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2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2023 record →

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 30, 2023GA

When the vehicle starts up, the adaptive headlights center themselves for driving. They move left right and back to center. This takes about 2 seconds. My right headlight functions normally, but the left does not. The left headlight takes about 15 seconds to move all the way left and does not center itself but rather goes all the way to the right and remains there. As a result, driving down the road at night, the left side of the road is not as illuminated as the right. This should be considered a safety hazard.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 26, 2023CA

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE 405 AND THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A SCREECHING HALT ON FREEWAY. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED "FRONT CAMERA FAULT" AND :COLLISION AVOIDANCE NO AVAILABLE" ON THE DASH FOR A FEW MINUTES. NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND IN THE COMPUTER. I ALSO HAVE "ONE PEDAL DRIVE" FAULTS THAT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IT SHOULD STOP, BUT INTERMITTENTLY KEEPS GOING. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD LIGHTNING I'VE HAD WITH THAT PROBLEM AND MANY OTHERS. FORD BOUGHT THE FIRST ONE BACK UNDER THE CA LEMIN LAW. GALPIN FORD HAS FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE FAILURE AND NO CAUSE FOR THE ONE PEDAL DRIVE FAULTS. ERROR CODES ARE NOT BEING STORED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. FORDS ANSWER WAS TO TRY TO GIVE ME THE VEHICLE BACK WITHOUT REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST TRUCK I PHOTOGRAPH ALL ERRORS ON DASH. DESPITE MY PICTURES THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS. I HAVE APPLIED TO GET THIS SECOND LIGHTNING BOUGH BACK UNDER THE CA LEMON LAWS AS WELL. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF OWNERS REPORTING THESE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN FORUMS.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 2023NY

The Sync 4 main display reboots very often. It has occurred over 30 times in 10k miles. I am considering this a safety issue as it often happens shortly after startup of the vehicle, and prevents the backup cameras from functioning. In fact, it has rebooted the screen while I was reversing probably five times. Ford has had numerous software updates and yet this problem remains endemic across multiple owners that I have spoken to.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 10, 2023IL

The entire over steering wheel display/cockpit stopped functioning. No ability to view charge level, speed, and other related details normally shown in this display was available. The things I tried to repair were: parking the car, locking the door to simulate a full stop/start cycle, disconnecting everything from the vehicle ports, Etc. eventually after leaving the car for an extended period this functionality eventually returned to normal. If I had been far from home I’d have been faced with essentially driving blind. I also have video of this issue if desired.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 6, 2023OH

I’ve owned this Lightning for only four months. When I started it this morning, the digital instrument display would not work. Without it, I have no speedometer, odometer, battery temp, battery charge, or other displays.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 27, 2023CO

When reversing, the center screen that contains the backup camera freezes, with no indication it has stopped functioning. This leads to a situation where you are seeing a camera image that is not related to the actual view behind you. This can cause crashes and pedestrian hazards if you do not realize the screen has broken. Attached photos show what the camera was showing and what the actual situation was. The only solution to getting the cameras to function again is by a full reset of the center screen.

Steering
Filed Oct 17, 2023MT

The vehicle's message center reported multiple system failures while driving 70 MPH on a two lane Montana highway. The steering assist failure caused the wheel to jerk left/right before locking up. It took all the strength I had to keep the vehicle from exiting the roadway. If someone else was driving they would not have likely been as fortunate. The vehicle is now parked inside while I wait to hear from Ford. The local dealer won't look at the truck until the middle of next month. The truck has about 1500 miles.

Power Train
Filed Sep 7, 2023GA

• power train malfunction / reduced power • dealer sees the same problem / issue • I did get a "wrench" icon on my dashboard and a power train malfunction notice on my ford pass app

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Aug 25, 2023MI

We were in a low speed situation. A car 2 cars in front of us was signaling a right hand turn. We began to slow down from approximately 25 mph to 5-7 mph. The car turning right stop short of completing their turn, the car immediately in front of us came to a complete stop. We were only traveling 5 - 7 mph behind and had plenty of room to stop. I depressed the brake further (we were already slowing due to turning vehicle) but the truck did not slow at which point I depressed the brake pedal as hard as I could. The truck did not slow at all in this time (no brake locking, no skid marks). We only came to a stop when we hit the stopped vehicle in front of us. Additionally, this vehicle has advanced safety features (forward collision warning and active braking assist) -- none of these features triggered. I have lost all faith in this vehicles ability given the situation. I contacted Ford customer service, they referred me to their Office of General Counsel and said to expect a response in 45 - 60 days. That is unacceptable to me -- I have a very expensive vehicle that I cannot drive as I do not trust it. I want to understand why all these systems failed, have them as well as my vehicle fixed or the vehicle bought back from me. I cannot wait 60 days for resolution.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 20, 2023AL

The hood (frunk) on the F150 Lightning is stuck in a semi-latched position. It will not reset to release and will not latch completely. The truck does issue a visual and audible warning.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 28, 2023FL

The 240V mobile charging cord that is sold with the vehicle repeatedly overheats and derates the charging speed once overheated. Problem has existed since the vehicle was brand new. Cord is used in a warm climate but not an abnormal temperature for a non-climate controlled garage. Overheating electrical equipment could result in a household electrical fire if the temperature sensors were to fail, which is a safety mechanism and shouldn’t be triggered in normal everyday operation. An alternate brand charging cord with similar capabilities works fine on the same outlet in similar environmental conditions. This is a well known problem from other owners of F-150 Lightnings and Mustang Mach-Es. Therefore a warranty replacement with an identical unit does not appear to be a prudent resolution and would be preferable to be recalled and re-engineered.

Seats
Filed May 31, 2023MD

The rear seats, which I put my grandchildren in, are at different angles. One sits about two inches below the other. The dealer said, "Sometimes they are just like that" and FORD said talk to the dealer. I have to believe this creates safety issues for my grandchildren, and I need your help in getting Ford to address the issue.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 16, 2023SC

I have a F150 Lightning being delivered ( expected 2/23 - 3/2 ). I’ve read about the fire on 2/5 almost exactly the date my truck was shipped. Ford says “should” be OK. Dealer says Ford problem. I don’t want a bomb in my garage. What should I do? Know you’re on it as I read a story today. You should know that Ford is basically telling me to take delivery “as is”. This hardly seems safe to me as well as others who have builds that coincide with this very dangerous issue. Thank you for any help.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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