indicators can switch on for no reason, or the headlights can switch themselves off.
  33. 33Medium severityRareFrequency: RareFord S-Max II2016 recall for headlights switching off unexpectedly and multimedia screen freezesIn June 2016 Ford recalled S-Max vehicles built before February 2016 because a software fault could switch the headlights off unexpectedly; fiches-auto.fr adds that the multimedia screen can freeze and cause a loss of steering wheel controls in 3 of the 24 cases it analyses.
  34. 34Medium severityRareFrequency: RareOpel Astra JIndicators that may not work properly on 2011 carsAccording to Germany's KBA, cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, Opel Astra J cars of the 2011 model year may have a fault that stops the indicators working properly.
  35. 35Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalChrysler 300CElectrical faults: xenon lights, heated seats and climate and navigation controlsAUTO BILD says the 300C suffers faults with xenon bulbs, seat heaters and the climate control and navigation control units. It is a list from the used-car test, with no figures, causes or costs.
  36. 36Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C1 IIWater getting in through the rear window, under the driver's floor and at the rear lightsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, several second-generation C1 cars suffer leaks: the rear window seal, water under the driver's floor and ingress into the boot and rear lights.
  37. 37Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Duster IISide indicator failure caused by poorly protected wiringThe side indicator light can stop working because of a badly positioned connecting wire that rubs against the bodywork and wears or breaks; the replacement-part manufacturer Hella documents the fault on Dusters built between 2010 and 2018, which includes the early Duster II cars.
  38. 38Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalInfiniti Q30Electronics faults: rear sensors, camera and adaptive headlightsAccording to testimonials on fiches-auto.fr, the Q30 racks up electronic faults: 4 cases of general electronics and 5 of sensors, with faulty parking sensors and camera and adaptive headlights that do not work.
  39. 39Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Qashqai IIIFinish wear: paint, plastics, misted headlights and fragile windscreenYes: several sources agree on finish defects in the Qashqai J12 - paint that chips or scratches easily, door mouldings that come unstuck, plastic noises from the dashboard, vibration in a wing mirror, headlights that mist up inside and a windscreen that cracks more easily than expected.
  40. 40Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IIIWater leaks in the headlights and tailgateMotorMundial documents sealing problems in the Leon III's headlights and tailgate, that is, water getting in through inadequate sealing, along with poor quality windscreen wiper blades.
  41. 41Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Octavia IIICondensation inside the headlightsA specialist garage documents condensation inside the Octavia III's headlights caused by deterioration of the perimeter seal, which lets moisture in; depending on the case, it is fixed by resealing the headlight unit or replacing it completely.
  42. 42Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Yaris IVBodywork sealing defects on the Yaris IV: roof, rear lights and bootAccording to testimonies on fiches-auto.fr, some Yaris IV owners report the roof coming away at the top of the windscreen, condensation in the rear lights or water getting into the boot. The entry does not detail any campaign for this defect.
  43. 43Low severityRareFrequency: RareAudi A8 D3Water leaking into the rear lightsAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the rear lights of the A8 D3 can let water in; the listing mentions 280 euros per unit, a figure from one report with no VAT indicated. This is a pattern drawn from owner reports, not a manufacturer recall.
  44. 44Low severityRareFrequency: RareHyundai i40Sudden failure of the daytime running lights on pre-facelift i40sAccording to Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, the daytime running lights of i40s built before the December 2014 facelift can suddenly stop working. The source gives no cause, cost or number of cases.
  45. 45Low severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot 108Water ingress in the rear lights and tailgate latch failureAccording to testimonies on fiches-auto.fr, some 108s collect water in the rear lights, even after repairs, and in one case the tailgate latch had to be repaired three times in eight months.
  46. 46Low severityRareFrequency: RareRenault RafaleAutomatic headlight and camera fault on the RafaleThe fiches-auto.fr page records a testimonial from a 200 ch hybrid Rafale owner with a fault in the automatic headlights and the driver-assistance cameras. It is a single case with no cause or cost.

Problems with headlights and lights by make

Problems with headlights and lights in your car

2 cars have several documented faults with headlights and lights. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Citroën 1
DS 1

OBD fault codes with headlights and lights

The codes the ECU usually stores when this part fails: what they mean, causes and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with headlights and lights?

Among those we have analysed: Peugeot 307 (exterior light failure without warning (2006-2009 production)), Citroën C-Crosser (out-of-specification electronic component in the built-in systems interface (BSI): lights, wipers and sat nav may fail), Hyundai Tucson I (brake light switch failure from burnt contacts (2007 to 2009 Tucson)), Kia Carens III (faulty brake light switch: the lights may not come on when braking), Kia Optima III (intermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switch), Kia Sportage II (brake light switch failure), Mitsubishi Lancer (ETACS control unit fault: headlights and wipers can stop working) and Mitsubishi Outlander II (ETACS control unit fault that can leave you without headlights or wipers). In total, 44 cars with documented faults with headlights and lights.

What symptoms does a fault with headlights and lights cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: water getting into the cabin or boot, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults, screen or infotainment system freezes or restarts, engine fault warning light (check engine), esp warning light on or flashing and abs or esp warning light on.