NHTSA Recall 26V606000: Ford Expedition and Super Duty Headlights May Fail

What the recall covers

Recall 26V606000 (Ford reference 26C43) covers 41,748 Ford vehicles — 2025 through 2027 Expedition SUVs and 2026 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty trucks — whose headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip. The contamination can cause a loss of daytime running lights, parking lights, high beams or low beams. NHTSA cites Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which governs required lighting, and records the consequence as reduced visibility and increased crash risk.

The remedy

Ford dealers will inspect the headlight assemblies and replace them, free of charge. NHTSA lists owner letters and VIN lookup as beginning October 26, 2026. There is no park-outside or do-not-drive instruction. Owners who notice a lamp that is dim, flickering, or out should not wait for the letter — the lighting complaint itself is worth reporting to the dealer now.

What owners should do now

• Walk around the vehicle after dark with the headlights, high beams and daytime running lights on, or park facing a wall or garage door, and check that both sides work in every mode.
• If a low beam goes out while you are driving at night, treat it as urgent — slow down, increase following distance, and get it repaired before relying on the vehicle in the dark.
• Report dim, flickering, or intermittent headlights as a safety complaint, in those words, even before the recall letter arrives.
• Do not pay out of pocket for a headlight assembly on a recalled vehicle without first asking the dealer whether it is covered by the open recall.
• Whatever the fix, insist on a written repair order that records the date, the mileage, and your specific complaint. A repair order is what turns a recall visit into evidence if the problem comes back.

How to check your VIN

VIN lookup for this campaign is listed on NHTSA.gov beginning October 26, 2026. Until then, a matching model year does not confirm that a particular vehicle uses the affected headlight assemblies.

Ford customer service: 866-436-7332 (Ford's number for this recall is 26C43). NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.

When this recall can become a California lemon law claim

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your Ford may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.