Ford Explorer · 2012–2025
Ford Explorer Headlight and Bulb Sizes
The specification is not the same across every year we cover, the table below shows exactly where it changes.
Last verified
Has the Ford Explorer headlight bulbs specification changed by year?
| Model years | Low beam | High beam | Fog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2025 | LED (standard all trims; sealed unit, no user-replaceable bulb) | LED | LED (where equipped) |
| 2012–2019 | 9005/HB3 halogen (2011–2015); H11 halogen (2016–2019); D3S HID or LED on Limited/Sport/Platinum with premium lighting | 9005 (HB3) halogen (all years, non-HID/LED) | H11 (2011–2015); H16/9145-style on 2016–2019. Check the installed bulb |
Each row links to the full specification for that generation, including trim-by-trim breakdowns and the part numbers. Where engines within a generation differ, that page separates them.
Full specifications by generation
The headlight bulbs on a Ford Explorer is set by its generation, not its model year, so each generation has one page carrying the complete figures, part numbers and fitment notes for every year it covers.
Ford Explorer headlight bulbs: common questions
What headlight bulb does a Ford Explorer use?
- LED (standard all trims; sealed unit, no user-replaceable bulb) for the low beam and LED for the high beam. Trims with factory LED or HID projectors use a sealed assembly instead and are not bulb-serviceable.
What fog light bulb does a Ford Explorer take?
- LED (where equipped).
Can you put LED bulbs in a Ford Explorer?
- Physically, yes, LED replacements exist in every common base. Whether they work well depends on the housing: a reflector housing designed around a halogen filament scatters LED output into oncoming traffic instead of down the road. Projector housings tolerate the swap far better. Some vehicles also flag the lower current draw as a bulb-out fault.
Sources
- 2020 Explorer Owner's Manual, Capacities and Specifications (fordservicecontent.com)
- CarCareTruth, 2020–2026 Explorer oil type & capacity (from OEM manuals)
- NHTSA recall 23V-675 / Ford 23S55, rear axle bolt replacement
- Ford recall 22S27 (NHTSA 22V-712), rear axle bolt software remedy
- NHTSA recall 23V-342 (Ford 23S23), 360-camera blue image
- Levittown Ford parts, FA-1947 / L1MZ-9601-A engine air filter (3.0L/3.3L)
- Ford Parts Giant, JX6Z-19N619-B cabin air filter, 2020 Explorer
- ExplorerST.org, factory H6 battery, fluid capacities (Mercon ULV, 75W-85 rear axle)
- fueleconomy.gov, 2021 Ford Explorer EPA ratings
- Goodyear / Mavis, 2021–2024 Explorer OE tire sizes by trim
- Car and Driver, 2020 Explorer specs (fuel tank, curb weight, towing)
Find your exact Explorer
Jump to a model year for the engines it offered, what changed, and the problems documented against it: