2023 Ford F-150 Lightning problems, complaints & recalls
MoreWithin ±30% year on year
NHTSA has received 206 owner complaints about the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, or 54.4 per year on the road — more complaints than typical (complaint index 1.35, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #70 of 92 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Ford models its rate is 7% higher; against other Electric vehicles it is 7% higher.
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
Complaints filed between 2023-02-16 and 2026-10-07. Median delay from incident to filing: 5 days.
206Complaints
54.4Complaints per year on the road
1.35Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
2Recalls
5.3%Share involving a crash or fire
40Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 64.1 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 10.8 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 129 complaints, 55% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Electrical (38.3% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (21.4%) and Lighting (8.7%). Electrical complaints are 2.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 11 reports (5.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 18 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (42% of incidents). In the last 12 months 40 new complaints were filed, versus 51 in the 12 months before — down 22%.
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles1.35
vs. other Ford models1.07
vs. other 2023 models1.29
vs. other Electric vehicles1.07
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (129)1.55
While maneuvering the vehicle to park near a building, the truck unexpectedly accelerated forward and crashed into the building. I did not intend for the vehicle to accelerate into the structure.
Electrical · 2026-08-27 · ODI 11760024 · Crash
When i had the radio paused and not playing anything in my 2023 f150 lightning it made a loud auditory pop and one of my ears hearing got "muffled"
Electrical · 2026-08-14 · ODI 11756934
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning with 42,220 mi. The rear light bar has formed a crack which will allow moisture intrusion (photo attached).
Lighting · 2026-10-07 · ODI 11769484
I purchased a used 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost on April 3, 2026. Within days, the vehicle began making a hard clunk during initial acceleration and when stopping.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769136
On 10/5/2026 the front part of the sunroof on my Lightning burst into pieces and fell onto me and all over my cab while I was driving down the road. I had glass pieces and shards all over me and the front of the truck.
Body & structure · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769146
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT Campaign 23V688000 · 2023-10-13
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic cabin coolant heater, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C32.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged.
Risk: A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S15.
