Ford F-150 Lightning problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 4 model years (2022–2025), NHTSA has logged 551 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls for the Ford F-150 Lightning. That averages 33.4 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 0.83 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #5 of 10 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 50.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2024 models run 87% below the 2022 models (19 early complaints per model year versus 157).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (64.1 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (10.8). Model years 2022 and 2023 run at least 50% above this model's average of 33.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2024 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 33.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (31.0% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (23.8%) and Unspecified or other (11.4%). Electrical complaints are 2.0 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 32 complaints (5.8%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 16 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 89 complaints versus 136 in the previous 12 months — down 35%. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (40). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 20 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 2 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (2). 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E, but fewer than Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 ▲50%+ | 307 | 64.1 | 1.59 | 31 | 0 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 ▲50%+ | 206 | 54.4 | 1.35 | 40 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 30 | 10.8 | 0.27 | 12 | 0 | Unspecified or other | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 8 | 4.5 | 0.11 | 6 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 89 · Previous 12 months: 136 Falling
Problem areas
Electrical ›
171 · 31.0% · 1.97 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
131 · 23.8% · 2.03 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
63 · 11.4% · 1.27 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Lighting ›
50 · 9.1% · 5.85 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Engine
37 · 6.7% · 0.3 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
23 · 4.2% · 0.46 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
23 · 4.2% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
20 · 3.6% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
11 · 2.0% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
10 · 1.8% · 0.98 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
6 · 1.1% · 0.25 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
5 · 0.9% · 0.14 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
1 · 0.2% · 0.05 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 20 months
What owners report
Our 2025 Ford Lightning has experienced multiple instances of low-speed unintended acceleration. On May 26, 2026, while coasting into a parking spot on a slight incline, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and caused a collision.
On August 19, 2026, I was involved in a collision in my 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning after a suspected malfunction involving the automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and/or acceleration controls. Cruise control was on; BlueCruise was not.
I experienced two wet-road skidding incidents in my 2022 Ford F-150 hybrid. In the first, I was stopped at a light before turning across a three-lane roadway.
I am reporting a concern about the truck’s apparent fuel consumption and hybrid-system operation. I purchased the used 2022 Ford F-150 on [XXX], with 39,647 miles.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning with 42,220 mi. The rear light bar has formed a crack which will allow moisture intrusion (photo attached).
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Electric vehicles
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 544 | 14.8 | 0.37 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Electrical |
| 2 | Tesla Model S | 723 | 16.1 | 0.4 | Worsening | Falling | 31 | Unspecified or other |
| 3 | Tesla Model X | 752 | 17.1 | 0.42 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 33 | Unspecified or other |
| 4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 678 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 0 | Electrical |
| 5 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 551 | 33.4 | 0.83 | Improving | Falling | 2 | Electrical |
| 6 | Kia EV6 | 544 | 37.8 | 0.94 | Improving | Rising | 5 | Electrical |
| 7 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 1,011 | 48.3 | 1.2 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Electrical |
| 8 | Tesla Model 3 | 4,327 | 91.6 | 2.27 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 36 | Driver-assist systems |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,359 | 93.8 | 2.32 | Improving | Rising | 15 | Electrical |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 3,850 | 112.3 | 2.78 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 43 | Driver-assist systems |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 2
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…