Ford Expedition Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Expedition across 22 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (25). The words owners use most often: “daytime running” (10% of reports).
- 142exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- 58%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Daytime running: mentioned in 14 of 142 complaints (10%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 12 of 142 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 60 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 142 complaints, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Expedition exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Expedition | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2021 Expedition | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Expedition | 6 | 1% | 30,450 |
| 2019 Expedition | 9 | 2% | 160 |
| 2018 Expedition | 25 | 7% | 9,950 |
| 2017 Expedition | 4 | 1% | 9,000 |
| 2016 Expedition | 2 | 1% | 12,000 |
| 2013 Expedition | 1 | 1% | 2,725 |
| 2012 Expedition | 1 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Expedition | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 Expedition | 2 | 3% | 15,000 |
| 2009 Expedition | 1 | 4% | 9,000 |
| 2007 Expedition | 3 | 1% | 95,000 |
| 2005 Expedition | 2 | 1% | 71,000 |
| 2004 Expedition | 3 | 1% | 109,089 |
| 2003 Expedition | 8 | 1% | 115,500 |
| 2002 Expedition | 7 | 2% | 155,000 |
| 2001 Expedition | 8 | 1% | 104,375 |
| 2000 Expedition | 15 | 2% | 150,000 |
| 1999 Expedition | 7 | 1% | 54,500 |
| 1998 Expedition | 20 | 2% | 100,000 |
| 1997 Expedition | 12 | 1% | 116,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2025, 2026, 2027
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Expedition, 2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD vehicles. The headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip, which can result in a loss of daytime running lights, parking lights, high beams or low beams. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A loss of exterior lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the headlight assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 26, 2026.
Exterior lighting:tail lights; electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
Model years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driverâs ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The integrated trailer 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 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.
Exterior lighting:back up lights; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse ârâ position and the vehicleâs transmission does go in reverse, the ârâ may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicleâs not signaling it is in reverse.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2009
Problem: Ford is recalling 1,357 my 2009 expedition and navigator vehicles for failing to comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the brake stop lamp switch may be improperly adjusted. This may result in a delay in brake stoplamp illumination when the brake pedal is depressed. In situations of very mild brake application, the brake stoplamps may not illuminate.
Risk: Delay or loss of brake stoplamp function may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will adjust the brake stoplamp switch free of charge. The recall began on july 6, 2009. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332 or www.ownerconnection.com.
Exterior lighting
Model years: 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
Risk: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
Fix: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Passenger side daytime running lamp (DRL) has failed.
The aluminum around the cup holders has been peeling for over a year. It sliced my finger and my [XXX] foot. It is VERY sharp and I am currently holding it down with tape. There is a safety recall but no solution. When will there be a solution for this? Next, all my seatbelts immediately lock once…
Daytime running LED lights in headlights have stopped working. Unable to replace bulb/fix due to having to replace the entire head lamp assembly.
My 3rd / Center brake light assembly had to be replaced as it was not working. The issue was caused by condensation. I paid to have it replaced but feel this should be a warranty item. Root cause should be improper seal around light assembly. This would not be normal user âwear and tearâ. It is…
There is a very common problem with the passenger side headlight daytime running lights on the 2018-2023 Ford Expedition. The daytime running lights go dim, completely fail, or turn purple, as has happened on my 2020 Ford Expedition Platinum. This has created a safety issue due to the DRLs no…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Expeditions have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 142 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Ford Expedition. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Expedition exterior lighting?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Expedition?
The most frequent phrase is “daytime running”, in 14 of 142 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (12).
Other Ford Expedition problems
- Power Train problems (1,573)
- Electrical System problems (1,384)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,163)
- Engine problems (861)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (834)
- Tires problems (656)
- Suspension problems (542)
- Visibility problems (534)
See all Ford Expedition problems.