# NHTSA recall 04V106000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 04V106000
- Manufacturer's number: 04S12
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 2004\-03\-02
- Owners notified: 2004\-04\-05
- Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Units potentially affected: 938789

## 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.


## What can happen

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.


## The 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.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 04S12.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2000 FORD TAURUS](/makes/ford/taurus/2000/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2000\-08\-18.
- [2001 FORD TAURUS](/makes/ford/taurus/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.
- [2002 FORD TAURUS](/makes/ford/taurus/2002/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.
- [2003 FORD TAURUS](/makes/ford/taurus/2003/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.
- [2000 MERCURY SABLE](/makes/mercury/sable/2000/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2000\-08\-18.
- [2001 MERCURY SABLE](/makes/mercury/sable/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.
- [2002 MERCURY SABLE](/makes/mercury/sable/2002/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.
- [2003 MERCURY SABLE](/makes/mercury/sable/2003/recalls.md). Built 1999\-05\-03 to 2003\-03\-31.

## Investigated as RQ03008

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- RQ03008: Recall query, opened 2003\-10\-23, closed 2004\-03\-05. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V106000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V106000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [02176](/bulletins/10008580.md), 2004-08-05, Service bulletin
- [0251](/bulletins/636069.md), 2002-11-05, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V106000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V106000)

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