Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
BostonMA2266United States1/1/2026"Are LED manufacturers trying to destroy my country, or pushing the slightly less nefarious agenda of stimulating auto-wreck insurance companies and Lens Crafters? It's unbelievable how so many people keep wanting to go back down an old, broken road."
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and upon shifting into reverse (R), the vehicle failed to respond, and the gear shift indicator light failed to illuminate. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer, where grease was added to the transmission rim; however, the failure recurred while attempting to reverse two years later. The contact stated that he continuously moved the gear shifter between the gears until the vehicle responded as needed; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle would respond as needed after several attempts. The contact stated that he connected an OBD reader to the vehicle several times and DTC code 0705 was retrieved, indicating a transmission range sensor malfunction. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V190000 (Power Train, Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the rearview camera turned off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the rearview camera and instrument cluster would turn off intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that upon moving the gear shifter into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to respond, and the reverse(R) indicator light failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond while driving from a complete stop. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into a lower or higher gear. The contact stated that the powertrain and check engine warning lights had been illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the transmission range sensor (TRS) had failed. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V190000 (Power Train, Exterior Lighting), and the contact was referred to the dealer. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was related to an unknown 10 years and 150,000 miles Extended Warranty; however, the vehicle was more than 10 years old and had exceeded the mileage. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
On 10/1/22whike driving my 2011 Ford F-150 eco boost with a130 k miles the service advancetrac warning came on along with turn signals not working and the electronic power assist failure warning came on and stayed on .This is a well documented issue with 2011-2014 f150s especially 2011 model because this is the first year cord changed to Electronic power steering,the issue almost caused me to wreck while taking the on ramp curve to INTERSTATE 10 in Port Arthur Tx .The hundreds of thousands to millions of complaints on this safety issue and the lack of ford not addressing it on the first year this electronic power steering was offered needs to be taken care of by Ford .This is extremely dangerous.It makes no sense for them to have a TSB ON THis issue on models 4 years after they started offereing EPAS on the same body style and not on the first year it was offered.Plese address this with Ford motor company before someone is killed due to this safety issue
Vehicle abruptly downshifted to lower gear during a busy street almost causing an accident....dash miss indicating gears and almos hitting a person going reverse when I suppose togo forward...no reverse lights needing help to park when dark
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. Additionally, the turn signal failed to deactivate after turning and the instrument panel displayed a blank image. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact was parked in the residence driveway and had moved the shift lever into "drive" and depressed the accelerator pedal to begin to move forward down the driveway. The contact stated that the vehicle was in "reverse" and not in "drive" and the vehicle backed into the garage door at approximately 2 MPH, hitting the door with the trailer hitch. The contact stated that the "PRNDL" illumination on the dashboard was not functioning and he observed that the "check engine" was also illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer and it was diagnosed that the "Lead Frame" and the "Transmission Range Selector" needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V190000 (Power Train, Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
THE RR TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE RR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE RF TURN SIGNAL FLASHES FAST. THE RF RUNNING LIGHT DOES NOT STAY LIT WHEN USING THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CHECKED ALL BULBS, THAT ARE FINE, FUSES FINE. I SHOULD NOTE, TILL IT IS FIXED I CAN'T GET IT INSPECTED, AND THEREFORE CAN'T GET IT REGISTERED.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DOWN SHIFTS , DASH BOARD GOES BLANK, WRENCH LIGHT POPS UP AND SPEEDOMETER ZEROS OUT. FORCING YOU TO STOP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FLASHED QUICKLY INDICATING A FAILURE. SHAWNEE MISSION FORD (11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203, (913)631-0000), WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
AFTER RECEIVING RECALL 19S07-19V-075 BY MAIL AND HAVING IT REPROGRAMMED BY CRATER LAKE FORD MEDFORD,OR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT GEORGIA PLANT. 3.7 FLEX FUEL. I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND THEN ABRUPTLY SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS FLAWLESSLY ON MOST GRADES. THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN DURING ON HIGHWAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS. 39K MILES. WAY TOO MANY LIGHT BULBS HAVE GONE OUT ON THIS MODEL. NEVER OFF-ROADED . NOT A WORK TRUCK. NEVER EVEN TOWED ANYTHING. SINCE THAT DOWNHILL CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM OCCURRED, NOW I HAVE AN ANTIFREEZE COOLANT LEAK AT THE EXPANSION OVERFLOW TANK ON THE 3/4 QUICK DISCONNECT HOSE . VEHICLE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. LOW SPEED HIGH REV BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM ONLY ON HIGHWAY GOING DOWNHILL. DID THEY MISTAKENLY REPROGRAM MY F150 WITH WRONG RECALL?
IN 2016 I WENT TO GET RECALL REPAIRED FROM FRANKLIN TN DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM, THEY REFUSED, IN 2019, THEY CLAIM THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM FORD, ONLINE IN EMAILS TO ANOTHER DEALER, I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHEN TO BRING TRUCK IN TO GET ALL RECALLS REPAIRED. BOTH DEALERSHIPS ARE IN TN. WHEN IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRUCK WILL JERK BACK DOWN AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO GO TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING HARD ON GAS, LOUD FAN NOISE FROM THE HOOD, BREAKS GO TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE TO PUMP TO FEEL TRUCK SLOWING DOWN, AIR AND HEAT CONTINUE TO NOT WORK, AIR WON'T GET COOL AND HEAT WON'T GET HOT, BOTH DEALERSHIPS HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR OR BLAMED FORD FOR NOT GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEEDED TO FIX THE RECALLS. I AM DOCUMENTING SO MY FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS TO ATTORNEY. THE DOWN SHIFT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN DRIVE MOVING ON ANY AND EVERY STREET, PARKING LOT, STOP LIGHT/SIGN. THE LOUD FAN NOISE FROM THE ENGINE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUCK IS STARTED, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE FLOOR FOR 8 YEARS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY/NIGHT WHEN DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULLINAX FORD OF MOBILE (7311 AIRPORT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36608, (251) 344-4000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED THE SAME DIAGNOSIS AS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,234.
RECALL 12C23 DEALER& MANUFACTURER STATE DOESN'T APPLY DESPITE SAME SYMPTOMS IN RECALL. DEALER WITNESSED ISSUE WHILE DOING RECALL 19S07 I TOLD THEM OT HAD STARTED ABOUT THE SAME TIME I DISCOVERED THE CURRENT 19S07 RECALL. FORD SAID THEY WERE REPORTING THE ISSUE AS WELL.
INTERMITTENT ADVANCE TRAC ERROR MESSAGE SEEMS TO CAUSE TURN SIGNALS TO MALFUNCTION (YOU HAVE TO HOLD LEVER IN POSITION TO KEEP FLASHERS ON TO INDICATE TURNING/LANE CHANGE). PROBLEM GOES AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS IT CAME- FROM 5MPH TO 55MPH. TURNING TRACTION CONTROL OFF HAS NO EFFECT ON IT. IN TWO WEEKS THIS PROBLEM LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON ONE OCCASION; AND FROM MY MORNING COMMUTE (25MIN) TO MY EVENING COMMUTE (25MIN) ON ANOTHER.
STARTED VEHICLE IN GARAGE, DEPRESSED BRAKE, MOVED SHIFT SELECTOR TO REVERSE POSITION AND "R" INDICATOR DIDN'T LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE IN REVERSE. WOULD MOVE FORWARD & "D" INDICATOR LIT. TURN VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED, MOVED SHIFT LEVER TO "R" INDICATOR AND IT LIT AND VEHICLE WOULD MOVE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BETWEEN 12/21/2018 & 12/25/2018. HAD FRIEND TRY SHIFTING WHILE I WATCHED REAR BACKUP LIGHTS. THEY LIT WHEN "R" WOULD LIGHT, AND WOULDN'T LIGHT WHEN "R" WOULDN'T LIGHT. ALSO ON 25TH, ALL SHIFTER POSITIONS WOULDN'T LIGHT WHEN RETURNING HOME. VERY SCARY!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN PROMPTED. ALSO, THE "R" INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AL BILTON FORD (7621 OLD STATE RD, HOLLY HILL, SC 29059, 1-803-496-3150) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V190000 (POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U- TURN, THE ANTI-TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIGLEY FORD SALES COMPANY (1065 3RD AVE, WINDOM, MN 56101, (507) 831-3131). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE VIN AND THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. *TT
WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WILL NOT WORK ONLY IN THE BACK TAIL LIGHT. SO WHEN I USE MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT SOUNDS INSIDE MY TRUCK A LITTLE BIT FASTER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE SO IT KNOWS THE BLINKER IS OUT ALTHOUGH THE BLINKER ON MY LEFT SIDE MIRROR STILL WORKS AND THE FRONT LEFT BLINKER STILL WORKS I HAVE TRYED NUMBEROUS TIMES TO CHANGE THE TAIL LIGHT AND HAVE OTHERS LOOK AT IT AND CHANGE THE TAIL LIGHT WITH BRAND NEW BULBS BUT NOTHINGS WORKS.
NO LEFT REAR BREAK LIGHT, NO LEFT REAR TURN LIGHT, ONLY FLASHES QUICKLY ON LEFT SIDE MIRROR AND LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL. HAD IT TESTED WITH 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, WHO ALL STATE MODULAR DEFECT. TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS CLAIM NO ISSUE WITH VINN#, YET THERE ARE RECALLS FOR SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM IS BOTH STATIONARY AND MOVING. NEW BULBS SHORT OUT. UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE INSPECTED DUE TO ISSUE.
WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE DASH LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, AND MAINTENANCE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON. I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, DRIVE, AND ANY OTHER GEAR WITH DASH ILLUMINATION AND OPERATE THE VEHICLE. REVERSE WILL NOT SHIFT AND AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES IT FINALLY TAKES AND "JOLTS" BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING AND ALLOWS ME TO BACKUP. HOWEVER DASH LIGHT NEVER CHANGES AND AM UNSURE WHEN IT WILL SHIFT. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS A MALFUNCTIONING "TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR". MY VEHICLE MATCHES THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF AN ACTIVE RECALL: #12V190000 HOWEVER I AM INFORMED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL LIST IN OASIS? AND THEREFORE IS NOT COVERED BY FORD. I HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE UP UNTIL THIS POINT AND CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER SEVERAL TIMES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE FOR THE GEAR IN REVERSE, THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION ON THE GEAR SHIFTER, AND THE GEAR WAS DIFFICULT TO CHANGE IN REVERSE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY PROGRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,250.
WHEN THE "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK" LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHTS UP, WHEN YOU ACTUATE THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, THE TURN SIGNALS WILL ONLY FLASH ONCE, AND THEN THEY STOP FLASHING. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING AT ANY TIME.
I OWN A 2011 FORD F150 FX4. WHILE MY TRUCK IS PARKED AND ENGINE OFF AND DOORS LOCKED THE DASH BACKLIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED AND DRAINS THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. Z THIS BEGIN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. AROUND 55K MILES ON IT. I HAVE TO UNHOOK MY BATTERY WHEN I GET OUT OF THE TRUCK TO PREVENT MY BATTERY FROM DRAINING. I FOUND IF I UNPLUG BATTERY FOR ABOUT 10 MIN I FIND THE BACKLIGHT WILL NOT COME ON FOR ABOUT DAYS. ALSO, MY DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK REMOTELY OR INSIDE THE CAR. IT CAN ONLY BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED MANUALLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND THE REVERSE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V190000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. UPDATED 3/29/2016*JS UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN
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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