What 385 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Ford F-150 Supercab

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 ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11708453

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 ODI 11707462

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 ODI 11706967

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 ODI 11699868

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 ODI 11679946

Service vehicle Soon light came on and the problem was that the gear shifter folding mechanism broke. Ford has repaired it at no cost.

NHTSA ODI 11676590

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and hauling a horse trailer with several horses inside, the automatic headlights activated, and the trailer brake erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. During the failure, no injuries were reported to the vehicle occupants or the horses inside the trailer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11674479

One morning, my 2023 Ford F150 Lightning was completely inoperable. I had it towed to a dealer. From my understanding, it is a wire that runs from the front of the truck to the rear of the truck, and is in the channel about the drive train malfunctioned which seems very strange to me. Got a bunch of codes off the computer. Found some kind of module showing 0-2 volts and when wiggled, it went to zero and stayed. Circuuits CBB95 PINS 11 and 12 and ABB05 PIN 33 at C407 all had zero volts. He consulted Ford's self help and found a Ford contact who'd fixed similar issue. After researching, all was connected back up, he back probed the circuits, and finally found SBB05 grey/red Pin 5 had no current. Ford advised overlaying wire from 3471C to C407 over rear drive unit and secure to harness with zip ties. This successfully cleared all codes and truck worked. This could have been really bad if it happened during the middle of winter when driving putting me and my occupants in danger. I'm not sure what the dealer did with the part, but they replaced the wire and connectors. I had no idication there was any problem until the vehicle became completely inoperable. Ford did not cover this under warranty since i was out of the bumper to bumper warrantee mileage.

NHTSA ODI 11670088

A/C airflow decreases out of the air vents although you can hear the motor blower running at high speed in the dashboard. The cabin temperature begins to increase and if humid the windows will begin to fog up the windshield, side windows and rear window impairing visibility which could lead to an accident if you do not pull over and remove the fog from the windshield/ windows. The dealership has inspected the vehicle, but they are never able to reproduce this issue while the vehicle is in their possession so they do nothing and simply turn away from the concern which many other Ford F-150 owners have expressed to their local ford dealerships and undoubtedly FORD motor company is aware of this issue, but are turning the blind eye as if it doesn’t exist. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the issue occurring. I’m the second owner and this has happened to me twice within 2 weeks of owning this vehicle and I noticed the CarFax showed that my vehicle had been brought in numerous times to the ford dealership to be serviced for this exact same issue that I’m experiencing which has been confirmed by the dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11668500

Driving down the road, a "service needed" code will pop up on the dash. It will then go away. However, in the next few minutes a "Shift Service Fault" will pop up on the screen. I then get a notification on my Ford app that says I have a Powertrain Fault.

NHTSA ODI 11667123

Transmission harsh shifting, jerking, sudden loss of power, and unexpected downshifts. Goes into power saving mode every time I shut vehicle off. Remote start never available.

NHTSA ODI 11664790

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine and other unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle was driving rough. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where to was diagnosed and determined that rodents had eaten through the wires, and all the wiring harnessed in the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,400.

NHTSA ODI 11664287

•Resolution Requested oFull refund for $67,227.63 - Total Money Spent Down Payment Trade In Monthly Payment Aftermarket Accessories oPremium Care Warranty for Purchase of next Ford Vehicle •Issues oEngine and Electrical Issue Electronic Gauge Screen goes black while driving resulting in a safety violation Significant latency of acceleration upon starting resulting in dangerous driving conditions Issue started Mar 2024 Remote Start Not Working Issue started Mar 2024 oSafety Failure Error Messages •6 X Anti-Lock Brake Fault •18 X Tire Pressure Monitor System •9 X Restraints Indicator Lamp •28 X Pre-Collision Assist Not Available •4 X Power Train Malfunction •Attempted Repairs – the service department has stated they do not know the issue and will need to keep the car for several more weeks to determine a fix oNumber of Times 5 Times oDuration 28 Days oDates 10 APR 2024 – 1 Day 09 May 2024 – 1 Day 09 Sep 2024 – 5 Days 07 JAN 2025 – 10 Days 14 MAY – 1 Day

NHTSA ODI 11661526

Within weeks of purchasing this vehicle new from Groove Ford on Arapahoe, the dashboard would go completely black and the seat belt restraint warning, collision warning, and safety warning sensors would go off. This vehicle has been into the dealership 7 times within the past year for over 30 days and still no resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11661144

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the front headlights had become inoperable. The contact stated that the radio flickered on and off, and the power windows would not function properly. The vehicle was taken to several dealers; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11659996

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150 equipped with an inverter. The contact stated that the inverter was intermittently inoperable throughout the day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later taken to Bill Talley Ford Inc(6280 Mechanicsville Tpke, Mechanicsville, VA 23111), where it was diagnosed that the inverter module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that upon attempting to order the part, the manufacturer advised that the part was on a “Do Not Sell” list due to a factory defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,436.

NHTSA ODI 11658407

Available for inspection. The "brain" of the truck is in the stereo system. the time on the call varies, but, the call will drop the Bluetooth or wired connection with the truck, the radio will reset, and go to a broadcast radio station, from which it will stay for about 5-30 seconds while resetting, and then the call will recommence on the in-house system again. Neither party knows until I start hollering that the call has been dropped. I have checked with Apple, and there are no issues with it, and all updates have been completed. During the call with the tech people at Ford, the tech said it is a known problem.The truck has been in the shop on several occasions at Ford Villages and in Ocala, Florida, starting in February 2025. On 3/14/25, eight modules had to be updated & I was assured that it would fix the issue. After is was dropped it off, it happened again. I took it back on 3/21, and this time they said they could not duplicate the problem. Furthermore, the issue would need to be fixed, most likely by an over-the-air update.On the way home, I called my brother, and it happened not more than ten minutes out of the shop! 3/25/2025, I contacted Ford again through their customer service line and told them I wanted to start the Lemon Law buyback process. A few days later, I got a call back – denied. I am going through the lemon law process now. They offered a $4k buyback, which I soundly rejected as an insult. REGARDLESS, this truck is unsafe to operate due to the distractions that are created by the unreliability of the CarPlay system. I have ended up in a ditch, almost ran off the road by other drivers and various other close calls, all because I have had to adjust the phone to where it would work while I am driving. Most likely the CarPlay (Android-based) incompatibility with the Apple software and users are made to suffer for it Whatever it is, it must be immediately resolved. Consumers do not need to be caught in between the petty games. Still or moving.

NHTSA ODI 11658186

This vehicle started having issues. The truck would shut off going down the highway at 60-65 mph. The radio would blink on and off. The truck would shut down and not turn back on for multiple hours. Dealer couldn't replicate the problem. Our son utilized the truck to go and pick up LP gas for us from his shop. On the way back to our home, he stopped at a stop sign and suddenly noticed smoke coming from the dash. He attempted to put out the fire which was then raging under the dashboard and hood. He got the fire out, fire department arrived, truck ignited again. The fire department put out the truck. Son was burned trying to not have the truck explode with gas tanks in the back.

NHTSA ODI 11656711

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was missing the "Heated Steering Wheel Performance Upgrade". The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The bill of sale stated that the semi-conductor chip was not installed due to a chip shortage. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 22G06; however, the VIN was included. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652029

Emergency brakes automatically deployed. Vehicle not letting me retrieve key from ignition. Vehicle does not indicate it is in park.

NHTSA ODI 11649858

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the wiring harness had failed due to rodents chewing on the wires. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 11649336

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that due to the Battery Management System (BMS), the vehicle failed to properly charge due to the short distances driven. Due to the cold climate and low usage, the vehicle entered Deep Sleep Mode, leading to the vehicle failing to start. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a battery test was performed, and it was determined that the battery was in good condition. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the dealer. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11648305

While not a safety issue, i would like to lodge a complaint against Ford for not including my vehicle's VIN on a NHTSA published recall that it should be eligible for. For 22G06, my 2023 Ford F-150 had the heated steering wheel removed due to the chip shortages. Ford is refusing to either fix or explain why my vehicle is not eligible, even though it meets the "Affected Vehicles" requirements on the document at the below link. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11648052

I continually get remote features disabled to preserve battery. Have taken it in to dealer, they can't find anything. I am told to drive truck for forty minutes or so. This doesn't help because in a couple of days it goes back to the warning., It offers updates for the software for the ford pass app It will never download. It says an error has occurred I didn't pay over $70000 for this truck to have to take it for a forty minute drive every couple of days to keep the battery charged If t can not be repaired, I would like a refund of my money and you take your truck back. This incident occurs every three or four days. .

NHTSA ODI 11641334

I was driving down the road at approximately 35mph. The vehicle began to sputter and then started loosing power. I was only able to drive approximately another 150 meters and get over to the shoulder of the road. Once stopped the vehicle stopped running all together. The vehicle did have power but only to the electronics. The engine had shut down. I shut off the vehicle all the way and then restarted. It ran fine after that. This was on 01/29/2025. The vehicle had a previous instance where it did not start. It would crank the motor for approximately 6 to 8 seconds, the engine would fire and then shut off after about 1-2 seconds. The fuse box and wiring harness have both been replaced and the vehicle still seems to be having issues that could cause major damage and or injuries/death to the occupants.

NHTSA ODI 11639381