Headlights turn on by themselves?!

[m3olsen]

Hi all,

Last Saturday, standing in my garage looking out at the Expedition in the driveway in the drizzle - parked and locked and not having been touched for likely a good hour - I notice the tail lights come on. Walk out, walk around vehicle - wtf the headlights are on too! I did have the keyfob in my pocket so I opened the door. Dinger is going off (telling me my headlights are on). I close and lock the door - nothing changes. I open again and cycle the ignition button without foot on the pedal - nothing changes (lights still on and car is dinging). Only when I manually cycle the headlight switch to OFF do the headlights turn off and the ding stops.

Anybody else seen their lights turn themselves on unprovoked? Turning on lights isn't a fob function, so the fact that my fob was in my pocket should have nothing to do with it. It's not even a FordPass function that I can see (not that I was in the app). My ASS has been working annoyingly well so I'm confident I don't have a decaying vehicle battery that could cause a gremlin. I'm stumped and shocked and concerned as it's not very often I'm standing there watching my parked vehicle. It's below in my sig block, but 2022 SPP. Headlight switch had been left in Auto as usual, as it resets every time you start the vehicle anyways. Thanks!

 

[Dustbunny]

Yep, my 2022 Expy TX Edition has done that 3 times, though not in quite a few months (knock wood). Ordered in Jan 22 and picked up in June 22. The first time it happened, I had been in and out of the vehicle and thought I may have somehow bumped the switch, though couldn't figure out how I could have possibly turned it that far to go on. The other 2 times I was in the garage with the truck outside, and noticed them on. I knew then it had to be some type of electrical gremlin.

 

[Rob6805]

Sounds like a software issue.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Hi all,

Last Saturday, standing in my garage looking out at the Expedition in the driveway in the drizzle - parked and locked and not having been touched for likely a good hour - I notice the tail lights come on. Walk out, walk around vehicle - wtf the headlights are on too! I did have the keyfob in my pocket so I opened the door. Dinger is going off (telling me my headlights are on). I close and lock the door - nothing changes. I open again and cycle the ignition button without foot on the pedal - nothing changes (lights still on and car is dinging). Only when I manually cycle the headlight switch to OFF do the headlights turn off and the ding stops.

Anybody else seen their lights turn themselves on unprovoked? Turning on lights isn't a fob function, so the fact that my fob was in my pocket should have nothing to do with it. It's not even a FordPass function that I can see (not that I was in the app). My ASS has been working annoyingly well so I'm confident I don't have a decaying vehicle battery that could cause a gremlin. I'm stumped and shocked and concerned as it's not very often I'm standing there watching my parked vehicle. It's below in my sig block, but 2022 SPP. Headlight switch had been left in Auto as usual, as it resets every time you start the vehicle anyways. Thanks!

Read this: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10230964-0001.pdf

 

[BIGRED03]

Read this: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10230964-0001.pdf

Thank you!

 

[2020-MAX-Limited]

Hi all,

Last Saturday, standing in my garage looking out at the Expedition in the driveway in the drizzle - parked and locked and not having been touched for likely a good hour - I notice the tail lights come on. Walk out, walk around vehicle - wtf the headlights are on too! I did have the keyfob in my pocket so I opened the door. Dinger is going off (telling me my headlights are on). I close and lock the door - nothing changes. I open again and cycle the ignition button without foot on the pedal - nothing changes (lights still on and car is dinging). Only when I manually cycle the headlight switch to OFF do the headlights turn off and the ding stops.

Anybody else seen their lights turn themselves on unprovoked? Turning on lights isn't a fob function, so the fact that my fob was in my pocket should have nothing to do with it. It's not even a FordPass function that I can see (not that I was in the app). My ASS has been working annoyingly well so I'm confident I don't have a decaying vehicle battery that could cause a gremlin. I'm stumped and shocked and concerned as it's not very often I'm standing there watching my parked vehicle. It's below in my sig block, but 2022 SPP. Headlight switch had been left in Auto as usual, as it resets every time you start the vehicle anyways. Thanks!

I'm guessing it's related to the drizzle/rain interacting with the hands-free function on the door handles with the fob in range. This happens when I wash the car with my fob on me.

 

[5280tunage]

Sounds like a great way for the dealers to get some over-priced battery replacements in. But as @2020-MAX-Limited said, I have a similar thing happen every time I wash my car. The water stream from a pressure sprayer seems to create a good enough ground that the handle seems it's a hand on the handle. The lights come on and off and the doors unlock probably 5-10 times every wash.

 

[m3olsen]

I'm guessing it's related to the drizzle/rain interacting with the hands-free function on the door handles with the fob in range. This happens when I wash the car with my fob on me.

By 'this happens' - you mean your headlights come on?

 

[m3olsen]

Thank you all for your replies here. Extremely helpful, and some relief to know at least it's not just me. Posting the SSM is MUCH appreciated!

 

[billerbeck]

I think I've had this problem too but I've not actually found the headlights on. In my cases I just found the battery dead the next day. A question for those that have seen the problem: does it only happen when the headlight switch is in the auto position? In other words, would keeping the headlight switch in the off position eliminate the problem at least until the fix is in?

 

[HazBeen]

These Special Service Messages for other models have been released, but I've seen nothing yet for Expedition/Navigator...





If any messages surface for Expedition/Navigator, I will post them.

Scanning your vehicle for DTCs may be instructive.

 

[Mark Buckner]

I am going to get the codes read on my 2012. It has been doing this for over a year, ever since a front end accident in September 2021. I thought it was related to that incident but reading the SSM makes me wonder if it's a problem with the switch - despite the fact that my model year is not covered by this particular bulletin. I am just glad to see that it is a known issue that others are experiencing as well. Thanks for posting that SSM!