NHTSA Complaint #10472517 — 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

I WAS AT DRIVE THROUGH TELLER WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, AC, INSTRUMENT GAUGES, ODOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT ONCE. INITIALLY THE DETERMINATION WAS IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH IN THE GEARSHIFT, APPARENTLY A WIRE WAS SHORTING OUT BECAUSE IT TRAVELS IN AN AREA WHERE THE INSULATION WEARS AND SHORTS TO METAL. HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING DISCONNECTED THE OVERDRIVE AND WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS, THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ALONG WITH THE PERMANENT HIGH BEAMS. IT WILL TURN ON THE LIGHTS IF YOU USE MANUAL LIGHTS INSTEAD OF AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS. ALSO HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON THE INTERSTATE FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. RETURNED TO MECHANIC AND I WAS ADVISED THAT IT NEEDS A LIGHT CONTROL MODULE AND THAT THE LCM IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURES ESPECIALLY WITH HEADLIGHTS. COST OF REPLACING THE LCM IS EXORBITANTLY HIGH AND NO NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH FORD AS THEY QUIT MAKING THEM. CARDONE SELLS THE LCM FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS INCLUDING CORE COST. FORD SHOULD NUT UP TO THIS ONE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT. PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED WHEN THEIR HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY GO OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS AT NIGHT! TRUST ME. NOT ALL LANES ON THE INTERSTATE ARE LIT. THIS IS REALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I NOW FORD LIKES TO COUNT BEANS, BUT IS IT REALLY WORTH RISKING HUMAN LIFE AND LIMB TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS? *TR