NHTSA Campaign 26V121000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Issued by Ford Motor Company · Reported Mar 3, 2026 · 35,772 vehicles affected

What's wrong

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C12. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
FORD EXPLORER 2025 35,772
FORD EXPLORER 2026 35,772

Source: NHTSA Campaign 26V121000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.