More than 41,000 vehicles of a popular brand are recalled due to a headlight defect that may increase the risk of a crash

Ford initiated a safety recall of 41,748 vehicles in the United States due to a defect in the front headlamp assemblies. (Illustrative image Infobae)Ford Motor Company initiated a safety recall in the United States covering 41,748 trucks and SUVs due to a possible failure in the front headlamp assemblies. The campaign affects certain 2025, 2026, and 2027 model year Ford Expeditions, as well as 2026 model year Ford F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD trucks. The problem can cause the loss of low beams, high beams, daytime running lights, or position lights. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the situation can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The recall is registered under number 26V606000 by the federal agency and under code 26C43 by the manufacturer. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the headlights of the affected vehicles may contain a contaminated LED chip, which would affect the operation of the exterior lighting system. Dealers will need to inspect the parts and replace them if they detect the defect, at no cost to owners. The campaign was added to the United States public recall database before owner notifications were sent. Ford expects to mail the letters starting October 26, 2026, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners will be able to identify whether their vehicles are included by using the vehicle identification number, known as the VIN, in the lookup systems of the federal agency and of Ford. The recall covers five models of the brand, although it does not affect all manufactured units of each vehicle. The campaign includes selected examples of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 model year Ford Expedition, as well as Super Duty line trucks built for the 2026 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, actual inclusion depends on the production date and the components installed in each vehicle. The largest number of affected units corresponds to the Ford F-250 SD. The breakdown of the campaign indicates that 17,512 F-250 SD trucks were called in, along with 10,295 F-350 SD, 523 F-450 SD, and 120 F-550 SD. To those trucks are added 13,298 Expeditions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the total of the five categories reaches 41,748 units. The Super Duty line includes trucks used both by private owners and by companies that require hauling, towing, or equipment transport capabilities. The Expedition, on the other hand, belongs to the full-size SUV segment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not report any usage restrictions or an order to stop the circulation of the included vehicles, but registered the call as a safety campaign related to exterior lighting. The failure originates from a contaminated LED chip that can prevent the operation of the high beams, low beams, daytime running lights, or position lights. (REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo)The defect is concentrated in the front headlamp assemblies. According to the documentation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these components may contain "a contaminated LED chip," a condition that could prevent the operation of one or more lights. The notice includes daytime running lights, position lights, high beams, and low beams. The failure can manifest in different ways, depending on which function stops working. Low beams illuminate the road at night or in conditions of reduced visibility. High beams are used when the road requires greater light range. Daytime running lights and position lights help other drivers detect the vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the loss of any of these systems can compromise exterior visibility. The official notice states that "the loss of exterior lighting can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash." The agency also indicated that the condition may constitute a violation of federal standard FMVSS 108, which regulates lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment for vehicle lighting. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the purpose of that regulation is to establish technical requirements so that automobiles can be seen and operated safely on public roads. The campaign report includes a signal that can alert drivers to a headlight failure. "A dashboard indicator light will illuminate for customers who experience inoperative low or high beams," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated. That warning may appear if the system detects that one of the main lighting functions has stopped responding. The presence of a dashboard warning by itself does not establish that the vehicle is part of campaign 26V606000. A lighting problem can stem from various causes, including the wear of a component or an electrical failure unrelated to this recall. For that reason, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends verifying the VIN, which is a unique code assigned to each unit. The VIN is usually visible at the bottom of the windshield, on the driver's side, and also appears in the vehicle's registration and insurance documentation. Owners can enter that number in the federal agency's recall tool or on the Ford Motor Company support website. According to Ford, the lookup allows owners to know whether there is an open campaign and whether the repair is already available for the vehicle. The loss of exterior lighting increases the risk of accidents and violates federal safety standard FMVSS 108. (REUTERS/Carlos Osorio)Ford dealers will inspect the headlamp assemblies of the vehicles covered by the campaign. If the inspection confirms the presence of the component involved or determines that replacement is warranted, the shop will replace the headlamp assembly at no cost to the owner. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the repair is part of the official remedy presented by the manufacturer. The procedure does not contemplate the driver replacing the LED chip on their own. The intervention will be performed at an authorized dealership, since the component is integrated into the headlamp assembly. According to Ford Motor Company, repairs related to safety campaigns are performed at no cost, regardless of the vehicle's age or the number of owners it has had. Mail notification is scheduled for October 26, 2026. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that owners can check earlier whether their vehicles are included and arrange service with a dealer once the repair is available. The notice does not modify the usual vehicle maintenance obligations nor replace the manual inspection of the lights before driving. Owners of a Ford Expedition, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, or F-550 SD can start by checking the VIN on the official platforms. If the vehicle appears in the campaign, they should contact a dealer to find out when the inspection can be performed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recalls apply to specific vehicles, so the model and year are not enough to confirm inclusion. It is also advisable to check the operation of the low beams, high beams, daytime running lights, and position lights. If any function does not work or a warning appears on the dashboard, the driver can request an inspection at a Ford dealer. The campaign maintains code 26V606000 in the records of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and code 26C43 in the manufacturer's internal identification. Starting October 26, Ford must send the formal notifications and proceed with the inspections of the included units. Owners who have already checked their VIN can use that information to confirm whether their vehicle requires attention. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the replacement of the headlamp assemblies will be performed at no cost when applicable within this campaign.