Ford is recalling 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles with faulty headlight software that causes incorrect turning, increasing glare risk. Owners must update software via dealer or OTA to prevent crashes.
A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles because their headlight software can cause the passenger-side light to turn incorrectly when driving curves, creating glare that may cause crashes. This issue affects vehicles that fail to meet federal safety standards.
The headlight software can cause the passenger-side light to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves. This creates glare for other road users, which may lead to crashes if not corrected.
Owners of 2025-2026 Ford Explorers with the Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software are most at risk. Drivers using these vehicles on curves may experience increased glare from the passenger-side headlight.
Check if your 2025-2026 Explorer has the Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software. The recall covers vehicles that failed federal safety standards for headlight operation.
Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 to schedule a software update via dealer or over-the-air (OTA) method.
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.
The headlight software causes the passenger-side light to turn incorrectly when driving curves, creating glare that may lead to crashes.
Your 2025-2026 Explorer with the Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software is affected. The recall covers vehicles that failed federal safety standards.
The recall has no specific deadline for software updates; owners can contact Ford customer service to schedule the update.
We’ve drafted a message you can send Ford to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 26V121000 — Ford Ford Hello, I own a Ford that is covered by recall 26V121000 from Ford. The official recall notice states: 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. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
Experiences, tips, and questions from readers. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
+ 1 more story
