IllustrationSee attached document for complaint.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most F-150 Lightning Bev years
Owner complaints for the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-150 Lightning Bev years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 107 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
107 reportsWhen performing low-speed departing, 3-point turns, parking, etc., I repeatedly shifted into the wrong gear. I thought I’d suddenly forgotten how to drive. Once home in my driveway, I discovered the shifter had 2 “extra” detents. It takes 2 clicks to get from P to R and two clicks to get from D to N. There should only be one! T…
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When performing low-speed departing, 3-point turns, parking, etc., I repeatedly shifted into the wrong gear. I thought I’d suddenly forgotten how to drive. Once home in my driveway, I discovered the shifter had 2 “extra” detents. It takes 2 clicks to get from P to R and two clicks to get from D to N. There should only be one! This is extremely unsafe and I won’t drive the truck until it’s fixed (except to take it to the dealer using extra caution when using the shifter).
The instrument cluster does not turn on. Screen stays blank.
My vehicle is a Ford F150 Lightning, a battery electric vehicle. As this is an electric vehicle, the vehicle has a large frunk available for cargo storage. Within the frunk there is an emergency hood release button that can be activated if a person became trapped inside the frunk. This button is located on the side of the carg…
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My vehicle is a Ford F150 Lightning, a battery electric vehicle. As this is an electric vehicle, the vehicle has a large frunk available for cargo storage. Within the frunk there is an emergency hood release button that can be activated if a person became trapped inside the frunk. This button is located on the side of the cargo compartment and is in a position that makes it very easy to be activated while driving by shifting cargo within the frunk. On at least three occasions, I personally have experienced cargo shifting inside my frunk and activating the emergency hood release while driving. This results in the hood unlatching and multiple alarms going off inside the vehicle. Ford has evidently realized this design flaw, because mid-way through the 2023 model year they revised emergency release button to have a protective shield that prevents accidental presses from cargo. However, trucks built before then still have the flawed button.
“Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” error message with accompanied vehicle propulsion reduction to approximately 5 mph.
While driving in sport mode multiple times, received "drive mode not available" message. Vehicle reverted to normal mode changing expected regeneration braking force. No other issues with the vehicle noted or stored in CAN. Seems to be a software glitch but arrives randomly and unexpectedly changes expected regenerative braking …
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While driving in sport mode multiple times, received "drive mode not available" message. Vehicle reverted to normal mode changing expected regeneration braking force. No other issues with the vehicle noted or stored in CAN. Seems to be a software glitch but arrives randomly and unexpectedly changes expected regenerative braking force requiring more driver input.
Problem with instrument panel, instrument display, dashboard. When turning on the vehicle, it does not present any information, black screen with a faint Light on the edge. I turn on, turn off and drive the vehicle and the information does not return. The main screen of the center works normal, the vehicle does everything normal…
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Problem with instrument panel, instrument display, dashboard. When turning on the vehicle, it does not present any information, black screen with a faint Light on the edge. I turn on, turn off and drive the vehicle and the information does not return. The main screen of the center works normal, the vehicle does everything normal, even heard.
I entered my 23 F150 Lightning Lariat started the vehicle, was driving into work with my stero on 5 ( fairly low volume ) in surround mode, and all of the speakers suddently popped at an extremely high volume which was very shocking for a safety standpoint. I stopped the truck thinking there was a major electrical issue checked …
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I entered my 23 F150 Lightning Lariat started the vehicle, was driving into work with my stero on 5 ( fairly low volume ) in surround mode, and all of the speakers suddently popped at an extremely high volume which was very shocking for a safety standpoint. I stopped the truck thinking there was a major electrical issue checked the truck / amp components for any sort of water or other issue, ( truck is mint new condition ) and nothing was found, all connections were clearly seated well. Truck radio was in surround mode, switched to stero and everything seemed fine and no issues, switched back to surround mode and the issue immediately reappeared. So its something with this mode / amp / setting... Did quite an extensive amount of reading online and came accross this issue was quite extensive for this truck. It needs to be documented and fixed, dealer shrugged when I called them...
Instrument cluster is freezing. No listed speed or any vehicle driving information while the vehicle is moving.
The infotainment/screen freezes every time the vehicle is started. This prevents the backup camera from working. The system reboots continuously for 2-30 minutes. Ford has said a software fix will resolve it in several months.
Official recalls
1125V863000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:internal:park Pawl
Dec 12, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 26, 2026.
25V731000 · Exterior Lighting
Oct 24, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles previously repaired under recall number 23V418. The rear lightbar may have microcracks in the outer lens that allows moisture to accumulate, which can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lights.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear lightbar and fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 29, 2025.
25V313000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)
May 9, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V801. The SYNC software may fail to activate the electronic stability control (ESC) system at the beginning of each ignition cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to reset the ESC to active may result in the driver unknowingly operating the vehicle without electronic stability control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C15.
25V272000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
Apr 23, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The fasteners that secure the junction box bus bars inside the high-voltage battery pack may not have been tightened securely, which can cause electrical arcing at the busbars.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Electrical arcing increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power may occur, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the busbar fasteners and replace any damaged components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 21, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S11. This recall expands previous recall number 24V-144.
25V131000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
Feb 28, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 F-150 Lightning battery electric vehicles. A manufacturing defect in the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high voltage battery array as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.
24V949000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
Dec 19, 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the upper control arm ball joint nut, and replace the nut and/or knuckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S76.
24V144000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
Feb 23, 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The fasteners that secure the junction box bus bars inside the high-voltage battery pack may not have been tightened securely, which can cause electrical arcing at the busbars.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Electrical arcing increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power may occur, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the busbar fasteners and replace any damaged components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S11.
23V801000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Nov 28, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The SYNC software may fail to activate the electronic stability control (ESC) system at the beginning of each ignition cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to reset the ESC to active may result in the driver unknowingly operating the vehicle without electronic stability control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C38.
23V688000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element
Oct 13, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic cabin coolant heater, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C32.
23V418000 · Exterior Lighting
Jun 9, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 BEV vehicles. The rear lightbar may have microcracks in the outer lens that allows moisture to accumulate, which can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lights.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear lightbar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 9, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S30.
23V168000 · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
Mar 15, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S15.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.