NHTSA Complaint #10546742 — 2010 FORD MUSTANG

THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS SAY ON FULL INTENSITY (THE SAME INTENSITY AS IF BRAKING). WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF, THE TAIL LIGHTS REMAIN ON FULL INTENSITY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE LIGHT INTENSITY REMAINS ON FULL WITH NO CHANGE. THEY DO NOT TURN OFF. HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE TURN SIGNALS (SAME LIGHTS USED), BY SEQUENTIALLY ALTERNATING INSIDE LIGHT "TRAVELING" TO THE OUTSIDE, AS THE MUSTANG TAIL LIGHTS ARE A THREE LIGHT SEQUENCE ON EACH SIDE, LEFT AND RIGHT. THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD CARPETING IS WET AND THE WIRES LEADING INTO THE SMART JUNCTION BOX ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE ARE WET. THE AREA HAS HAD RAINFALL RECENTLY AND I HAD TAKEN THE CAR INTO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CAR WASH. IT HAS BEEN SAID BY SOME THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE S-197 MUSTANG DESIGN, WHERE THE LEAKS OCCUR DUE TO CLOGS IN DRAINAGE, BUT FORD REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT TAKE STEPS TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A RECALL ORDER (POSTED ON MORE THAN ONE WEBSITE). FORD WILL ALSO NOT ADVISE CONSUMERS ON AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION WHICH WE CAN TAKE, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO REPLACE SMART JUNCTION BOXES COSTING OVER $500 AT A DEALER, WITH ANOTHER $500 TO PROGRAM AND INSTALL, WHICH ELECTRICALLY SHORT, INSTEAD OF A $20 KIT IN THE FORM OF NEW SEALS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. I FEAR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHILE DRIVING, EVEN A 12V CURRENT AT A HIGH AMPERAGE CAN CAUSE MEDICAL PROBLEMS, OR A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. NOT ONLY THAT, THE BRAKE LIGHT BEING ON PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING DRIVEN SAFELY UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH REQUIRE WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS IN OUR TRANSPORTATION CODE. THIS CAR NO LONGER CAN PASS THE STATE OF TEXAS ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION CRITERIA WITHOUT A SMART JUNCTION BOX REPLACEMENT, WHICH ON THIS CAR IS DUE BY NOVEMBER 1, 2013. *TR