2021 FORD EXPLORER Exterior Lighting Problems
6 NHTSA complaints on file
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
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....
Adaptive Headlamps keep going out causing a safety issue.
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.
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.
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.
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