2023 Ford F-150 Lightning BEV other reported problems
12 of the
195 complaints about the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning BEV are about the
other systems — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
A
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Unknown OR Other
12100.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Sebastopol, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle is a BEV with regenerative braking. At various times while driving, when the regenerative braking is engaged, the brake lights illuminate to indicate to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down. The problem is there is no indication inside the vehicle for the driver to know when the brake lights are on. This seems like a potential safety hazard. The driver can feel the effects of the regenerative braking and knows the vehicle is slowing but does not know when the slowing is enough to illuminate the brake lights.The driver's only option to ensure the brake lights are activated is to apply additional braking via the brake pedal but additional braking may not be the safest action to take in some situations. Depending on traffic, weather, and road conditions it would be safer for the driver to know when their brake lights are illuminated.
NHTSA complaint #11748873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conifer, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning ER Platinum Ford Case Number: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] Failed: Battery overheated far beyond safety limits. No indication on dash. Safety: When it was finally checked, 3 sensors reported temps of 399, 419, and 419F. The service manager verified the temps. A photo of the diagnostic screen is available. These temps made a battery fire a significant possibility putting myself and others on the road around me in danger. The car is at the dealer in Hays, KS being looked at. There was no indication on the dashboard that there was any problem. According to information I have uncovered, these temperatures are over 3x the safety limits specified by FORD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11748315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHAT FAILED: Ford's recall-tracking and consumer-information system. Ford has internally inconsistent records re: Safety Recall 25V315 / 25S49 (Rear Camera Screen Software Update) on my VIN [XXX] . Vehicle and Ford-account portal available for inspection. STATUS SUBSYSTEM SAYS CLOSED: (1) Mailed "Successful OTA Update" notice received 6/1/2026 (verbatim): "the software to remedy this concern has been installed on your vehicle through a free Over-The-Air (OTA) software update, meaning the recall is now closed" (2) NHTSA database refreshed 6/2/2026: 25V315 no longer in unrepaired list (3) Ford VIN-specific recall dashboard 6/3/2026: 25S49 removed; only 25C69 remains DELIVERY SUBSYSTEM SAYS NOT DELIVERED: (4) ford.com/support/software-updates 6/2/2026: 9 of 10 expanded OTA detail cards captured, NONE references 25S49. Portal DOES show Compliance Recall 26C10 (ITRM-25.B04) with explicit completion language ("This completes Compliance Recall 26C10. No further action is required.") - proving the portal surfaces recall OTAs when they actually deploy. (5) In-vehicle SYNC Software Updates 6/2/2026: silent on 25S49. SYNC version 25221_PRODUCT Rev 2025 unchanged from 3/26/2026 despite 25S49's remedy being an APIM software update. (6) Ford MODEL-level recall page 6/3/2026 (verbatim): "Recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now." SAFETY RISK: Ford simultaneously tells me the recall is closed via OTA delivered to my VIN AND publishes that the remedy parts are not yet available. Both cannot be true. Consumers cannot verify whether safety-critical recalls have been delivered. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED: Contradiction is Ford-generated, reproducible by any reviewer. INSPECTED: No dealer or independent inspection of this discrepancy has occurred. WARNING LAMPS / FIRST APPEARANCE: Not lamp-driven. Confirmed [XXX]. I request ODI review of Ford's recall-tracking accuracy for OTA-remediated recalls. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552
NHTSA complaint #11741726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grants Pass, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My f150 lightning won't drive wben put in Drive. Then all the sudden it goes forward when not expecting it and we almost was in an accident. This happened many times and has been in service for over 3 months. They aren't able to fix it. We are trying to get them to take it back. The computer we noticed was defective the day after we bought it and inquired about it immediately. delayed engagement followed by a sudden lurch or unintended acceleration—matches several reports from other F-150 Lightning owners. Because this vehicle is fully electric, "revving" effectively signals the electric motors to apply instant torque, which can lead to dangerous lunges if the software or sensors are out of sync.I mentioned the safety issues and it was not addressed Our computer goes in and out and blacks out when driving. Anything you ask of it has not worked. This isn't the biggest deal but the safety issue. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11701060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aliso Viejo, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The truck's remote access app is not able to communicate with the truck during the entire period I own the truck. This features worked 20% of time only. I am not able to unlock or lock the truck remotely. I am not able to find out its location and I am not able to remotely start its cooling system to keep battery cool during charging. I have brought the issue to the dealer I purchased the truck from at least 3 time in the last 2 years. Even though the truck's key was locked in it at the dealer, this issue was not resolved due to cost of its repair. Other trucks were repaired with a new modem. The truck was advertised as a remotely accessible EV truck, I am concerned about my safety if this feature is not available and I am at a urgent situation when it is necessary to use the features.
NHTSA complaint #11662347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pflugerville, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Gear shifter was stuck in the car. Can happen at random times. For no reason at all, the gear shifter refuses to budge out of park, or reverse, or drive, and essentially bricks the car. Car refuses to move. Car refuses to respond to accelerator or brake pedals. Can happen in the middle of the road, or in a parking lot late at night when you are trying to leave a sketchy area. Can be an extremely dangerous circumstance, and Ford is trying to avoid attention to this at all costs.
NHTSA complaint #11660834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Nuys, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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).
NHTSA complaint #11616079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Calais, ME
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11614662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elk River, MN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11608856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wayland, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
instrument cluster would not function and was completely black. Had to pull the fuse to reset it
NHTSA complaint #11563897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brook Park, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11553709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Novosel, AL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11533475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.