Daytime running LED lights in headlights have stopped working. Unable to replace bulb/fix due to having to replace the entire head lamp assembly.
Ford Expedition headlights problems
102 of the 9,410 owner complaints about the Ford Expedition describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 102
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,650
- typical mileage
- 86,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Wipers 17Water leak 10Stalling 5Fire or smoke 5Door locks 4Won't start 3Power windows 3ABS 3
What owners say
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 longer functioning as intended. There is no fix for the consumer aside from replacing the entire headlight assembly, removing the entire front fascia in the process, at a cost of $1500 or more per light assembly for parts and labor. There are hundreds if not thousands of vehicles reporting the same issue with the daytime running lights.
Daytime Running Light has failed on passenger headlight. This condition makes the vehicle less visible to others. The only remedy for this issue is to replace the entire headlight which approaches $2000 for a single headlight.
The passenger side headlight DRL is fading and does not appear to be as bright and pronounced as the driver side DRL. This vehicle has the LED headlights and fog lights.
Passenger side daytime running lights (DRL) have dimmed, diminishing daytime visibility . LED bulb may be out. Seems to be a common problem per other Expedition owners. There were no warnings or messages stating problem. The only way to fix the problem is by replacing the entire headlamp assembly ($1,200 plus labor).
LED Daytime Running Light on passenger side headlight is fading and has purple hue at times. This presents poor visibility to other vehicles and can create confusion due to inconsistent appearance for oncoming traffic.
The component that failed is the left front driver side headlight of the vehicle, resulting in low visibility and inability to see or drive the vehicle in it's current condition at night. The only "warning" that could potentially have been a "warning", was the blinker began rapidly blinking the day before the headlight stopped functioning; the blinker no longer worked in the headlight but still worked on the driver mirror and back taillight. By the next day, the driver side headlight no longer functioned. It is my knowledge that Ford has a lifetime guarantee on the headlights for this make, model, and year of vehicle. Due to this not functioning, I would like to get it properly replaced under warranty or guarantee of Ford.
The coating and plastic is failing in the headlights, this can reduce visibility and by extension safety.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when the A/C was activated, there was condensation pooling on the passenger’s side fuse box, causing the transmission to not be able to shift out of park(P). The contact stated that he was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that numerous warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact was unable to turn off the headlights. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that condensation had damaged the fuse box and caused the body control module to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20-2170 Water Leaking on Right Front Floor After A/C Use (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
The passenger side daytime running light has burned out. Daytime running lights are a safety feature for myself and other drivers. The problem happens 100% of the time. The dealership has inspected the issue and suggest replacing the entire headlight assembly. It happened January 2025 and No warning lights came on. It was brought to my attention by another driver in traffic
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 beginning October 26, 2026.
Recall number 26V606000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: tail lights
- What is wrong
- 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 driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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 beginning March 17, 2026.
Recall number 26V104000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: back up lights
- What is wrong
- 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 lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment. 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 r position and the vehicles transmission does go in reverse, the r 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 vehicles not signaling it is in reverse.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 12V190000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 09V232000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Recall number 00V168000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Expedition headlights
Which Ford Expedition years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (16 complaints), 1997 (13 complaints) and 2018 (12 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Ford Expedition?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,650 (median of 7 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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