2002 Mercury Sable Automatic Headlight Go Out

Hi, I have had this problem for a while. When dircing at night, everyonce in a while my headlights will go out on me. The first time, I went over a bump in the road. Eventually, the automatic headlight system went completly out, and i must use the maunal switch. I did not think much of it and asked the service department if there was by chance a recall and they said sorry, but no. Then the other day, i was traveling with one of my co-workers, who also has a 2002 Mecury Sable, and i ound out he is experiencing the exact same problem, except his has not gone out completly.