Ford Explorer recall 26V121000 - Headlights
NHTSA · March 3, 2026
- NHTSA recall campaign 26V121000 (Ford), reported .
- Potentially affected vehicles: 35,772.
- Component: Headlights.
- Details as of ; the linked official notice is authoritative for lot codes, VINs, and remedies.
- Agency
- NHTSA
- Posted
- Recalling firm
- Ford Motor Company
- Source ID
- 26V121000
How this recall compares
- NHTSA's recalls file lists 890 recall campaigns from Ford Motor Company since 2010, 82 of them reported in 2026 so far.
- At 35,772 vehicles, it is larger than 83% of the 738 NHTSA campaigns from 2026 so far with a count of potentially affected vehicles.
Defect
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.
Corrective action
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.
Affected vehicles
| Make | Model | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | Explorer | 2025 |
| Ford | Explorer | 2026 |
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