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Ford Explorer Recall 25V543: Trailer Tail Lights May Not Light Up, Raising Crash Risk

NHTSA campaign 25V543, reported August 22, 2025, 213,121 vehicles potentially affected.

What this recall means for you

A body control module on certain vehicles may be improperly manufactured. When towing a trailer, the trailer's tail lights may fail to illuminate, which means these vehicles do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 for lamps and reflective devices.

Trailer tail lights that do not light as intended can reduce visibility for other drivers, which increases the risk of a crash.

If you own this vehicle, check your VIN for open recalls and contact an authorized dealer. Dealers will replace the body control module on vehicles with fewer than 9,000 miles, or perform a functional check and replace it as needed on vehicles with more than 9,000 miles. The repair is free of charge. Owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 (Ford recall number 25C42).

Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle

The repair is normally free at an authorized dealer.

Official recall notice

Safety recall 25V543Ford Motor Company
Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk
Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the body control module C on vehicles with less than 9,000 miles. For vehicles over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module C and replace it as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Aviator 2025 owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2025. Explorer 2025 owner letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C42.

Affected vehicles

Ford Explorer2025
Lincoln Aviator2025