2021 FORD EXPLORER Exterior Lighting Problems

6 NHTSA complaints on file

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Exterior Lighting Issues in the 2021 FORD EXPLORER

6 exterior lighting complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 FORD EXPLORER. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.

6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

All Exterior Lighting Complaints

#11713018 |
LED low beam headlight failures. Our 1st headlight failure occurred in January 2025 at 51,248 miles (Passengers Side), our 2nd failure occurred in December 2025 at 64,356 miles (Drivers Side). My claim is Ford decided to embrace LED technology with out properly performance testing it. LED headlights are new on the explorer platform since 2020, the platinum & ST trims are the only ones that utilizes LED's to my knowledge. The design intent was life of car which clearly is not occurring. Ford should have completed more testing and/or designed a serviceable headlight for all internal components. The cost of these lights is astronomical ($1600 a pop w/o labor or diagnosis fee). As reference we also own a 2006 Audi S4 & a 2012 F150 XLT. The Audi has ~170K miles on it and the F150 has ~130k miles on it. Both have the original headlights and bulbs within them....
#11705736 |
Adaptive Headlamps keep going out causing a safety issue.
#11701732 |
vehicle low beam headlights went out all of the sudden. Would not come back on after car was turned off and restarted. Drove home with high beams on. Next day, just the driver side low beam came back on. Took to dealer, they reprogrammed and headlights worked for three days, then went passenger low beam went out again. Took back to dealer and now they are telling me both headlamp control modules on both sides need replacing. The cost is very expensive and I am doubting this is the problem. This is a safety issue and I am reading blogs and the Platinum version of the Explorer seem to have issues. This could cause an accident and Ford could be liable. This issue needs to be looked at, as this should not be an issue for a car with 50K miles on it.
#11692927 |
LED LIGHT ISSUE. PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM. LIFETIME OF LED SHOULD BE 45,000 HOURS OR 12-15 YEARS. IT IS NOT WORKING. FORD NEEDS TO GENERATE A REPAIR ALSO CURRENT WARRANTEE WORK NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED INCLUDING THE REAR CAMERA.
#11562895 |
Vehicle blinker works at fast rate at all times. In the event that one of the rear turn signals stops working, the vehicle will not adjust the turn signal flash rate frequency to warn the driver that a turn signal is not working correctly. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Ford says 'fast' blinker on all Explorer ST's is by design and normal.
#11548964 |
Headlamps stay lit even in auto lamp mode. Indicator on the dial does not display which mode or setting the lights are in. This has occurred numerous times and seems to have increased frequency

Other 2021 FORD EXPLORER Problem Areas

Power Train 97 complaints Unknown Or Other 73 complaints Engine 41 complaints Electrical System 34 complaints Back Over Prevention 18 complaints Visibilitywiper 17 complaints Service Brakes 16 complaints Structurebody 14 complaints Suspension 14 complaints Fuelpropulsion System 11 complaints Seats 11 complaints Vehicle Speed Control 11 complaints Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking 9 complaints Back Over Prevention Rearview System Braking 8 complaints Back Over Prevention Warnings 7 complaints Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control 6 complaints Air Bags 5 complaints Back Over Prevention Sensing System Camera 5 complaints Engine And Engine Cooling 5 complaints Fuel System Gasoline 5 complaints Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection 4 complaints Steering 4 complaints Structure 4 complaints Wheels 4 complaints Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System 3 complaints Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings 3 complaints Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly 3 complaints Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor 2 complaints Equipmentelectricalnavigational Systemglobal Positioning System 2 complaints Power Trainautomatic Transmission 2 complaints Seat Belts 2 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulic 2 complaints Visibility 2 complaints Carry Handle Shell Base 1 complaint Chest Clip Buckle Harness 1 complaint Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel 1 complaint Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingengineother Fuel Typesturbosupercharger 1 complaint Firerelated 1 complaint Forward Collision Avoidance 1 complaint Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Steering 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinestorageauxillary Tank 1 complaint Lane Departure Assist 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch 1 complaint Otheri Am Not Sure 1 complaint Parking Brakeelectrical 1 complaint Power Trainautomatic Transmissioninternalgears 1 complaint Power Trainaxle Assembly 1 complaint Power Trainaxle Hubs 1 complaint Seatsmidrear Assembly 1 complaint Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light 1 complaint Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly 1 complaint Structurebodyroof And Pillars 1 complaint Structurebodytailgatehinge And Attachments 1 complaint Structureframe And Members 1 complaint Tires 1 complaint Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 1 complaint Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control 1 complaint Visibilityglass Siderear 1 complaint Visibilityglass Siderearcritical Fasteners 1 complaint Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher 1 complaint
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