NHTSA campaign 26V121000 · Ford campaign 26C12
Ford Recall 26V-121: Passenger-Side Headlight Malfunction/FMVSS 108
- Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA recall 26V121000 (Ford campaign 26C12) was reported by Ford Motor Company on March 3, 2026, with 35,772 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford Explorer for model years 2025–2026. Owners were notified on March 23, 2026, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 26V121000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Ford VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 26V121000 (also written 26V-121 or 26V121)
- Filed by
- Ford Motor Company
- Ford campaign number
- 26C12
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 35,772 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Exterior Lighting — Headlights
- Owners notified
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 108
Repair completion: 83.74% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 26V121000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Ford
Ford Explorer
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 26V121000.
Defect description
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Safety consequence
A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 26V121000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.