Ford Recalls Expedition and Super Duty Trucks Over Faulty Headlights
Table of Contents
Ford has issued a recall covering 41,748 vehicles in the United States because a problem inside certain LED headlight assemblies can cause important exterior lights to become dim or stop working.
The recall affects the 2025 to 2027 Ford Expedition and the 2026 Ford F 250, F 350, F 450 and F 550 Super Duty trucks. The problem involves a contaminated LED chip inside the headlight assembly.
This is not a problem with a simple bulb that owners can replace at home. The affected LED chip came from a supplier manufacturing process, and Ford says dealers will inspect the headlights and replace faulty units when necessary.
Which Ford vehicles are affected?
The recall covers the following vehicles:
| Vehicle | Model years affected |
|---|---|
| Ford Expedition | 2025 to 2027 |
| Ford F 250 Super Duty | 2026 |
| Ford F 350 Super Duty | 2026 |
| Ford F 450 Super Duty | 2026 |
| Ford F 550 Super Duty | 2026 |
The recall is listed under NHTSA campaign number 26V606 and Ford recall number 26C43. The affected component is the exterior lighting and headlight system.
What is wrong with the Ford headlights?
According to the recall documents, some headlight assemblies can contain a contaminated LED chip. The contamination originated at the chip supplier’s manufacturing facility.
If the affected chip fails, several lighting functions can be affected. Depending on the vehicle and headlight configuration, owners could experience problems with:
Daytime running lights
Parking lights
Low beam headlights
High beam headlights
In other words, this is more than an issue with one small light inside the headlamp. A failure can affect lighting that drivers depend on both to see the road and to make the vehicle visible to other road users.
Why is Ford recalling these vehicles?
The affected vehicles may fail to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which covers lamps, reflective devices and associated lighting equipment.
A loss of exterior lighting can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The vehicle can also become less visible to other drivers when important lighting functions stop working.
Ford says the issue is expected to affect only a small percentage of the recalled vehicles. The recall information cited by Car and Driver estimates that about 1 percent of the recall population may actually contain the contaminated chips.
What will happen if the headlights fail?
Owners may notice that one or more lighting functions become dim or stop working.
The vehicle can also display an indicator on the dashboard to warn the driver about reduced low beam or high beam performance.
That warning should not be ignored. Headlights are one of those vehicle features that seem unimportant until you are driving on a dark road and suddenly need them.
How will Ford fix the problem?
Ford will ask owners of affected vehicles to take them to a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
Technicians will inspect both headlight assemblies.
If the headlights pass the inspection, no replacement will be necessary. If either headlight fails the inspection, Ford will replace the faulty unit at no cost to the owner.
The recall repair is therefore straightforward:
Take the vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer.
Technicians inspect both headlights.
If the headlights pass, the vehicle can leave the dealership.
If a headlight fails, Ford replaces the affected unit free of charge.
When will Ford notify owners?
Ford is scheduled to send owner notification letters beginning October 26, 2026.
Owners will also be able to check their vehicle identification number through the NHTSA recall system from October 26.
The NHTSA recall database allows owners to search by VIN and check whether their vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall.
Owners do not necessarily need to wait for the physical letter before checking. Once the recall information becomes available for individual VINs, the NHTSA lookup is the more direct way to confirm whether a particular vehicle is affected.
What should Ford Expedition and Super Duty owners do?
If you own a 2025 to 2027 Expedition or a 2026 F 250, F 350, F 450 or F 550, check the recall using the vehicle’s VIN once the campaign becomes searchable.
Until then, owners should pay attention to any warning related to the headlights or exterior lighting.
If a low beam, high beam, daytime running light or parking light is not working correctly, it is worth contacting a Ford dealer rather than assuming it is just a normal LED failure.
The repair associated with this recall will be performed free of charge.
Ford headlight recall: Key details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| NHTSA recall number | 26V606 |
| Ford recall number | 26C43 |
| Vehicles affected | 2025 to 2027 Expedition and 2026 F 250, F 350, F 450 and F 550 |
| Number of vehicles | 41,748 |
| Problem | Contaminated LED chip in headlight assembly |
| Possible failures | DRL, parking lights, low beams and high beams |
| Safety standard | FMVSS 108 |
| Repair | Headlight inspection and replacement if required |
| Repair cost | Free |
| Owner notification | October 26, 2026 |
| VIN search | NHTSA recall system from October 26, 2026 |
The recall was reported to NHTSA on September 22, 2026.
Where can owners check the Ford recall?
Owners can check their vehicle using the official NHTSA recall search. The system allows users to enter a 17 character VIN and see whether the vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
For this particular Ford campaign, the VIN information is expected to become searchable from October 26, 2026.
The bottom line
Ford’s latest headlight recall affects 41,748 Expedition and Super Duty vehicles. The problem comes from a contaminated LED chip that can cause important lighting functions to become dim or stop working.
The affected vehicles include the 2025 to 2027 Ford Expedition and the 2026 F 250, F 350, F 450 and F 550.
Ford dealers will inspect both headlights and replace faulty assemblies at no cost. Owners should check their VIN through NHTSA once the recall information becomes available and should not ignore any warning or lighting failure.
Sources & References
Official sources
NHTSA Recall Database
NHTSA Vehicle Recall Search
The official US government database where owners can check recalls using their VIN, license plate, or vehicle details.NHTSA Recalls and Investigations
NHTSA Recalls and Investigations
Official information about vehicle recalls, investigations, complaints, and manufacturer safety communications.Ford Official Website
Ford Recall Information
Ford’s official recall support page where owners can check recall information and get assistance.Transport Canada Recalls
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls
Canada’s official vehicle recall database. Useful for Canadian readers, although the specific 26V606 campaign referenced in this article is a US NHTSA recall.
Automotive and independent sources
Car and Driver
Car and Driver Ford Recall Report
Detailed automotive reporting covering the 41,748 vehicle Ford recall and the contaminated LED chip issue.Cars.com
Cars.com Ford Recall Coverage
Independent automotive coverage summarizing the affected Expedition and Super Duty models, the headlight problem, and the free repair.Ford Authority
Ford Authority Recall Report
Ford focused independent publication covering the affected vehicles, recall number 26C43, the LED issue, and the repair procedure.RoadVitals
RoadVitals Ford Recall 26V606
Independent recall database that reproduces the NHTSA campaign information and lists the affected vehicles, defect, risk and remedy.
Ford Expedition and Super Duty Headlight Recall FAQ
Here are the key questions and answers about Ford's recall involving certain Expedition and Super Duty vehicles with potentially faulty LED headlight assemblies.
How many Ford vehicles are included in the headlight recall?
Ford has recalled 41,748 vehicles in the United States because certain LED headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip that can cause lighting functions to become dim or stop working.
Which Ford models are affected by the headlight recall?
The recall covers the 2025 to 2027 Ford Expedition and the 2026 Ford F 250, F 350, F 450 and F 550 Super Duty trucks.
What causes the Ford headlight problem?
The problem is linked to contamination under an LED chip inside certain headlight assemblies. According to the recall information, the contamination originated during the LED chip supplier's manufacturing process.
Which lights can stop working on the recalled Ford vehicles?
Depending on the vehicle and headlight configuration, the contaminated LED chip can affect several exterior lighting functions, including:
- Daytime running lights
- Parking lights
- Low beam headlights
- High beam headlights
What is the NHTSA recall number for the Ford headlight issue?
The recall is listed under NHTSA campaign number 26V606. Ford's recall number for the campaign is 26C43.
How will Ford repair the recalled headlights?
Owners will be asked to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership. A technician will inspect both headlight assemblies. If the headlights pass the inspection, no replacement is needed. If either headlight fails, Ford will replace the faulty unit at no charge to the owner.
Will Ford charge owners for the headlight recall repair?
No. The recall inspection and any required headlight replacement will be performed free of charge for affected vehicles.
How can Ford owners check if their vehicle is affected?
Owners can check their vehicle through the official NHTSA recall database using the vehicle identification number. The recall information for this campaign is expected to become searchable from October 26, 2026.
What should owners do if the headlights become dim or stop working?
Owners should contact a Ford dealer if a low beam, high beam, daytime running light or parking light is not working correctly. A dashboard indicator may also warn the driver about reduced low beam or high beam performance.
Why is Ford recalling these vehicles?
The affected vehicles may not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which covers vehicle lighting and associated equipment. A failure of important exterior lights can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
When will Ford send recall notifications to owners?
Ford is scheduled to begin its recall notification process in late October 2026. Owners can also use the NHTSA recall lookup once the campaign becomes searchable for individual vehicles.
Is every recalled Ford vehicle expected to have the faulty LED chip?
No. The recall information indicates that only about 1 percent of the recalled vehicle population is expected to contain the contaminated LED chips.
