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Ford Explorer headlight can swivel the wrong way

NHTSA campaign 26V121000 · Reported 2026-03-03 · Ford Motor Company

medium How serious is it? About this label

A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

These Explorers have headlights that swivel to follow the road as you steer through a curve. Because of a software error, the passenger-side headlight can turn the wrong direction, pointing away from where the road is going. A beam aimed that way can shine into the eyes of oncoming drivers and people nearby, making it harder for them to see what is in front of them. The fix is a software update, done at a dealer or sent to the vehicle wirelessly.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your Explorer is covered.
2. Watch for the over-the-air update notice on your vehicle's screen, or book the software update with a Ford dealer (recall 26C12).
3. If you have questions, call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 — the update is free either way.

Affected vehicles (1)

2025 Ford Explorer

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford exterior lighting recalls: headlights, tail lights and brake lights · all 26 Ford recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Summary: 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."
Safety risk: 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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.