2020 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems

Passenger headlight module has blown and seems to be an issue with the 2020 Ford Explorer.

NHTSA ID

11765374

Incident

Sep 14, 2026

The passenger headlight low beam does not work.This has been identified by an Independent service center. The Check Headlight System message shows on dashboard. Bought the car in 2023 and the headlight has not worked for 2 years. When driving at night I only have one headlight that works this poses a risk to myself and others. The entire headlight assembly must be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11759016

Incident

Jan 2, 2024

The passenger headlamp has went out and after researching this is supposed to be a lifetime lamp and has become a common issue on these vehicles. If these lamps are malfuntioning it should be recalled because it is a safety issue specially to ones that already have vision issues at night.

NHTSA ID

11744024

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

Both my passenger and driver headlights have failed. I have paid to have them replaced. The drivers side has failed twice. The passenger side has failed 3 times. I have taken it to the dealership and they “fixed” the issue but it keeps coming back months or weeks later. The low beams are what is failing. The message on the dash says “check headlight assembly see manual” This is a safety risk to me and other people on the road. They have failed while driving. If I am driving early in the morning or late at night I can not see if there are no street lights. People also can’t see me coming. This is a major safety risk. I bought the car in August 2024. Headlights have failed 5 times since then. The dealership helped me with my first four failures. On this last failure, they said it is not covered under warranty and that I need to pay $3000 for the headlight. Five failures of headlights seems like a manufacturer issue and not something. I am doing on my end.

NHTSA ID

11739255

Incident

Aug 26, 2024

Driver side headlamp low beam has burned out. They are supposed to be lifetime LED headlamps, not burn out after only 67,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11737734

Incident

May 10, 2026

The driver side headlight low beam will not work. Dealership said 1700+ labor to replace. I have looked into this and several other ford explorer platinum owners have same issue.

NHTSA ID

11729390

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Headlight Assembly. Low beam is "out". Check headlight assembly message appears on dash. Was told by Ford that the whole unit needed to be replaced for $1000+. Weeks later it started working normally again. How can it suddenly work when I was told the light was "out"? This has happened to MANY people with a Platinum Explorer.

NHTSA ID

11720986

Incident

Feb 23, 2026

Passenger headlight, LED low beam has gone out. Daytime running lights, high beam, and turn signal still work. Tried replacing the module and it's the headlamp that is bad.

NHTSA ID

11719340

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

LED Headlight assembly failure. Loss of headlight is a safety concern because by law you need both headlights working. It allows cars to see you. The malfunction of the headlight has been confirmed by a Ford Dealership. There are several reports online of this happening to the 2020 Explorer LED headlamps. The only warning was the message system.

NHTSA ID

11713906

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

**Upon request, all failed components can be inspected anytime for any reason. From this date (01/23/26) forward. If any repairs or replacementa had been rectified by Ford, receipts of the repair(s) will be provided regardless. I cannot recall exactly when these issues started so my ball park is 5/11/22. That is literally 2 years of driving the car from the show room. I was getting some lights on my dash that I have lost all functions with the vehicle ...ie: drivers assistance, airbags, up hill decent, pre- collision, no driving modes and the car felt normal. I was still under warranty so the repair that was done was an update to the BCM (is what I am told.) So the mechanic did a reprogram to the module. About a year I noticed I was then getting check headlamp notification pin my dash. I check the lamps and all seemed to be just fine. Also I was dealing with a dead battery all the time. at least once a month. But I was told I needed to drive the car more often. No matter still getting a dead monthly battery and here and there "check headlamp". Approx last year 2025, I realized. it was really dark driving the SUV. I get out and long behold the low beam headlamp was out. Played with switches..nothing. Checked into just getting a new one. its is a STAGGERING 1.5K!!!!PER HEADLamp! Well, the cops pull me over 4 times. For a headlight with LEDs why am I even having to price this? This Platinum trim just h I 5 years old and I cant believe all the problems. Along with that I found that this is considered something for the owner has to replace due to owners maintenance. No. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THE DEAD BATTERY. WELL...I know am out of all warranties to the vehicle AND FORD IS SHUTTING THE DOOR IN MY FACE for any "goodwill repairs" (So far) As of this very moment, I have a dead 2020 Ford Platinum Explorer. Heads Lamp is still out. Yet there is a recall on a backup camera. Complete joke and this is literally disappointing.

NHTSA ID

11712966

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Passenger side headlight quit working, except on high beams. Also, dashboard warning came on about headlamp not working. Tried to get new bulbs and was told that the whole headlight assembly had to be replaced and dealership charges $1500+

NHTSA ID

11711700

Incident

Dec 11, 2025

Over the past few years, the headlights will intermittently go out when driving. The problem usually resolves itself the next time the vehicle is started. However, over the past couple weeks, both drivers side low beams have gone out and stayed out a well as one passenger side low beam. This happened while my wife was driving through a snow storm, so you can imagine how fun that drive was. I’ve contacted ford, as I can see this is a known problem with these LED headlights by reading forums and talking to other owners. Their answer is simple, pay us 5k to replace the headlight! No thanks, this is a known issue with their product and shouldn’t be placing the onus on the consumer. To make it worse, it’s obviously a HUGE safety risk to be driving without headlights!!! Since the latest incident, the lights have not come back on, forcing us to not use our main family vehicle at night. When the lights go out, it alerts and just says “check headlamp system”.

NHTSA ID

11708871

Incident

Dec 15, 2025

Passenger side Headlight low beam went out. Dealer says it’s $1500 because whole headlight assembly must be replaced instead of a bulb. We live off of social security, so of course we don’t have the money for this. Now we can’t drive at night and we both have medical problems. This is both worrisome and dangerous. After some research, this is a recurring issue, especially for Platinums.

NHTSA ID

11707189

Incident

Dec 24, 2025

My headlights and turn signals continue to go out and come back on. Multiple people with this exact same model explorer are also having this same issue. I truly think this should be a recall with the 2020 ford explorer platinum as this is a huge safety concern. Please see linked Reddit post for proof of multiple people reporting the exact same issue. This issue has been addressed by the dealership, and I was advised that the entire headlight module would need to be replaced. My driver side was replaced under warranty and the headlight is now functioning, but my driver turn signal continuously goes out every month or so now after the replacement. This issue started mere months after I purchased this vehicle directly from the dealership brand new. Please see this attached Reddit post for multiple people with the exact same car complaining of the same issue. I can also provide all receipts from where this was addressed at the dealership multiple times. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11699495

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Left lowlight headlight stops working intermittently and then completely. Both front axles cracked. Right rear shock busted. Gas purge valve malfunctioned

NHTSA ID

11699473

Incident

Oct 20, 2025

When driving the vehicle's instrument panel cluster randomly goes blank. When it does so, all of the items related to speed control, lighting, turn signals, etc. become non-operational. Additionally, the driver has no idea what his/her speed is nor any other information about the operation of the vehicle. It is very unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11695888

Incident

Oct 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at night, the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate as intended and the failure was progressing with the passenger’s side front headlight. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed an abnormal buildup of condensation inside the front driver's side headlight. The message "Driver Side Headlamp Out" was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11694135

Incident

Feb 14, 2025

Mileage

120,000 mi

Put vehicle in reverse camera camera on then went black and the backup lights went out while trying to move resulting in hitting a pole.

NHTSA ID

11694015

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Kept getting a Check Headlamp System See Manual for a couple days then the headlight went out

NHTSA ID

11692978

Incident

Oct 11, 2025

Driver side low beam has stopped working. Ford was unable to pinpoint the problem and wants to replace the entire head lamp to cover all possibilities.

NHTSA ID

11691321

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

Headlamp light came on in vehicle in December of 2024 and dealership replaced module which I had to pay for. 4 months later light came on again and dealership replaced module again at their cost, light came back on again right after the 2nd replacement of module. Dealership is not sure what to do but recommends replacing Headlamp at my cost but not sure that will fix the problem. I have been driving around with the headlight light coming off and on for the last 10 months. Dealership has no idea what to do

NHTSA ID

11686419

Incident

Dec 4, 2024

Low beam headlight won't work. Dealer advises that the whole assembly has to be replaced at a cost of over $1,500. It doesn't make sense to me that, for safety's sake, replacing a light bulb (cost = $120) translates into a full dismantling of the front grill and fender to replace the entire headlight assembly. This is a serious safety issue

NHTSA ID

11686140

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

Failed low beam bulb makes it unsafe to drive at night. The LED bulb is designed to last “life of the vehicle” and failed in less than 5 years. Replacing the bulb means replacing the entire assembly, >$1500. The bulb failed in significantly less than the typical lifespan.

NHTSA ID

11684818

Incident

Sep 3, 2025

The head light is intermittent. Sometimes if I drive it works fine, other times the main beam is out and the car displays a notification that says “check owner manual”. It’s not safe if I never know when my head light will work or decide to not work.

NHTSA ID

11680852

Incident

Jan 3, 2024

Passenger OEM headlight module has failed multiple times. Continuously goes out and comes back on, causing a great safety concern. Driver OEM was replaced under warranty (bad module) and has worked fine since. This appears to be a factory issue as I have been dealing with this since I bought the vehicle brand new.

NHTSA ID

11678444

Incident

May 10, 2021