FORD/LINCOLN: THE AMBIENT LIGHTING ON LINCOLN (MYLINCOLN TOUCH) VEHICLES WILL DEFAULT TO WHITE AND ON FORD (MYFORD TOUCH) VEHICLES WILL DEFAULT TO ICE BLUE AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH CYCLE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Explorer lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Explorer have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 38,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Explorer | 3 |
| 2012 Explorer | 3 |
| 2013 Explorer (this page) | 18 |
| 2014 Explorer | 21 |
| 2015 Explorer | 12 |
| 2016 Explorer | 4 |
| 2017 Explorer | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 18 lighting complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of Ford Explorer in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: THE LOW TO HIGH BEAM OR HIGH TO LOW BEAM IS AN INTERMITTENT TRANSITION AND WOULD NEED THE AFFECTED HID 13008 HEADLAMP HOUSING REPLACED. MODEL 2013-2014 ESCAPE, 2013 EXPLORER, F150.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Ford Explorer has a pattern of lighting system failures that owners describe as serious safety concerns. The most common complaint is severely inadequate headlight illumination—beams aim too low, creating dark spots on the road especially during turns and downhill driving. Owners with 40+ years of driving experience call these the worst headlights they've ever seen. Multiple dealership adjustments and even swapping assemblies between vehicles don't fix it; Ford calls it a design characteristic, not a defect.
Automatic high-beam systems malfunction intermittently, particularly in cold (20°F+) conditions. Owners report the system works 2-3 times then quits, even with clear windshields and excellent visibility. Ford has blamed cold weather and camera obstruction but cannot confirm the system's operating temperature range or provide a permanent fix after multiple dealership visits.
Headlights also randomly fail to illuminate entirely and can be temporarily restored by cycling them off and on. One owner experienced this alongside water intrusion from roof leaks, leaving mechanics unable to diagnose the root cause.
Door ajar sensors falsely indicate doors are open when closed, triggering continuous warning chimes, unwanted dome lighting, and alarm activation. Owners must repeatedly slam doors (sometimes 12+ times) to clear the fault. Even after warranty sensor cleaning, the problem recurs.
Finally, headlight pigtail connectors have melted to bulbs, requiring component replacement.
Same Ford Explorer lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Auto Highbeam Camera Malfunction
Automatic high-beam dimming system operates erratically or fails completely. Camera-based system experiences intermittent operation, especially in cold temperatures (20°F and below), despite clear windshield and excellent visibility. Ford dealership unable to identify root cause or confirm operating temperature range; new camera installation did not resolve issue.
When: Starting late December 2012; cold weather conditions; problem persists across multiple temperatures
Symptoms owners cite: Auto high-beams fail to dim or engage automatically; System works 2-3 times then quits; Intermittent operation during single drive (20-30 miles); Erratic behavior regardless of weather clarity
Repairs/costs cited: New camera installed; multiple dealership visits (3-4) without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford blamed adverse weather conditions, camera obstruction, and cold ambient temperature; no TSB or recall mentioned; suggested waiting for warmer weather
Headlight Output Inadequacy
Headlights provide severely insufficient road illumination. Beams aim too low and fail to illuminate road surface adequately, creating dark spots especially during turns and downhill driving. Problem persists from new vehicle purchase. Dealership adjustments provide minimal improvement. Swapping headlight assemblies between vehicles showed same deficiency, suggesting design issue rather than component failure. Ford acknowledged as 'character of the car' rather than defect.
When: Present since vehicle purchase (December 2012 or shortly thereafter); ongoing from new
Symptoms owners cite: Inadequate road illumination at night; Dark spots on roadway during turns; Problem worsens at higher speeds; Illumination only halfway up street or stop sign; Worse when driving downhill; High-beam operation better but not suitable for normal driving; Unsafe on unlit two-lane roads
Repairs/costs cited: Headlights adjusted at dealership multiple times (up to 4 visits) without meaningful improvement; headlight assemblies swapped between vehicles with identical result
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford classified as design characteristic, not a defect; no recall or TSB identified
Door Ajar Sensor Malfunction
Door position sensor falsely indicates doors are open when all doors are actually closed. Chronic intermittent condition causes continuous warning chime, dome light illumination, and unwanted alarm activation. Requires repeatedly slamming door (sometimes 12+ times) to clear fault. Drains battery by keeping accessories energized. Ford dealership cleaned sensors under warranty at 25k miles; problem recurred after about 4 months.
When: Chronic and recurring throughout ownership; initially resolved with sensor cleaning at 25k miles, recurred by 67k miles
Symptoms owners cite: False 'door ajar' warning with all doors closed; Continuous warning bell that won't cease; Dome lights stay illuminated inappropriately; Alarm system triggers without valid cause; Vehicle doors won't stay locked or auto-locks won't function; Battery drain from constant accessory drain; Alert tone sounds when vehicle starts moving or stops
Repairs/costs cited: Sensors cleaned under warranty at 25k miles; fix lasted approximately 4 months before recurrence at 67k miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford performed warranty sensor cleaning; no permanent fix or TSB mentioned
Headlight Electrical Malfunction
Headlights randomly fail to illuminate. Failure occurs intermittently and can be temporarily restored by switching headlights off and back on. Related to water intrusion issues (roof leak) that also damaged moonroof motor. Multiple sensor faults appearing on dashboard. Problem persists after headlight bulb replacement.
When: Following water leak intrusion; intermittent throughout operation
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights randomly go out; Lights can be temporarily restored by turning off/on; Multiple sensor faults on dashboard; Water intrusion from driver-side roof/moonroof area
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replaced; moonroof motor replaced; headlight bulbs replaced; problem persists; mechanic unable to diagnose; troubleshooting via process of elimination ongoing
Turn Signal Wiring Harness Failure
Turn signals malfunction constantly due to faulty wiring harness installation at factory. Both wiring harnesses required replacement. Issue occurred on multiple vehicles in same fleet.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signals malfunction constantly
Repairs/costs cited: Both wiring harnesses replaced
Headlight Connector and Bulb Melting
Headlight pigtail connector and plastic bulb socket melt at connection point. Requires replacement of headlight pigtail and bulb assembly. Problem occurred twice on at least one vehicle.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight pigtail melts to bulb; Plastic connector melts at bulb connection
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight pigtail replaced twice; bulb and connector assembly replacement required
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The headlights are severely inadequate ,if it is raining it is not safe to drive
Had lighting trouble with your 2013 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 12,300 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 38,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,300; a quarter make it past 55,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.