The Ford Expedition is an ideal family vehicle because of its size.
It is big, comfortable, fast, spacious and provides extended mileage on a full tank.
It is very important for a family vehicle such as the Expedition to have excellent headlights and good lighting at all time.
In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the Expedition’s lights.
Table of Contents
Note: The LED headlights are not on all newer models. They’re on specific packages.
Which Light Bulbs Sizes and Types Do Ford Expedition Use?
The older Expedition models come with halogen headlights while newer models almost only come with HID (Xenon) headlights.
Headlight
Headlight for 1997 to 2002 Expeditions use bulb number 9007; for 2003 to 2006 high beam headlight, the bulb number is 9005 while low beam headlight uses 9006.
The 2007 to 2013 Expeditions use bulb H13; Expeditions from 2014 to 2017 with projector-type headlamps and high beam headlight make use of H9 while low beam headlights use 9005.
In the same year, the sub-model without projector-type headlamps; the high beam headlight is 9005, while the low beam headlight is H11.
From 2018 to 2020, the headlight bulb with high beam uses 9005, while the headlight bulb low beam uses H11.
Taillight
The taillights bulb for the Expedition from 1999 to 2005 use bulb 3157R. From 2006 to 2012, the taillight bulb uses 4157R.
In 2013, the Expedition taillight bulb switched back to 3157R, and this ran till 2017.
From 2018 to 2019, the taillight used LED bulbs. In 2020, the taillight bulb used 3057R.
Dome Light
The dome light of the Expedition from 1999 to 2017 uses bulb number 578. From 2018 to 2020, the dome light used LED bulbs.
Brake Light
The Expedition’s brake light from 1999 to 2005 used bulb 3157R. Models from 2006 to 2012 used 4157R.
In 2013, the Expedition brake light bulb switched back to 3157R.
From 2018 to 2019, the brake light bulb (with LED headlights) was LED, while those with halogen headlights use bulb 3057R. In 2020, the brake light bulb was 3057R.
Parking Light
The 1999 Expedition parking light bulb is 194/7441. From 2000 to 2002, the parking light bulb was 3157A.
From 2003 to 2006, the Expedition parking light Bulb was 3457. The 2007 to 2014 used the parking Light bulb 3157A.
The 2015 to 2020 Expedition uses parking light bulb 7444NA.
Click here for the best Ford Expedition light bulb prices on Amazon.
How to Turn Off Daytime Running Lights on a Ford Expedition?
To turn off the lights on your Expedition, look to the left of the steering wheel and locate the daytime running light control. Move the controls to the Off position.
Ford Expedition Light Indicator Symbols Explained
Here are some common Expedition Dashboard Indicator Lights:
- Cruise Control: When you activate the Cruise Control system, a moving car symbol appears until you disengage and take control of the acceleration manually.
- Direction Indicator: also known as trafficator in the past, the light is your turn signal indicator.
- Door Ajar: If one of the Expedition’s doors hasn’t been shut properly, a red light with an open car door appears.
- Fasten Safety Belt: This light indicator appears if you are yet to use your seat belt. The light blinks and gives a warning sound until you buckle your seatbelt.
- Service Engine Soon: This indicator shows that your Expedition needs to be serviced.
- Battery: When the red battery light comes on, the light shows that your battery can’t keep a charge. Turn off all unnecessary electrical equipment and contact your Ford dealer immediately.
- Engine Coolant Temperature: When your engine temperature is high, this light will appear. You should immediately turn off the vehicle and let the engine cool down. If the issue persists, have the cooling system or sensor checked by your Ford dealership.
- Engine Oil: If you see this light pop up on your dashboard, it means that your vehicle may have low engine oil. Pull over and check your dipstick. If you have low oil, top the oil and schedule an appointment with your auto technician.
How Do You Adjust the Light on a Ford Expedition?
First, you’ll need to prepare your vehicle to adjust your high beams in excellent conditions; here are the preparations to set up.
- Place your vehicle on a surface in front of a white/plain wall, for example, about 4 or 5 meters from the wall.
- Verify your tire pressure and with a half full tank.
- Set the height adjustment knob for the lights to 0.
- Once your car is in position, turn on the dipped beam and make a cross-shaped mark (one horizontal and one vertical section) in the middle of the beam that is projected onto the wall.
- Back your vehicle up to a distance of between 7 and 10 meters.
- Open your hood, locate the screws for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the headlights. For vertical adjustment, the screw is on top of the headlight inside the hood while the one on the side handles the horizontal adjustment.
- For horizontal adjustment, the most intense part of the beam should be a little to the right of the vertical line marked on the wall.
- For vertical adjustment, position the upper end of the beam to slightly below the center of the cross marking.
- Close your hood and check that the headlights setting of your Expedition are balanced.
Please also read our article about the Ford Expedition in snow and winter driving.
Does Ford Expedition Have Automatic Headlamps?
Yes, the Ford Expedition has an automatic headlamp.
How Do I Turn Off the Lights on a Ford Expedition?
To turn off light, use the headlights control switch.
Turn the knob on the right side of the steering. You can turn the knob from either auto or on to off.
You can also check on our article about Ford Expedition & Keys: 12 Questions Answered
How Do I Turn Off the Ford Expedition Trunk Light?
The trunk light of the Expedition should go off automatically when the trunk is closed. If it doesn’t, then you need to check if the lock clips properly.
Open the truck and check the lock system. If there is any object in the lock, remove and close properly. If not, it is likely that the lock sensor of your Expedition is faulty.
Make sure to also read our article about how long the Ford Expedition lasts.
How Does the Auto Light Sensitivity Work?
When natural light decreases or ambient light level is low, the auto light sensitivity comes into play by automatically turning on the lights.
When the auto light is on and the ignition switch is in the start position, the Expedition has been programmed to activate the exterior light on or off based on ambient light level.
If the vehicle enters an environment with low light level for at least 15 seconds, the auto light system will activate the headlights.
If the vehicle moves to a brighter environment in at least 15 seconds, the auto light system will deactivate the headlight.
What Can Cause the Drive Light to Blink?
The main issue that can cause the drive light to blink is a faulty transmission system.
Visiting a transmission shop for a thorough checkup can help you resolve the issue.
Are you dealing with blinking headlights, check our article on “Car lights won’t stop blinking”.
Can I Use Headlight Covers on a Ford Expedition?
You can use a headlight cover for your Ford Expedition.
It protects your Ford Expedition’s valuable lights, and a customized headlight gives it a unique appearance.
Make sure the accessory is street legal in your state before buying it, though.
Also read our article about 11 Ford Expedition facts and statistics.
The Dome/Interior Light Isn’t Working
The most common causes for car interior lights not working are blown fuses, faulty dome light bulbs, and a broken dimmer switch.
Therefore, inspect these three parts and check if the light comes on. If not, visit your dealer to check it out.
Ford Expedition Light Sensors Explained
The Expedition light sensor works by automatically detecting changes in brightness in the surroundings and automatically switching the headlights on or off.
Do Ford Expedition Have LED Lights?
The Ford Expedition has LED lights.
Ford introduced the LED light to the Expedition headlights and taillights in 2018.
The Lights Come On But the Car Won’t Start
The lights show that your Expedition’s battery is charged. In this situation, either the starter or the ignition is faulty.
You can jump a starter motor using a charged battery if the starter or ignition is faulty.
Sometimes, the battery may not have enough charge to operate the starter and you will need to recharge or replace it.

