2015 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights became inoperable. The contact stated that the fuses were in good condition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that a diagnostic test was needed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

NHTSA ID

11698219

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

Mileage

166,000 mi

Parking lights are illuminated and not head lamps for daytime running lights. Was sold by Ford Certified Dealership. Also has no interior lighting for security. BCM replaced, and still has same issue, along with the 3rd row seats not functioning, interior overhead lights not functioning, trailer socket not functioning.

NHTSA ID

11693317

Incident

Jan 11, 2025

The vehicle was sold to me by “Buffalo Auto Sales 2 at 3012 Spencer Hwy Pasadena, TX 77504 on [XXX]. They violated the DTPA and all employees failed to disclose the vehicle had dozens of major safety issues with two open safety recalls. These safety issues include Major ABS issues and failures, Power Steering/drivetrain, front end passenger wheel & both rear end wheel failures within the mechanisms such as control arms, tie rods inner and outer & even one within the wheel component that was dangerously bent. The headlight pigtails are torched. These couldn’t even be fixed with even replacement OEM parts/Ford Dealership parts and Ford Dealership expertise. My safety, my children’s safety, family and passengers were all at risk multiple times over the past three weeks. Every time on the highway or local roads not being able to sustain maximum speeds over 20- 40 mph because touching the gas even after a red light would cause the engine to hesitate to turn or stutter. This caused me multiple trips back to Buffalo Auto Sales 2 and multiple mechanics even multiple Ford Dealerships. On September 12th 2024, I discussed these severe safety issues with Buffalo Auto Sales 2, my salesman originally offered to place me into another vehicle, give me back my large cash deposit, or “attempt to fix the vehicle”. The manager immediately refused to do the right thing and claim to “fix the vehicle himself”.. however when I asked if the manager Jeff has experience as a mechanic he replied he does not have mechanic experience. That day they claim to have “fixed” the ABS problem, and in turn the vehicle was still shaking while in motion at any speed. Even after I thought Ford Service could fix the tie rod recall, that still did not work because the rear was still shaking. I had Tire experts and mechanics even change front tires, and do an alignment on September 30th 2024.. The vehicle is still shaking dangerously while in motion. Warnings on are ABS, Chk Engine & Tire Pressure lights. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF IN

NHTSA ID

11617997

Incident

Sep 9, 2024

Mileage

192,260 mi

Halogen headlights (9005) are extremely dim which is a known safety issue. Customers are upgrading from halogen to led and xenon. I believe newer explorers upgraded headlights to led. I want Ford to recommend Led headlight alternative at my cost or fix this problem with recall. Drivers are flashing their headlights at nighttime because they think my lights are not on? Many hits on the internet concerning Ford Suva/truck halogen headlight issues.

NHTSA ID

11441282

Incident

Nov 22, 2021

WHILE DRIVING ON STREET OR HI WAY THE DASH LIGHT TURN OFF AND ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11280387

Incident

Nov 14, 2019

Mileage

54,000 mi

IT'S POPPING UP LOW ENGINE POWER AND IT WILL SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING FROM LIGHTS TO BLIND SPOT DETECTION. IT JUST STARTED DOING THIS AFTER RUNNING THROUGH A SMALL WATER PUDDLE.

NHTSA ID

11271190

Incident

Oct 26, 2019

Mileage

113,562 mi

MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER HAS POOR LIGHTING. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT YOU FEEL LIKE THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. VERY HARD TO SEE SOME ROADS. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD A FEW COMPLAINTS. I ALSO SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT POOR LIGHTING IN SOME NEWER VEHICLES AND MY EXPLORER WAS LISTED IN THE ARTICLE. I ALSO HAVE A 2018 EXPLORER. SOME TIMES THE LIGHTS LOOK DIM. I LOVE THE CAR JUST THINK THIS IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11266639

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

STARTED CAR AND PUT IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT WORKING NORMALLY AND THEN NOTICED THE POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC NOTIFICATION. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE 100 MILES HOME WITH "MANUAL STEERING" ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO USE ONE HAND TO CHANGE LANES. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED GOING 60 MILES PER HOUR, AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE, LOSE OF LIFE, AS WHAT HAPPENED WAS UNEXPECTED AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT 1/2/15 AND THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 26,100 MILES AND THE REPAIR COST $2,147.25 AT THE FORD DEALER BY MY HOUSE. SINCE FORD WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY THE SAME DAY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND STOCK THE PARTS AND LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH FORD VEHICLES IN GENERAL. FORD HAD A 1.1 MILLION RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2011-2013 VEHICLES AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE GOING FORWARD. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NHTSA ID

11242676

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

Mileage

26,100 mi

DRIVING 55MPH ON I-94 LAST NIGHT IN A STEADY RAIN AND CHECK BATTERY MESSAGE CAME UP IN THE LEFT IP DISPLAY. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS I LOST THE POWER STEERING, THEN THE CENTER CONSOLE ENTERTAINMENT/INFO SCREEN, THEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WERE ON HIGHEST SETTING SLOWED BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE ONLY WHILE IN THE HIGHEST SETTING. THIS SCENARIO CONTINUED OFF AND ON FOR THE NEXT 30 MILES WITH INTERMITTENT ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE, INTERNAL IP AND CONSOLE SCREEN FAILURE AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURES. WE PULLED OVER EACH TIME AND WITHIN A VARIED AMOUNT OF TIME FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SQUEALING BELT WOULD BE HEARD AND THE SYSTEM WOULD "REBOOT" AND ALL FUNCTIONING WOULD BE RESTORED FOR A LIMITED TIME. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF FOR 35 MILES AS I WAS NOT LEAVING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY OR IN DETROIT IF I COULD SAFELY AVOID IT. THIS MORNING (SUNDAY) I TESTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED UNDER LOAD AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOTH WERE WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. BELT LOOKED GOOD WITH VISUAL INSPECTION AND 1 HOUR OF IDLE AND DRIVE TIME CLOSE TO HOME IN DAMP PUDDLING ROADS COULD NOT GET ANY ADVERSE SYMPTOMS TO REAPPEAR. IT WILL GO TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR LOCAL DEALER TOMORROW FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER AND IF NO ISSUE CAN BE FOUND WE WILL BE REPLACING THE CAR AS SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXTREME DANGER WITHOUT STEERING, LIGHTS AND IP, ESPECIALLY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY OF DETROIT'S I-94 EXPRESSWAY.

NHTSA ID

11185651

Incident

Mar 9, 2019

Mileage

52,000 mi

ONCOMING CARS ARE CONSTANTLY FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON HIGH BEAM. I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO LANDMARK FORD IN TIGARD OREGON TO HAVE THEM VERIFY THAT THE LIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING MEET SPECIFICATIONS. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE HE AND THE TECHNICIAN HAD THE SAME EXTRA BRIGHT LOW BEAM ISSUES WITH THEIR FORD PICKUPS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANOTHER TYPE OF LAMP THAT COULD BE USED, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2017.

NHTSA ID

11056375

Incident

Oct 26, 2017

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LINE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (COCONUT POINT FORD, 22400 S TAMIANMI TRL, ESTERO, FL 33928) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS13705636. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *TT CONSUMTER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDES OF THE ROAD. UPDATED 9/18/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11053989

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

42,000 mi

I STARTED WITH HEADACHES ,AND ALWAYS NASSAU, ALWAYS. TIRED ,WHEN I PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR I SMELLED FUMES COMING OUT OF MY A/C ..I WAS DRIVING WIDE AWAKE ON 95 NORTH ,PROCESSING TO GO HOME .I WAS IN ORANGEBURG S.C.I HAD BEEN TALKING THROUGH MY RADIO CONNECTED BLUETOOTH, I HAD A LITTLE OVER A HOUR TO GO .A DEER .MY AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE PASSENGERS .AND THEY DID NOT STAY UP TO LONG ,A GODLY SMELL WAS COMING FROM MY CAR,.EVERYTHING LOOKED HAZY ,I GOT OUT OF MY CAR ,CALLED 911 ,I DID NOT GO TO HOSPITOL TIL NEXT DAY ,ALL I DID WAS SLEEP WAITING IN THE WAITING ROOM TO BE SEEN.I HAD X RAYS ALL KINDS OF TESTS DONE .I WAS HURTING PRETTY BAD .I STILL GET HEADACHES TIL THIS DAY .MY LUNGS HURT TOO .I'M SURE I HAVE BEEN POSITIONED BY CARBON MONOXIDE..EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR ,I WOULD GET A HEADACHE NASSAU AND VERY VERY SLEEPY TIRED .MY MEMORY WAS NOT GOOD THEN EIETHER ,I STILL FORGET THINGS TIL THIS DAY ..

NHTSA ID

11046551

Incident

Sep 28, 2017

Mileage

29,789 mi

HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SEALED UNITS BUT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WATER GETS IN. FORD DENIED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THEM CALLING IT CONDENSATION AND THAT IS NORMAL. THE WATER STAYS IN FOR A DAY OR TWO BUT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IT OBSCURES MY VISION FROM THE LIGHT BEING DEFUSED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO OWN UP TO IT. I SENT PICTURES TO THEM BUT HAVE SINCE DELETED THEM I WILL TAKE MORE THE NEXT TIME IT RAINS WHEN I'M TRAVELING.

NHTSA ID

11000716

Incident

May 31, 2017

Mileage

11,000 mi

MY CAR HAS PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS. ON A DARK ROAD, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE IS A BLACK CURTAIN OVER THE TOP HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD. ROAD VISIBILITY IS LIMITED BY THIS, THIS WOULD BE THE CUT OFF LINE WHERE BELOW THE LINE THERE IS LIGHT AND ABOVE IT IS TOTAL DARKNESS. ON BACK ROADS WHERE THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS, THIS IS A HORRIBLE BLIND SPOT THAT IS WORSENED BY GOING DOWN HILLS AND AROUND CURVES. GOING DOWN A SLOPE CAUSES THE PROJECTION TO BE SHORTENED TO IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IF THERE WERE PEDESTRIANS OR ANIMALS BEYOND THIS AREA, THEY WOULD BE INVISIBLE. DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD MAKE THE CUT OFF LINE BOUNCE AROUND, QUICKLY BECOMING ANNOYING AS WELL AS DANGEROUS. ANYTHING ABOVE THIS CUT OFF LINE IS INVISIBLE, SUCH AS ROAD SIGNS. ON A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ROAD THE LIGHTS ARE BEARABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936707

Incident

Jun 30, 2015

Mileage

500 mi

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUAL FAILURES WITH OUR 2015 AND 2016 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULES, WIRING HARNESSES, RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULES THAT ARE EITHER PREVENTING NEW UNITS BEING PLACED INTO SERVICE OR FAIL ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO SERVICE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO OF THESE UNITS THAT WE PURCHASED OFF OF OUR STATE CONTRACT IN WASHINGTON STATE THAT ARE STILL AT THE DEALER. WE PURCHASED AND RECEIVED THESE UNITS IN NOVEMBER OF 2015. I HAVE PROVIDED THE VIN NUMBERS TO THESE TWO UNITS THAT ARE EFFECTED ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE VIN NUMBERS FOR ALL 5 UNITS WE HAVE PURCHASED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU WOULD REQUIRE TO POSSIBLY ASSIST US IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION. BESIDES THE VIN NUMBER FIRST ATTACHED TO THIS FORM, HERE ARE THE OTHER FOUR NUMBERS. [XXX], [XXX], [XXX], [XXX]. THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10822763

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

150 mi

THIS IS JUST A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO HOPEFULLY AVOID ACCIDENTS: HEADLIGHTS ON MOST NEW VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS. THEY DO NOT PROJECT, IF YOU FACE A GARAGE, THERE IS A DISTINCT LINE WHERE ABOVE THIS LINE THERE IS NO EXTRA LIGHT AND BELOW THE LINE IS WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS SHINE. WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 3 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU AND NO FURTHER. IT IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AROUND CURVES. YOU CAN'T READ STREET SIGNS AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO SEE DEERE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED UP BY THE DEALERSHIP AND EVERYONE FLASHED THEIR BRIGHTS AT ME SO I HAD TO HAVE THEM TURNED BACK DOWN. MIY HUSBAND HAS A NEW HYUNDAI, EVERYONE IS FLASHING THEIR BRIGHTS AT HIM AND THEY ARE NOT ON. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WHO HAS A CHEVY SAID THE SAME THING AND SHE DRIVES WITH HER BRIGHTS ON AS MUCH AS SHE POSSIBLY CAN SINCE THE LOW BEAM IS SO HORRIBLE. TAKE A TEST DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY ON HILLS AND CURVES AT NIGHT YOU'LL SEE JUST HOW DANGEROUS THESE LIGHT TRULY ARE

NHTSA ID

10807002

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK THAT GREAT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PAINTED A BLACK LINE IN THE WINDSHIELD AND WE CAN'T SEE ABOVE THAT LINE. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LIGHTS. I HAD AN EDGE BEFORE AND WE COULD SEE SO MUCH BETTER. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661856

Incident

Aug 14, 2014

Mileage

125 mi