NHTSA campaign 26V121000

Ford Motor Company recall 26V121000

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."

Reported 03/03/2026

What can happen

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

Repair

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.

Components

  • Exterior lighting: Headlights

Affected years and models

A listed year and model does not mean every vehicle in that group is recalled. Use the VIN lookup to confirm a specific vehicle.