Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On September 19, 2025, my wife was at the wheel of our 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning (VIN: [redacted] ), a vehicle we had leased just months earlier on June 22, 2025, from Sam Galloway Ford at [redacted] . Traveling at a mere 15-20 mph when she was involved in a routine multi-vehicle collision (no citations were issued). No collision warning was sounded. The front-end impact triggered an instantaneous and ferocious eruption of flames from the truck's forward section. The vehicle was swiftly consumed in a raging inferno, leading to its complete and irreparable destruction. My wife narrowly escaped with her life, scrambling from the cab amid the explosive intensification of the fire while relying on the urgent assistance of bystanders to reach safety-mere seconds from what could have been a fatal entrapment. …
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. The defect has occurred approximately six times over 7,300 miles of operation (approximately once every 1,200 miles). Professional collision repair was completed July 7, 2026. Defect recurred after repair. Ford Factory Service Engineer inspection on August 10, 2026 conducted a seven-mile test drive and reported "concern not duplicated". The vehicle's EDR (Event Data Recorder) failed to reliably document the collision event, recording a timestamp 1 hour 19 minutes after the actual collision occurred (NHTSA requires 3 millisecond timing accuracy). The vehicle is unsafe and cannot be reliably driven. …
The contact owned a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning BEV. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, it caught on fire. The contact stated that the Police knocked on the door and informed the contact that fire was shooting out of the vehicle. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. In addition, the vehicle was parked in a secluded area of the tow yard. The contact stated that the Fire Department, Police, and Insurance Agent unofficially referred to the failure as electrical or battery-related. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.
While driving at speed on public roads on [redacted], the primary 12-inch digital instrument cluster suffered a total blackout while the vehicle was powered and moving. The failure eliminated all speedometer readings, battery state-of-charge indicators, gear selections, and safety telltales/warning lights in violation of FMVSS 101. When previously reporting intermittent digital screen and electrical dropouts, Ford and dealership service personnel claimed this behavior is 'normal operation' and have failed to correct the underlying electrical/gateway defect across multiple service visits. The vehicle cannot be operated safely without an operational speedometer and warning cluster. Video link: [redacted]
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked near the side of the residence and unoccupied as he was inside the home asleep, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated that the dogs alarmed them of the failure and the contact could hear the tires possibly popping/exploding due to the fire. The exterior and interior walls, attic, and electrical box were all burned. The Ford app indicated a "Faulty Connection" warning message as he attempted to dial 911. The local fire department arrived to extinguish the flames and filed a report but was unavailable. A police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated the fire marshal advised that the vehicle should not be moved until further investigation. In addition, the contact stated that the fire may have started from the middle console due to an EV battery failure. …
My 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning caught fire while parked in my driveway. The vehicle was NOT charging at the time of the incident. There were no warning lights, alerts, or prior mechanical issues before the fire. At the time, I was inside my home asleep when my children alerted me that the truck was "exploding." I immediately went outside and attempted to move another vehicle and control the fire using a water hose, but the fire spread rapidly and became uncontrollable. The fire department later arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire also caused: Damage to my dump trailer Damage to landscaping Damage to a wall on my property Battery-related debris and residue left on my driveway This debris is still present and I am concerned it may be hazardous, especially since I have children and a dog at home. …
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH with the BlueCruise hands-free driving mode activated, the steering wheel inadvertently veered to the right, and the vehicle violently jerked across three lanes of traffic before slamming into the guardrail. No warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained, and medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The contact received a citation for reckless driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the messages "High Voltage Power Train Fault" and "Stop Driving and Contact Your Nearest Dealer" were displayed. The contact stated that he continued driving until it was safe to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery module #4 had failed and needed to be replaced under Ford Campaign Number: 23H01. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,800.
Related recalls (4)
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The fasteners that secure the junction box bus bars inside the high-voltage battery pack may not have been tightened securely, which can cause electrical arcing at the busbars.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the busbar fasteners and replace any damaged components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 21, 2025.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 F-150 Lightning battery electric vehicles. A manufacturing defect in the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high voltage battery array as necessary, free of charge.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The fasteners that secure the junction box bus bars inside the high-voltage battery pack may not have been tightened securely, which can cause electrical arcing at the busbars.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the busbar fasteners and replace any damaged components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2024.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-150 Lightning years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2023 (61), 2022 (35) and 2024 (8) model years. Electrical complaints make up 54% of all complaints for the 2023.
Is there a recall for Ford F-150 Lightning electrical problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 25V-272 (traction battery, Apr 23, 2025); 25V-131 (traction battery, Feb 28, 2025); 24V-144 (traction battery, Feb 23, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford F-150 Lightning electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles; 100% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (14 mentions), followed by the instrument cluster/panel (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.