35 of the
394 complaints filed about the Ford F-150 Lightning BEV
are about the transmission —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
35
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Following a software update by Ford in the past 6-8 months, upon start-up my vehicle asks me which drive mode I wish to be in but then after 15-45 seconds "forgets" my answer and changes drive modes. This results in regenerative braking being disabled, at random, in the middle of a drive. This is a major safety issue, as I will expect braking to applying while easing up on the accelerator but that simply doesn't happen. This could cause an accident, injury or worse.
NHTSA complaint #11750676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description On your vehicle, the integrated park module ipm may not properly engage the park pawl, preventing the vehicle from locking into park when park p is selected. If this condition occurs, a wrench light and shift system fault message will be displayed in the instrument panel cluster. Additionally, the vehicles electronic parking brake epb will automatically apply. Safety Risk If the park pawl is not properly engaged and the electronic parking brake epb is not applied, your vehicle may experience a roll-in-park, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Software is available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to update your vehicles secondary on board diagnostic module c sobdmc software free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.
NHTSA complaint #11744290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ford Motor Company has failed to remedy NHTSA Safety Recall 25V863 (Ford recall number 25C69, Integrated Park Module / Park Pawl Engagement) on my vehicle within the timely manner required, and the recall remains in "Recall Incomplete" status more than four months past Ford's own stated remedy availability deadline. The recall was announced on January 26, 2026. The defect — the Integrated Park Module (IPM) failing to properly engage the Park Pawl when "P" is selected — creates a documented safety risk of roll-in-park and increased crash risk, per Ford's own filing summary as displayed on NHTSA's VIN-lookup result. At the time of the January 26, 2026 announcement, Ford stated that no remedy software was yet available and committed to a Q1 2026 remedy-availability deadline. That deadline (March 31, 2026) elapsed without a remedy being authorized. As of NHTSA's recall-data refresh on April 7, 2026, the recall remained "Recall Incomplete" on my vehicle with no remedy available. As of NHTSA's recall-data refresh on June 2, 2026 — 137 days after the original announcement and 63 days after Ford's own Q1 deadline — the recall still shows "Recall Incomplete" on my vehicle, although Ford has now (very late) authorized dealers to perform the SOBDMC (Secondary Onboard Diagnostic Module C) software update as the remedy. I am filing this complaint under the criterion explicitly published on NHTSA's VIN-lookup recall-result page: "If the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner, please contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline." The substantive concern is not that the remedy will never arrive. It is that a remedy for a documented roll-in-park crash-risk defect was not delivered within the timeline the manufacturer itself committed to, leaving my vehicle and similarly affected vehicles in an unrepaired safety-defect state through the Q2 2026 window. This is exactly the manufacturer-timeliness failure per NHTSA's guidelines
NHTSA complaint #11741722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, with 48,200 miles and 2.5 years of ownership. Recently, my truck began displaying a “Powertrain / Reduced Power” warning while driving, and the air conditioning stopped producing cold air. The dealer scanned the vehicle and found DTC P0534 – A/C System Charge Loss. Further diagnostics indicated that multiple vehicle modules may require reprogramming and software updates. The dealer stated they need to evacuate and recharge the AC system, add dye, and remove front trunk components to locate the leak. This AC system is part of the high-voltage battery and eDrive thermal management system, meaning that failure of the HVAC system affects battery cooling and powertrain performance. Loss of cabin cooling is a symptom of a thermal system malfunction, which can lead to battery overheating, powertrain derating, and reduced driving performance. The combination of unexpected reduced power and loss of cabin cooling creates a safety risk, particularly during highway driving, merging, or situations requiring acceleration. These failures occurred at relatively low mileage and are associated with the high-voltage EV system, which should be functioning properly to ensure safe vehicle operation. I am submitting this complaint to report a potential safety defect with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning affecting the battery thermal management, high-voltage AC system, and eDrive components, which can result in sudden power loss and compromised vehicle safety.
NHTSA complaint #11728387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front traction motor on my 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning failed without warning, causing the vehicle to lose all-wheel drive capability. The truck automatically limited available power to about 67%, which I later learned indicates the front motor was disabled and the vehicle was operating in rear-wheel drive only. The failure occurred with no warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms on the dashboard or in the FordPass app. I assumed AWD was functioning, which could have caused a serious accident in snow, ice, or gravel conditions because the loss of front-wheel traction significantly reduces vehicle stability. The component/system is still available for inspection. At this time, the issue has NOT been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, and the vehicle has NOT yet been inspected by the manufacturer or any other party. Cause of failure is UNKNOWN. This lack of a warning or alert to the driver represents a major safety hazard because it changes how the vehicle handles without the driver’s knowledge.
NHTSA complaint #11682304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Folding shifter issues with many F150s. Gets stuck in park or drive. Seems to be a rampant issue. Stuck in park is one thing, stuck in drive is extremely dangerous... Also causes service lights.
NHTSA complaint #11661114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gear Shifter stuck in D with amber light blinking constantly. At the same time, the Amber Wrench symbol appeared on the dash, with "Service vehicle soon" warning message. This indicates a Powertrain malfunction/Reduced Power issue. Vehicle towed to nearest Ford dealer (Scenic Ford, Mount Airy, NC) with about 225 miles on odometer. I purchased this new '24 Lightning Lariat [XXX] online, and picked it up at Sheehy Ford in Gaithersburg, MD [XXX], with 47 miles on odometer. The above issues occurred [XXX] as I was driving the vehicle home from Maryland to my home in Georgia. These problems occurred the same day I drove the new vehicle off the dealer lot. Additionally, the Gear Shifter has never folded down as its meant to fold down, enabling a flat work surface between the two front seats. This situation was present at Sheehy Ford when I picked it up brand new on [XXX]. I have an appointment at my local dealer, Akins Ford, Winder, GA, May 14, 2025 at 10am to have these issues assessed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11660586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was leaving my storage unit on Sunday October 6, 2024 at around 7 pm. I was traveling at 5 mph as I approached the exit gate code box. I stopped at the top of the steep hill by depressing the brake. I rolled down the window so I could put the code in that opens the rolling gate below. As I took my foot slowly off the brake, suddenly the vehicle rapidly accelerated, veering slightly left, the steering wheel locked as I pressed the brake pedal twice more it was unresponsive. We flew like a rocket ship knocking down small trees, 2 light posts with 1 light coming down and breaking passenger side windshield. Continuing crashing through 2 iron water main fixtures and through an iron gate. At the bottom of the hill the truck flew into the air and came to a hard landing, the steering wheel unlocked and we came to a stop quickly as the one pedal finally engaged and the computer screen announced " one pedal engaged". Then announced Power Train Malfunctioned. Also airbags never deployed. Prior to the wild ride, the vehicle was awaiting the overdue WiFi update named Power Train system update and prior to approaching the hill, I had tried twice to turn on the one pedal and got the never before seen message " one pedal failure could not engage". Truck was a total loss and my passenger and I were injured. When I contacted a Ford representative and told them about the incident, I mentioned that there was 2 other incidents of a brief steering wheel lock and rapid acceleration without injury or crash, I was told that I should have brought it in, therefore they were not responsible. The 2 brief incidents left me unsure of what had happened so we thought it was a fluke and without out any computer warnings we paid it no mind.
NHTSA complaint #11649009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I made a left-hand turn during a snow storm, and the right rear wheel slid and I made contact with the curb at a relatively low speed. The rear right wheel assembly failed and snapped, leaving the wheel assembly 90 degrees to normal. In other words, the wheel went from vertical to horizontal. Upon visual inspection, the axle snapped, and the axle's interior steel looked defective. The axle appeared very coarse, porous, and poorly consolidated. I requested to keep all the parts which are now located in storage. Both the insurance company and the Ford Motor Company dealership seemed to think the axle was defective. Nobody was injured or hurt.
NHTSA complaint #11645109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Powertrain Failure. Vehicle unresponsive. Multiple complains through various individuals of this failure. Battery pack failures causing numerous safety issues related to driving, 12v system, etc
NHTSA complaint #11641609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On my new Ford F-150 Lightning, five out of the six studs on the right front wheel sheared off, leaving just one lug nut and stud holding the wheel on. I took my truck into the Ford dealership who repaired the vehicle and it was returned to me. They did not appear to be escalating the dangerous situation to Ford. The dealership kept the removed parts for warranty submission.
NHTSA complaint #11639466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle moved forward with the shifter set in reverse. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because the vehicle moved in the opposite direction from that indicated both by the position of the shifter and by the audible backup warning. Pressing the accelerator caused the vehicle to move forward instead of reverse. This problem has not yet been reported to manufacturer. There were no warning lamps or messages. All indicators were normal. This occurred while parallel parking in a tight space between two cars on the left side of the road. I backed in as far as I could go to the car behind, then turned the wheel and pulled in close to the car in front. I repeated the back and forth two more times to align the vehicle with the curb. At this point the shifter was in drive position and vehicle was close to the car in front. I shifted to reverse and gently pressed the accelerator to move away from the car in front. Instead, the vehicle moved forward and bumped the car in front. I applied the brake, shifted to park, then shifted to reverse. Again, the vehicle moved forward and bumped the car in front. I applied the brake and shifted into drive, then into reverse. Again the vehicle moved forward. The audible backup warning could be heard whenever the shifter was in reverse, and it stopped when taken out of reverse. At this point I turned off the vehicle. I started it again about a minute later. At this point it shifted correctly. I shifted to reverse and the vehicle moved backward as expected. I was able to finish parking as usual.
NHTSA complaint #11618002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving into the office today I was stopped at a stoplight. When it turned green I started to accelerate when a error came up on the screen saying the vehicle needed to be serviced immediately and the vehicle reduced power (<15 mph) in the middle of a busy road with a speed limit of 55 mph. In the FordPass App I got a message saying "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power" What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Powertrain How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes, I was unable to go faster then 15 mph in a 55 mph zone while trying to move the vehicle to the side of the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? There are over 600 incidents reported of this problem by other F150 Lightning Owners in [XXX] that are compiled in the attached spreadsheet. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps/messages were on before the failure happened. I bought the pickup used last Friday and the problem happened today for the first time after putting more then 500 miles on it this week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11615459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11613375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have received "High Voltage Battery Warnings" on 3 separate occasions (5/5/24, 5/9/24, 7/14/24), each time being told to stop the vehicle as soon as possible. On each occasion, once the vehicle is stopped it is bricked and cannot be driven at all. Fortunately, each of the three times I was able to stop the vehicle in a safe place. However, if others are experiencing the same issue, they may not be able to stop in a safe place. Furthermore, Ford has failed twice to fix the High Voltage battery issue, and the vehicle is currently at the dealer trying to resolve the issue for a third time. The fact that Ford does not know how to resolve this repeating issue is a large safety concern for two main reasons. First, as the high voltage battery is the main power unit for the propulsion system of the car, and with Ford clearly unaware of what or how to fix the issue, the car is at risk of stopping at any time or location. Second, the dealership working with Ford to fix the car mentioned that the repairs were taking a long time because Ford indicated that the High Voltage from the battery may be discharging into other components of the vehicle, e.g. frame, door panels, etc., and so they had to proceed with extreme caution. With Ford failing to resolve the issue at least two time, there may be a risk of very high electric current coming in contact with the driver or passengers in the vehicle. It would be shocking if that were to happen.
NHTSA complaint #11607395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving after a cold start or after stopping at a traffic light, whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the "Wrench Symbol” was illuminated and the message "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power - Contact Dealer" was displayed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the gear shift module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Manufacturer Communications: Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) High Voltage Battery Module Replacement Program Number: 23H01 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 2,300.
NHTSA complaint #11595044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.