NHTSA Complaint #10474397 — 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED, PULLED OVER, DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL FUSES, ALL SEEMED TO BE OK. FUMBLED WITH THE SWITCH AND WIRES AND CONNECTIONS, AND FOR AWHILE CONTEMPLATED HOW WE WOULD GET OURSELVES, AND THE CAR HOME WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS? STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND THE LIGHTS WORKED.....RESUMED OUR DRIVE HOME....BUT LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN.....DECIDED TO RISK IT AND CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT HEAD LIGHTS. TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD SERVICE STATION THE NEXT WEEK, THEY SAID IT MUST BE THE SWITCH, PUT IN A NEW SWITCH AND SAID IT WAS FIXED.........PICKED IT UP AFTER WORK, AND HEADED FOR HOME, MADE IT A 1/4 MILE BEFORE THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. GOT ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CROWN VICTORIA AND TO FIX IT, IT TAKES A FORD RE-- DESIGNED LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE...TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $500.00...FORD OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY PROBLEM, WHY AREN'T THEY TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM.....BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED???? *TR