2023 Ford F-150 electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While towing a 6000 pound travel trailer 6/21/26, the brakes on the trailer failed. A trailer wiring fault message came up on the dash each time I braked. It is available for inspection. How was our safety put at risk??? Stopping distance was increased substantually. When you need to stop, you need to stop! The truck has been brought to the dealer 4 times prior to this for the same problem. One of those times was for the recall on the trailer brake, May of 2026. The first time the truck was taken to the dealer for the warning message was April of 2025. The trailer was taken to the RV dealer after the incident (on my Oct 2025 visit, the dealer told me the problem was with the trailer. I wanted to rule that out). The RV dealer found no problem with the trailer brakes, and determined the problem is with the truck. The truck was then taken to the dealer July 23 with "Trailer Brake Module Fault" message every time it is started. It remains at the dealer now. They believe it is the trailer brake control module. The module is on backorder with no estimated time for repair.

NHTSA complaint #11755242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There is a manufacturing defect that is causing water to to enter the vehicle when driving in the rain. Where this becomes a significant safety issue is that the water enters somewhere near the bottom of the windshield (source still not determined) and runs down the pillar over the fuse box and BCM (neither is protected from the water). This could lead to an electrical short on any of the major modules of the vehicle unpredictably. the leak is confirmed but source is still to be determined by the dealership after 2 visits. In searching the web, this seems to be a fairly common issue on this generation of F150 trucks. I'll attach the pictures I could get but can never get one with the water actually coming in live

NHTSA complaint #11744763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Turn signal stalk binds up intermittently, requiring excessive force to deactivate signaling. Most commonly occurs after signaling to toward the right. This has been occurring intermittently shortly after vehicle purchase, but has become more common over the past year. Safety is affected due to the amount of force being required having the potential to cause the driver to inadvertently jerk the steering wheel left while attempting to deactivate the signal. No inspections have been performed and this vehicle has not yet been assessed by a dealer or independent service center. No warnings or other associated indicators of this issue have been noted.

NHTSA complaint #11743853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SHIFT SYS FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED

NHTSA complaint #11740551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tried to turn on vehicle one morning and it would not start due a parking brake error message & a warning light on the dashboard. The message on the screen behind the steering wheel stated “park brake fault service now” and there was a clicking noise heard coming from underneath the truck. I tried to reset the parking brake by pressing and holding the button as indicated online but it didn’t work. The brake also physically revolted at me pressing down on it and would stutter/thump and not let me press it down fully without heavy resistance. The clicking noise continued randomly even when I was not in the vehicle. Then the door locks stopped working with my car keys, I could only open the drive door manually. I had no means to jumpstart my battery. I called Ford local dealership to come check the issue incase it was a recall issue that had not been reported for my vehicle yet. They are scheduled to come Monday 6/1/26.

NHTSA complaint #11740500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The EPB system has a fault and service now code. This puts a risk on safety of me, passengers and others on the road. this make and model is a single exhaust unit and i believe it has to do with an open recall. July 21, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V509000 Unexpected Activation of Electric Parking Brake Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash. NHTSA ID Number: 23V509000 Manufacturer Ford Motor Company Components PARKING BRAKE Potential Number of Units Affected: 870701 Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.

NHTSA complaint #11738990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Complete instrument cluster blackout while driving. Screen goes entirely black intermittently, lasting up to 30 minutes. Occurs while vehicle is in motion. Issue persists even after stopping and restarting vehicle. Loss of speedometer, battery state of charge, warning lights, and all driver information. This creates unsafe driving conditions with no way to monitor speed or critical vehicle systems.

NHTSA complaint #11733547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I contacted the local ford dealer, Seekins in Fairbanks Alaska. The dealership wanted to make an appointment to address the recalls next DECEMBER -- this April 2026. What's the point of a safety recall if they won't timely address them?

NHTSA complaint #11729018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Rear light bar has water inside. Recall has not been fix since October 2025. Rear light flickering on and off. Been pulled over by the police

NHTSA complaint #11729037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers : 25V512000 (Power Train) and 26V104000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle shaft assemblies had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11728597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train) and 26V104000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact was informed that parts needed to be ordered and was later informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were expected to be available in the third quarter of 2026. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11727494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I am reporting a serious safety defect in my 2023 Ford F-150 Platinum SuperCrew (EcoBoost engine. The oil pressure warning light suddenly illuminated, indicating a loss of oil pressure. Immediately after, the engine suffered catastrophic failure (it "blew the engine"). At the same moment, with no input from me, the gear shifter automatically shifted from Drive into Park. This caused the transmission to lock up, resulting in violent skidding and the truck veering off the road. I was able to regain control and avoid a collision or rollover, but the incident created an imminent risk of serious injury or fatality, especially while towing. I have maintained it properly, never missed a payment on the $74,000 truck, and drove it cross-country from Arizona to Florida without prior issues. Ford Motor Company has claimed there were "70 warnings" prior to the failure, but I received **zero** dashboard warnings, lights, messages, or indications at any point leading up to or during the event. This is the second Ford F-150 I have owned with unexplained powertrain problems. I traded a 2018 F-150 for the platinum & it repeatedly stalled without reason & required the engine to cool before restarting; dealerships (FL & TN) could not fully diagnose it, with one suggesting an oil-pump-related overheating issue despite no warning lights. Repair estimates are extremely high: Gator Ford quoted $17,000, Brandon Ford quoted $14,000, Veterans Ford quoted $12,000, and an independent shop quoted $12,000 (notably, the independent shop knew the dealership quotes without me providing them). I believe this points to a potential defect in the EcoBoost engine's oil pump system (possibly excessive pressure or failure under load/towing) combined with an unintended shift-to-Park function in the transmission/shifter electronics, creating a dangerous loss of control at highway speeds while towing. This combination of sudden engine seizure and automatic shift to Park poses an unreasonable risk of crash.

NHTSA complaint #11726223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V512000 (Power Train) and 26V104000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change. The contact was informed by the dealer that a hub bolt had detached from the vehicle. The contact was informed by the dealer that the hub bolt had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were not available and were on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11725357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. When the vehicle was purchased, the contact requested the Retrofit/Activate Heated Steering Wheel option. When the vehicle was delivered, the contact realized that the option was missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer suggested that the contact read the manual to learn how to turn on the Retrofit/Activate Heated Steering Wheel. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact explained that the option was missing from the vehicle. The dealer refused to assist. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but provided no assistance. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware of Customer Satisfaction Program: 22G06, which was associated with Ford and Lincoln vehicles with the Retrofit/Activate Heated Steering Wheel option deleted during production due to supply shortages. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and mentioned specifically that the vehicle needed the Customer Satisfaction Program: 22G06 "Heated Steering Wheel Performance Upgrade". The dealer refused and informed the contact that the vehicle could no longer be taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40.

NHTSA complaint #11725080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My vehicle is experiencing all of the systems of the current ford recall. "Trailer lighting module fault. " rapid blinker. Etc. for whatever reason it is not listed in the vehicles to be recalled. Thus making it very difficult to get fixed at the dealership. Need this taken care of asap!

NHTSA complaint #11724809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The 12v battery on these vehicles are severely strained or defective AGM batteries have been used since vehicle inception in 2022. Dozens of reports from owners show "system off to save battery" error codes and 12v symptoms such as inoperable multi-function displays, especially in cold weather. After replacing the OEM 12v battery, i have pictures showing the bulging the battery has suffered. Again, these errors are experienced by dozens, if not hundreds of owners and could lead to serious injury because the 12v battery operates all electronics in the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11724401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving my 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, the vehicle suddenly lost throttle response. The accelerator pedal produced no response and the engine would not rev even though the vehicle remained powered on. A battery warning light briefly illuminated at the time of the incident. I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop, but during the event the steering wheel became locked or extremely stiff and the vehicle did not respond normally to inputs. After stopping, I placed the truck in park and was unable to shift the transmission back out of park. The vehicle appeared to remain powered on but multiple systems were not responding. After pressing the start/stop button and cycling the vehicle, the issue cleared and the truck began operating normally again. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had already been scheduled to go to the dealership because it had been displaying numerous warning lights and diagnostic codes across multiple systems, totaling approximately 30 alerts. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealership reported codes indicating a network communication issue between vehicle modules but stated they were unable to reproduce the failure and no repair was performed. The dealership has requested that I take possession of the vehicle despite the unresolved cause of this failure. Given the loss of throttle response and steering function while the vehicle was in motion, I currently feel the vehicle is unsafe to operate until the underlying issue is identified and corrected. A sudden loss of throttle response and steering control while the vehicle is in motion creates a significant risk of collision, particularly in traffic or at highway speeds. The fact that the failure temporarily cleared after cycling the vehicle suggests a potential intermittent electronic or communication failure affecting critical vehicle control systems.

NHTSA complaint #11722885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and hauling a trailer, the rear brake lights failed to illuminate. There were several messages displayed related to the trailer connection and brake lights. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailer was difficult to control, and the display screen inside the vehicle was flashing off and on. The vehicle was driven back to a storage facility. While reversing and attempting to park the trailer, the message that the trailer was disconnected from the vehicle was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted and informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V104000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #11721965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that since the purchase of the vehicle, the warning lights had been illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. On a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle failed to accelerate or exceed 30 MPH. In addition, an abnormal rattling sound was coming from the bottom of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not inspected or diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that the failure might be associated with the front differential. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

NHTSA complaint #11720673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

⸻ Highlight Summary: My 2023 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX] ) has intermittent rear tail lamps, brake lights, turn signals, and backup lights failure due to water intrusion. The right side has completely failed; the left side is beginning to fail, creating a serious safety hazard at night or in low visibility. Both the dealership and Ford Customer Assistance have avoided returning calls and are denying responsibility, and this is a common problem nationwide. ⸻ Complaint – 2023 Ford F-150 Rear Lighting Failure •Vehicle: 2023 Ford F-150, VIN [XXX] , ~73,000 miles •Issue: Intermittent rear tail lamps, brake lights, turn signals, and backup lights failure due to water intrusion •Right side: completely failed; left side: starting to fail •Safety Risk: Creates serious hazard at night/low visibility, increasing risk of rear-end collisions •Dealership: D-Patrick Ford Superstore, Evansville, Indiana, E. Walnut St. •Initially could not duplicate issue •Feb 7, 2026: confirmed problem, quoted ~$3,000 for repair •Truck returned “all lights working,” but right side still not functioning •Manufacturer & Dealership Response: Ford Customer Assistance and dealership are denying responsibility and avoiding calls, leaving the defect unresolved nearly a year •Nationwide Problem: Common issue reported by many F-150 owners, indicating widespread safety defect •Request: Immediate review and corrective action for this recurring and escalating safety hazard INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11720040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On 3 separate occasions, while traveling at highway speeds on the NJ Garden State Parkway in the left lane, my truck’s service engine light soon wrench would come on out of nowhere, the throttle would cut out, and the gas pedal would go limp and unresponsive. The only way to get it operational again was to turn the truck off, let it sit for 10-15 min to drain the computers, and restart. Imagine doing 70-75 mph in the left most lane and you lose all throttle and have to get your vehicle all the way to the right shoulder without the ability to speed up to avoid being hit in the process. Now imagine that same thing happening 3 times within a month. The dealership found failed factory power train wiring and a failed gateway module. This truck’s a 2023 with 50k highway miles. Shouldn’t be failing like this. Now it’s been at the dealership for 3 weeks…..

NHTSA complaint #11719330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Cabin coolant heater failed. Windshield would not properly defrost. This was recalled in our same model year with production dates through August 31 and our truck was produced on October 2.

NHTSA complaint #11712566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Instrument cluster panel was rainbow now is all black unable to see how much gas in in truck tire pressure or all other important gauges.

NHTSA complaint #11710204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

​"When driving on Interstate 15 in Draper/Bluffdale, external electronic interference forcefully disconnects the vehicle's infotainment and safety displays. This causes the main screen to go black, reboot, or freeze while moving at highway speeds (70+ MPH). This creates an immediate distraction hazard and disables navigation instructions during high-speed traffic flow. The vehicle's shielding is insufficient to protect the driver from this predictable external interference, leading to a recurring safety hazard in a known dead zone."

NHTSA complaint #11709359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Regarding EV Battery Failure – 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning”} To Whom It May Concern, NHTSA I am writing to formally file a complaint against Ford Motor Company regarding a serious and ongoing battery issue with my electric vehicle, which remains unresolved despite multiple attempts to obtain warranty service. Vehicle Information: Vehicle: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 38000miles Warranty Status: Vehicle is still fully covered under the manufacturer’s warranty Description of the Problem: The vehicle’s battery is not functioning properly. After a full charge, the vehicle only drives approximately 50 miles, after which the battery becomes completely dead. Ford advertises a range of approximately 230 miles per full charge, which my vehicle has never achieved. The battery warning and error messages appear repeatedly on the dashboard, clearly indicating a battery-related issue. Despite this, no effective repair has been performed. Issues with Ford and Authorized Dealers: Ford Motor Company repeatedly refers me to authorized dealers. Each time I visit a dealer, I am charged approximately $140 for inspection, and the dealer claims that the battery is “fine” without providing any real fix. The problem continues exactly the same. Ford refuses to take responsibility and continues to redirect me back to dealers. Many local dealers do not even have qualified technicians capable of replacing or repairing EV batteries. They only perform basic checks, collect money, and return the vehicle without resolving the issue. This repeated back-and-forth between Ford and dealers has caused me financial loss, extreme inconvenience, and mental stress. The vehicle is unreliable and unsafe for regular use. Requested Resolution: I respectfully request the following: 1.Immediate replacement of the defective battery under manufacturer warranty, or 2.Assignment to a qualified EV service facility that can properly diagnose and replace the battery, a INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA complaint #11708453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was driving and all of the dash lights came on simultaneously and I lost power braking ability while on the interstate. I was able to pull over and the truck shut off. I had to call a tow truck because it would not start back up. The AAA servicer reprogrammed the battery which turned all of the warning lights off except for the "push brake to start" warning and the truck will still not start because of this. The tech with AAA advised there is a recall related to this issue but my VIN search returns no results.

NHTSA complaint #11707462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The instrument cluster on my vehicle has failed intermittently and/or completely, resulting in loss of speedometer visibility and loss of critical warning indicator information. This includes safety-related alerts necessary for driver awareness, such as warning lights and vehicle status indicators. Due to this failure, the vehicle is unsafe to operate because the driver cannot reliably monitor speed or receive safety warnings required for safe driving. A repair order was opened at a Ford dealership to address this issue. The vehicle is covered by an extended warranty provider, which approved a repair request related to the instrument cluster failure on December 16, 2024. The warranty provider further confirmed approval for instrument cluster replacement on December 22, 2024. These approvals confirm the defect was acknowledged and authorized for repair. Despite the safety defect remaining unresolved, the dealership closed the repair order. Ford corporate customer service has confirmed that the repair order shows as closed on their end, even though the instrument cluster failure has not been corrected and the vehicle remains unsafe to operate. Closing the repair order disrupted manufacturer responsibility tracking and reimbursement eligibility while the safety defect persists. As a result, I have incurred out-of-pocket expenses including towing, rental vehicle costs, and related transportation expenses. This instrument cluster failure constitutes a safety-related defect under DOT and NHTSA guidelines because it prevents safe operation of the vehicle. I am requesting manufacturer accountability and corrective action to ensure this safety defect is properly addressed and tracked.

NHTSA complaint #11706967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

front camera fault, service required, pre-collision avoidance not available. Lane departure warning fault, service required. This is an ongoing problem since date of purchase, 9/23/2025

NHTSA complaint #11699868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving down the road, the driver gauge display screen completely goes dark. All information displayed normally on the screen, such as speed, mileage, and vital information about the vehicle stops, displaying entirely. This has happened multiple times. Usually the next day, the issue is solved. Then, several months later, the issue reappears. Whenever the vehicle is taken for repair, the dealer simply cannot replicate the issue. This is a known issue that has been reported online by many people.

NHTSA complaint #11679946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.