106 problems related to exterior lighting have been reported for the 2021 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2021 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2021 F-150.
The driver's side daylight running light (drl) is out and there is not a bulb to repair this, it's a $2000+ repair per the dealership and it's 4 years old with 80,000 miles on it. This needs to be a recall. These lights should last way more than 4 years.
The quad led headlamps keep going out on the truck. It is the vertical side of the light that goes out. I have seen many other f150 with the same issue.
Daytime running lights quit working. This happens on numerous f150s with reflector headlights. Transmission issues hard shifting and downshifting that could cause wreck due to sudden slowing of vehicle. Known issue with f150 2021-2023.
My 2021 F-150 has burnt-out quad led side strips on both headlights. These are daytime running lights, a safety feature. I understand there is no TSB or recall, but many owners have the same issue. I am filing to document a recurring safety defect. " attach a photo of your burnt drl.
Both left and right front vertical leds which surround the headlights failed. Ford dealer advised both entire headlight assemblies would have to be replaced at a cost of approximately $3600. 00.
Running lights on the headlight of the truck continue to go out on the truck.
Right running light has went out. Yes, it will be available for inspection. Lack of lighting causes trouble seeing at night while driving. Brought to the dealership was told they would need to change the entire headlight. That woul cost around $2000. 00. (both sides are now out). From research the 2021 Ford f150 running lights are known for going off. $2000. 00 all the time get to be big. The running lights do dim a little right before they go completely out. The running lights are all connected to the head light. There is no way to replace the running lights with out change a $2000. 00 head light. Not to may people have $4000. 00 to replace headlights on a 4 year old truck.
The daytime running lights on the driver's side of my truck went out, which in the case of my vehicle means replacing the whole headlight assembly, which Ford is stating costs $2,000. I did not realize how much of a problem this is until I started reading online forums where it seems to be a problem with many Ford F-150 owners. Having to replace an entire headlight assembly for the running lights is asinine. This is a safety issue, and Ford should be made aware that they are creating undue hardships for their vehicle owners, as safety issues have to be addressed, and for some unforeseen reason, warranties and extended warranties do not seem to cover this issue, which appears to be very widespread, and most likely a manufacturing defect.
At a stop light vehicle will turn off and nothing electrical will work. It will have to be restarted, while turning at low speeds the electronic steering completely stops working and almost hit another car. All electrical power failure until modules reset then will start. This all happens randomly so it could happen at any point and cause serious injury. Ford can't seem to find a repair for the intermittent issue.
There is a known problem with the drls burning out, which poses a safety issue. Many people have had this problem causing an expensive repair out of warranty. The entire headlamp assembly has to be replaced.
Both running daytime lights have stopped working. This is a common issue with 2021 and up f150's. The issue results in a loss of visibility during daylight hours, creating a safety issue during daytime hours. This also seems to be negligence on the manufacturer's side. My understanding of the issue is a part of the headlight gets too hot under normal operating conditions and results in a melting or possible burning of a section of the headlight assembly. This is also a potential fire hazard from this area which is close to the engine also.
On my 2021 Ford F-150, the passenger-side led daytime running light (drl) has become noticeably dim compared to the driver’s side. This issue is widely reported by other owners of 2021-23 F-150 trucks. The problem is not electrical. Owners who have disassembled the headlight assemblies have found that the fiber-optic style light tube that distributes the led’s light becomes heat-damaged over time. This burned spot blocks light from passing through the drl, leaving one side of the vehicle significantly dimmer or out. Safety concern: drls are a safety-critical feature designed to increase vehicle visibility during daytime driving. When one drl is dim or inoperative, it reduces the truck’s visibility to oncoming drivers and creates an inconsistent lighting pattern that can cause confusion for other road users. This increases the risk of daytime collisions. This is not a cosmetic issue — it directly affects vehicle safety. The failure is common across this model year, but Ford only sells the drl as part of the entire headlight assembly. The cost of replacement ($800–$1,200 per side) places a heavy burden on owners, especially since the defect appears prematurely and outside warranty coverage. Request: I urge NHTSA to investigate this widespread defect in Ford F-150 headlights. The drl failure clearly reduces vehicle visibility and poses a safety risk, making it a safety-related defect that warrants further action, including the possibility of a recall or extended coverage. [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Left side day time driving light went out on top half on my 2021 f150 Ford truck. Ford has many complaints of this happening to the day time driving lights from 2021 to 2024. The light is a complete replacement of the entire head light assembly for $ 2000 at the dealer. Day time driving lights are a safety feature of automobiles and should be part of warranties. This is a major problem with the Ford lighting system and it shouldn't cost $2000 to replace a daytime driving light. Being a safety item it should be recalled and Ford should be made to replace these head light assemblies to ensure the safety of all drivers.
Vehicle: 2021 Ford F-150 component: exterior lighting – daytime running lights (drls) / headlights (high beams) safety concern: vehicle visibility and forward illumination both daytime running lights (drls) on my 2021 Ford F-150 have failed completely. After the drls stopped working, the high beams also became inoperative, leaving only the low beams working. The Ford dealer attempted a repair by replacing the control modules, but that did not fix the issue. They advised that the entire headlight assemblies need to be replaced. However, these assemblies are very expensive, so I have not replaced them yet. I am currently limited to using only the low beams. Without drls, the truck is less visible during daytime driving, increasing the risk of a collision. Without high beams, nighttime visibility is reduced, especially on rural or dark roads. This failure affects federally required lighting functions, compromising safety in both day and night driving. The problem is not normal wear: these are sealed led assemblies that should last the life of the vehicle. The fact that both assemblies failed strongly indicates a manufacturing or design defect. Owners face high out-of-pocket costs because the only fix offered is full assembly replacement. Other 2021 F-150 owners have reported similar failures of drls and headlights online, showing this is not an isolated incident. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue as a safety defect and require Ford to issue a recall to replace the defective headlight assemblies at no cost to owners.
The drl has gone out on one of my headlights. The other has started to flicker. This is uncovered by their extended warranty and over $1600 per side to replace. It is becoming common to see many 2021-2023 with led reflector headlamps with burned out drl. It is an unserviceable part as well. Only can replace the entire assembly but no warranty will cover it as lighting is exempt as standard wear items.
The drl on the passenger side of my truck have already begun to go out, I have noticed a ton of these 14th generation f150's on the road with dead/dying drl and mine began to die after 4 years and 61k miles.
The leds in the daytime running lights have failed. They are partially burned out. Based on research, I’ve done online this is apparently a common problem.
Daytime running lamp failure and fog light failure. Daytime running lamp failure causes poor visibility and the failure defect defeats its entire purpose for use. Fog light failure creates poor visibility during fog conditions and could result in not being visible to other drivers.
The passenger side daytime running light vertical led strip in the passenger side headlight assembly has quit working as of 7/11/2025. I noticed that there seemed to be a reduction in the lighting on the passenger side of my vehicle that night. When I checked my vehicle lighting, I noticed that the above mentioned part of the headlight assembly was not working. This seems to be an integral part of the headlight assembly and I cannot find any replaceable bulb or lighting strip. After searching online, this seems to be a common problem with this series of trucks. The only remedy seems to be replacement of the entire headlight assembly vs. Simply replacing a bulb or led strip.
The passenger side daytime running lamp has burned out in one section. Ford says in order to replace this the whole headlight must be replaced at a cost of $1,400. Daytime running lamps are a requirement for safety and the inability to repair the running lamp without replacing the entire headlight poses a safety risk to both the driver and other vehicles on the road.
Headlight drl went out causing less visibility: transmission is always losing slamming into gears and searching.
Vertical headlight seems to have burned out on both sides after reading online and couple forms. It seems to be a common issue and Ford should be held accountable.
The passenger side daytime running light no longer illuminates or illuminates poorly. During daytime inclement weather, low beams must be manually turned on to ensure there's some form of lighting illuminated during snow, fog, etc. Problem is well known by the dealer and extremely wide spread in the 2021 to 2023 F-150. The component has not been inspected. There is no warning lamp to indicate daytime running light failure.
The headlight module failed in the middle of driving at night and caused me to pull over and get the vehicle towed. Took to the dealership and apparently it’s been an issue with these trucks and the headlight module fails and then burns out both headlights. There is no recall and is not covered by my factory warranty.
The daytime running lights (drls) on my Ford F-150 failed and it is clear from online research that they are prone to failure. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. The failure of the drls put safety at risk because they are important for visibility, protecting the driver and pedestrians. A dealership confirmed the issue. No, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or any other 3rd party. No, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The issue was not noticed until I, the owner, was outside the vehicle and observed it.
Part dg9z13a018e (ambient light sensor) fails to properly read daylight during warm months. Inverted value (reading of very dark) persists for at least 10 minutes. Appears to be temperature dependent; meaning, the temperature of the sensor/dash/housing is very hot and skewing the reading. Instrument panel dim. 12" screen dim. Reverse image (parking assist) dim as 12" screen is dim. When occurs, can be disabled by turning auto-headlights to off position. When cycled back to automatic, condition reasserts and dims both the cluster and screen. Issue has been verified at dealership since 2023. Cannot replicate issue when stored indoors, raining, overcast, cold, etc. Requires full sun and warm day. Vehicle cannot be spared for additional diagnostics without rental/loaner provision. Will ask to attempt to replicate during upcoming recall maintenance and other TSB/ssm diagnostics to correct lingering ota update/software issues that cause low state of charge conditions.
Daytime running lights quit working.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact remote started the vehicle from the office and walked up to the vehicle and became aware that the front driver’s side vertical daytime running lights failed to function as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure might be related to the headlight assembly, and that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense for the replacement of the headlight module because the failure was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Right side headlight had partial failure resulting in insuffient lighting. Had it replaced because Ford said its not a covered item. Three months later the left side headlight went partially out. Ive spoke to a few Ford owners who has had the same problem and Ford is not recognizing this issue as a defective part. I think this problem needs to be addressed.
Passenger side headlights assembly has a daytime running light that stopped working properly. There is no longer a fully functioning running light that decreases visibility to other vehicles. The manufacturer will not replace and the it cannot be repaired without a full headlight assembly replacement that is not affordable.
Both drl leds around the housing failed. Twice now. This is a know issues with 21+ f150s.
The daytime running lamp assemblies on both headlights are failing. On the driver's side, the entire led array around the outside of the headlight has failed. On the passenger's side, the vertical led array is extremely dim and will probably fail soon. The topmost horizontal led array on the passenger's side is currently the only array still working. Obviously this poses a safety risk as these lights provide visibility of the vehicle in low light and low visibility driving conditions. I have seen many forum posts and youtube videos about this problem and as the parts are integrated into the headlamp assembly, the only way to fix is a complete replacement of the assembly which is a $2000-$2500 repair per assembly. This problem appears to be related to heat dissipation issues, indicating a manufacturers defect. In older model vehicles, a daytime running lamp used to be a $5-$20 bulb replacement. The fact that I now have no choice but to pay $2000 to restore functionality of a safety feature is completely unacceptable. At the very least, Ford should redesign the led module to be replaceable independent of the larger assembly, reducing the cost to the owner.
Drl lights are dead after three years of ownership. Dealer wants $1600 per light assembly to repair them. Cannot afford to repair them. Makes the truck less visible day and night.
There has been an issue with front led lights where they go out. It’s an electrical issue where my truck had both replaced and still in warranty this caused almost hit accidents a night. Many vehicles warned me by flashing the high beams. Also another issue is the transmission where it creates a huge jerk on the transmission causing a change in shift. Almost had an accident caused by it. No police involved and no accidents.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the c-shaped led light at the outer corners of the driver's side headlight was significantly dimmed, which reduced the road visibility. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a repair fee for the headlight replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,500.