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Lights on a police car are extremely important. From flashing red and blue emergency lights to spotlights designed to illuminate whatever officers are investigating, they serve a variety of purposes. But sometimes, it’s best if there are no lights on at all. That’s why Ford Explorer Police Interceptors are equipped with a Police Dark Car feature: the last thing an officer wants during a nighttime stakeout is unwanted interior lighting. Unfortunately, more than 33,000 Explorer Police Interceptors have a problem that can leave their map lights stuck on, and it’s led to a safety recall.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall report, Ford is recalling 33,578 Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles from the 2026 and 2027 model years. The problem involves the overhead console, which can incorrectly interpret an electrical signal during vehicle startup as a command to turn on the map lights. Ford calls this a “phantom ‘Global On’ condition.”
Should this condition occur, not only will
Should this condition occur, not only will the map lights remain illuminated, but they can’t be turned off using the individual switches. That can be annoying and distracting while driving, but it can be even more troublesome if the officers inside are trying to keep a low profile. The condition also violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, Section S5.3.4(a). Under that standard, front-row interior lighting must have a means of being switched off.
Vehicles built between March 3, 2025, and October 23, 2026, are included in the recall. As of October 13, Ford received 69 warranty claims related to the defect. No crashes or injuries have been reported. Ford dealers will replace the overhead consoles in vehicles built before July 9, 2026, while newer vehicles will have their consoles inspected for an updated component. If the correct component is already installed, the console will simply be reinstalled; otherwise, it will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge, as is required by federal law.
Owners are expected to receive notification letters between December 28 and December 30, 2026. In the meantime, police officers planning any nighttime stakeouts might want to use another vehicle until their Explorer has been repaired.
