Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning BEV submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Dealer identified Water intrusion into the rear wiring, harnesses is causing corrosion in the PIN connectors, which therefore leads to flickering tail lights which could be mis interpreted as braking or a turning. I also experienced random acceleration from slow speeds and a failure to decelerate. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, VIN [XXX], 42,370 mi. The rear light bar has microcracks allowing moisture intrusion. Water droplets are visible inside the red lens across the tailgate and inside the white reverse lamp (photos attached, taken 5/30/2026). This is the warning condition named in recall 25SB6 (NHTSA 25V731) and predecessor 23S30 (NHTSA 23V418): water droplets in the lightbar outer lens, which can cause inoperative or flickering reverse lamps. On 6/15/2026 I took the truck to Koons Baltimore Ford, 6970 Security Blvd, Baltimore MD 21244, Advisor Rahim King, RO [XXX]. The dealer's own repair order Line B states: RECALL 25SB6 REVERSING LAMP INSPECTION, VERIFIED OPEN RECALL, at $0 warranty pay. After verifying the open recall on this VIN, the dealer still refused to replace the moisture-failed light bar under the recall. Instead, they have charged me $190 customer-pay to check and advise on water in the red bar and white reverse light, the identical defect the recall fixes for free. The dealer also tried to bill my third-party extended service plan and told me to file an auto insurance claim. All three are improper: a federal recall remedy must be provided free by the manufacturer (49 USC 30120), not charged to the customer, an insurer, or a service contract. SAFETY RISK: A truck backing up without working reverse lamps is more likely to strike a pedestrian or a child below the driver's sightline, since others are not alerted the vehicle is reversing. Reverse lamps are federally required. This failure can result in serious injury or death. REQUEST: Please document (1) the recurring light bar moisture and reverse-lamp defect, (2) the dealer's refusal to remedy a verified open recall free of charge, (3) the improper $190 diagnostic charge, and (4) attempts to shift recall cost to the customer, a service contract, and auto insurance. I can provide RO [XXX] and photos. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I own a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning that is subject to an active safety recall involving electrical components and exterior lighting (potential water intrusion leading to lighting failure, including rear/reverse lamps). I was notified of the recall around October/2025 and contacted a Ford dealer shortly after. The dealer confirmed the recall is active but stated that no remedy is available. I have followed up multiple times with both the dealer and Ford corporate, and as of today, there is still no repair available and no timeline has been provided. This has persisted for approximately 6 months. Ford communicated a fix in Q1 of 2026. This defect affects critical lighting and electrical systems necessary for safe operation and visibility. Operating the vehicle under these conditions presents a safety risk. Despite this, Ford has not provided a repair, interim solution, or clear guidance. Due to the unresolved recall, I have been unable to reasonably use the vehicle. The vehicle is also used for business purposes, resulting in financial loss. I continue to incur a monthly loan obligation of approximately $2,000 while the vehicle remains effectively unusable. Ford has not offered a loaner vehicle, compensation, or alternative remedy. Complaint with Ford CXXX was submitted, with stated return calls, my repeated follow-ups, and no resolution. I am submitting this complaint to document that the manufacturer has issued a safety recall but has failed to provide a timely remedy, leaving the vehicle unusable and creating ongoing safety concerns and financial harm. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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)
Water intrusion into rear lightbar/back up/brake light assembly that has caused shorting of the back up lights and flashing of the brake lights. This is a known issue, NHTSA campaign 23V418000. Ford is refusing to cover replacement of this part.
Earlier this year, I filed NHTSA ID 11663872 when I noticed moisture collecting in the brake light assembly on my truck and Ford called this "normal", despite earlier issuing a recall for this very thing happening under NHTSA action 23V-418. Now, the brake light has failed completely, and Ford is denying coverage of this under my extended warranty with the following explanation: "your claim is denied due to water intrusion. A subject matter expert advised that Ford and Lincoln Protect will not participate in this claim as the lighting option only covers electrical failures on incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, High Intensity Discharge (HID) and [Light-Emitting Diode] LED lamp assemblies. A mechanical failure of a lamp assembly that allows water intrusion (fogging/moisture) is not a covered failure. A resulting electrical failure from this moisture/water would be consequential to the mechanical failure and would not be covered." Having inoperable brake lighting and possibly reverse lighting as well is an obvious danger to the public and there is no messaging system in the vehicle to tell you those components are not working properly, and clearly the previous recall campaign that replaced the lens assembly the first time did not work.
Defective rear light bar allowing water intrusion causing some reverse lights and brake lights to malfunction including a running rear white light shining into the face of drivers causing a safety hazard
Rear light bar housing brake lights and backup lights have water inside the assembly. Water is causing shorting of the lights. It puts me and others at risk if it doesn't activate or activate at a bad time.
The rear light bar in the tailgate that also includes my back up lights is defective. The light bar was defective at delivery of vehicle and this is the second time this light bar has been deemed defective by a Ford Dealership Service Department. The first repair on this defect was covered under a recall. This issue is a safety concern as it causes the rear light bar to flicker on and off and it has disabled the back up lights. There was no warning lights or alerts, I was pulled over by law enforcement and given a verbal warning to resolve the issue. The vehicle is currently at Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, TX and Ford is denying any issue with the vehicle.
Rear tailgate light bar has multiple cracks
The rear light bar was replaced under warranty safety recall 23S30 on 10/19/2023. Subsequently the “new” light bar developed water in it and after a period of a month of flickering and partial illumination is fully out causing a safety issue with limited rear tail lights and reverse lights.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the rear taillights were inoperative, and the taillight housings were full of water. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was repaired under an undisclosed recall; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,729.
The part they replace the rear light bar that you have a recall for also fails in the exact same manner causing my reverse lights to stay on while driving.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the rear lights on the vehicle were inoperable. The contact stated that the rear lights failed to function properly while attempting to reverse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear light bar had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The rear lightbar was replaced under a safety recall with a defective part. The replacement started flickering after 4 months and the reverse lights would strobe due to moisture. The dealership inspected and determined it was defective,not damaged and Ford has agreed to pay 60 percent only. Safety recall 23s30
Driver's side tail light has moisture within the housing and intermittently fails to work. This is a similar issue to the light bar across the tailgate that was recalled and repaired, but Ford has no open recall on the tail lights. Dealership estimated a $3000 repair with no admission of manufacturer's defect. Obviously a non functioning tail light/turn signal is a safety risk and also opens the driver to being stopped/ticketed/fined.
Tailgate light bar was replaced under safety recall due to concern of moisture getting into housing. Replacement bar now shows signs of water in light bar after rain storm. Both red and reverse lights are flickering.
Bought an electric truck in May of 2023 that is frequently malfunctioning while on the road. Turn signals and hazard lights becoming unusable. Gauges w/ speed are turning off and on while driving. All safety features become disabled. Video of multiple occurrences are available and have been submitted to ford. Would someone please help me and atleast reach out to see the videos of what this truck is doing. I have extensive documentation of my attempts to get this vehicle repaired or off the roads through the BEV specialist. My emails are ignored and my phone calls are put in endless loops before being hung up on. I have been trying for 6 months to get them to make my truck safe. I’m scared me and my family or possibly other motorist are going to be hurt if this situation is not fixed. I know I shouldn’t keep driving it but I have to get to work. Purchased an extended warranty for thousands of dollars but after taking to 3 dealerships multiple times a piece no repairs to the computer have been made and they literally have documented they are trying a temporary method for “testing” out unproven “wire overlayment” to bypass an issue with a harness bc they dont want to “condemn” an expensive module on the truck. The computers that control this electric vehicle are failing and I’m scared what is going to happen when if completely goes out while I’m driving at 70 on the interstate. If someone would please look at the service transcripts, my emails to ford, and videos of this vehicle malfunctioning I would be sincerely grateful and appreciate any guidance.
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.
Instrument cluster is freezing. No listed speed or any vehicle driving information while the vehicle is moving.
The headlamps flicker when the steering wheel is turned at speeds of 1-45 miles per hour. The dealership claims that a software update will fix it, though the issue seems to be with the integrated circuits in the headlamp assembly. The issue has gotten worse over the last 3-4 months.
In this vehicle the instrument panel is an electronic display. This display did not show any controls, speedometer, mileage, warning lights, etc. It was black, with only the backlight on. This morning (Jan 10) on my way to work I noticed my instrument panel was not working. The screen was completely black instead of displaying the normal information (charge level, speed, etc).
We were driving down the road and the cluster screen went completely black. We couldn’t tell what speed we were going or any other information that gets displayed there. This is a very hazardous problem that should be looked into further.
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.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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