Exterior Lighting Problems of Ford F-150 - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford F-150 🔎.

Ford had a safety recall # 23s30 for the rear light bar updated part number nl34-13n466-ae. This recall was done on my truck by the previous owner on 11/16/23 around 9400 miles. It failed again on me on [xxx] around 12000 miles. Failed again on [xxx] around 31000 miles. I found out that it failed again when someone told me that I had no backup lights. Ford is refusing to cover this 4 days out of my warranty. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2022 Ford F-150 🔎.

The passenger side daytime running light is only half way lighting up. Causing it hard to see. 2 days after purchased contacted dealership and they were made away and confirmed this issue. And have not heard back on how they are going to fix or if they will fix this issue. No warning lamps came about this.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the reverse lights failed to function as intended. The contact exited the vehicle, and someone pointed out that the rear passenger’s side reverse light failed to activate as designed. The contact stated that the rear light bar had failed to function as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 23v418000 (exterior lighting) two years ago. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

When I was driving on the highway I was going about 65 mph in 6th gear and then without warning my 2012 Ford f150 3. 5 truck shifted all the way down to 1st gear which almost caused me to wreck on the highway and other cars to almost slam into me. Now when I try to drive the truck it keeps throwing a wrench and the wrench blinks and my truck will not shift hardly at all between the gears. After I have researched this issue I see that there has been 4 recalls and a few csp notices for the make and modle of my truck. The recall numbers are #19v075000, 12v190000, 16v248000, 12v198000 and the csp campaign number is #16n02 regarding the lead frame issue that causes the extreme downshift. I contact the Ford dealership to try and get this fixed and they said there is nothing they can do to help me.

See all problems of the 2012 Ford F-150 🔎.

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.

The third brake lights on this generation raptor are very, very dim. There are three individual/small led lights, and when the tail lights are on, which includes the third brake light on these vehicles since they act as marker lamps due to the vehicle's width), the third brake lights are not noticeable. This is especially bad in the daytime if the headlights are on, because there is almost no difference in luminescence between the tail lights and brake lights.

Nhtsa safety defect report – 2023 Ford F-150 lightning tailgate light bar condensation my 2023 Ford F-150 lightning has moisture and condensation building up inside the rear tailgate light bar. It looks exactly like the issue described in Ford recall 23s30, also known as NHTSA recall 23v-418. Even though my VIN is not included in that recall, my truck is showing the same symptoms. The condensation collects behind the lens, especially around the reverse light section, and becomes worse after it rains or after I wash the truck. Lately, I’ve noticed the reverse lights flicker at times, which makes me think the moisture is getting into the electrical components. If the reverse lights go out or stop working properly, it becomes a safety concern because other drivers and pedestrians may not see that I’m backing up. This could easily cause an accident, especially at night or in parking lots. I brought the truck to a Ford dealer and was told that my VIN isn’t part of the recall and that I’m just outside of the 36,000-mile warranty. The truck currently has around 37,000 miles. They said they couldn’t replace the light bar unless Ford adds my VIN to the recall. The issue clearly matches the same defect Ford already acknowledged, which involves moisture getting into the tailgate light bar due to cracks or poor sealing. I believe Ford’s recall should be expanded to include more 2023 model trucks like mine that are having the same problem. It’s not an isolated case, and I’ve seen other owners reporting identical issues online with newer builds. Since this involves lighting that affects safety when reversing, it should be handled even if the truck is just outside warranty coverage. I can provide photos and a short video showing the condensation inside the light bar and the flickering reverse lights if needed.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford F-150 🔎.

Water intrusion into rear lightbar/back up/brake light assembly that has caused shorting of the back up lights and flashing of the brake lights. This is a known issue, NHTSA campaign 23v418000. Ford is refusing to cover replacement of this part.

Earlier this year, I filed NHTSA id 11663872 when I noticed moisture collecting in the brake light assembly on my truck and Ford called this "normal", despite earlier issuing a recall for this very thing happening under NHTSA action 23v-418. Now, the brake light has failed completely, and Ford is denying coverage of this under my extended warranty with the following explanation: "your claim is denied due to water intrusion. A subject matter expert advised that Ford and Lincoln protect will not participate in this claim as the lighting option only covers electrical failures on incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, high intensity discharge (hid) and [light-emitting diode] led lamp assemblies. A mechanical failure of a lamp assembly that allows water intrusion (fogging/moisture) is not a covered failure. A resulting electrical failure from this moisture/water would be consequential to the mechanical failure and would not be covered. " having inoperable brake lighting and possibly reverse lighting as well is an obvious danger to the public and there is no messaging system in the vehicle to tell you those components are not working properly, and clearly the previous recall campaign that replaced the lens assembly the first time did not work.

Defective rear light bar allowing water intrusion causing some reverse lights and brake lights to malfunction including a running rear white light shining into the face of drivers causing a safety hazard.

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.

Day time running lights have burned out which the only way to fix this problem is to replace them at over 2800. 00 per light. There are hundreds of forums stating that the daytime running lights stop working and there is no financially feasible fix without complete headlight replacement. This is a safety issue that should be resolved by Ford.

Rear light bar housing brake lights and backup lights have water inside the assembly. Water is causing shorting of the lights. It puts me and others at risk if it doesn't activate or activate at a bad time.

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 rear light bar in the tailgate that also includes my back up lights is defective. The light bar was defective at delivery of vehicle and this is the second time this light bar has been deemed defective by a Ford dealership service department. The first repair on this defect was covered under a recall. This issue is a safety concern as it causes the rear light bar to flicker on and off and it has disabled the back up lights. There was no warning lights or alerts, I was pulled over by law enforcement and given a verbal warning to resolve the issue. The vehicle is currently at red mccombs Ford in san antonio, TX and Ford is denying any issue with the vehicle.

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.

Condensation in 2024 Ford lightning tailgate light bar consistent with 2022 and 2023 model recall. For reference - the Ford F-150 lightning recall related to the rear light bar is 23s30, which is also NHTSA recall no. 23v-418.

See all problems of the 2024 Ford F-150 🔎.

The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the blind spot detector alert system stopped functioning on the driver's and passenger’s side. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised that there was water inside the rear driver's side taillight through a hair line fracture and was causing the short circuit of the feature. The contact stated that there were two cracks, and one crack was showing on the surface of the taillight assembly, and the other crack was forming on the inside of the assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

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.

Headlight drl (daytime running light) and fog light burning out as an led bulb.

Water formed from condensation caused the lariat light bar to no longer function.

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.

Rear light bar was replaced under recall 23s30 on April 30, 2024. At the time, light bar had moisture inside and was no longer functioning. Now same issue has presented itself with the new part. Rear lightbar works sporadically or not at all. This means that the red part of the light bar flashes randomly while driving, probably confusing other drivers. This also means the reverse lights do not work. So there is no indication when the vehicle is reversing. I noticed the moisture around the beginning of August 2025 and then noticed flickering lights while in reverse around August 18, 2025. Now, there are no reverse lights at all.

The vertical portion of the drl stopped working. Looking online it looks like the led bulb melts the light housing covering up the led. I see many reports of this problem on forums and some have the vertical and horizontal strips do this so they lose drl on that side of the truck.

Day time running lamp (drl) failure. The driver's side drl is not working anymore on my 2022 Ford f150 XLT with led light package. The vehicle has 37,000 miles on it. The drl is a vertical and horizontal strip of white led's that stay on during the daytime for visibility. I took it to the dealer and they changed the module that runs the light and it would not fix it. They said that the lights are broken in the headlight assembly and it will cost $2,009 to fix the light that is not covered by my extended warranty. Apparently you have to get the "light" package on the extended warranty, when I was told I have a bumper to bumper warranty. How do the led's burn out that fast. Ford built them into the headlight assemble and they cannot be replaced without buying a whole new assembly. I have seen other vehicles like this on the roadway with only one light working. As an accident reconstructionist, I cannot believe Ford would not take the initiative to fix this for safety reasons. I have done research on the topic and several Ford trucks of this year model are experiencing the same issues. I am surprised this has not become a recall issue due to safety issues. Also, I do not have any aftermarket lighting or attachments that would affect the lighting. Some Ford dealerships use that excuse when the light assembly fails. It is stock lighting with stock bumper and grill and has not been in a front end collision.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 24v682000 (exterior lighting) and 25v455000 (fuel system, gasoline) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

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 high beams do not activate under any circumstance. Have taken to dealership twice and they can’t figure it out. Allegedly they have a “hot ticket” with Ford engineering but no call to resolve or bring in for further diagnosis. Dash indicator light shows the high beams are active, and the fog lights turn off as designed when activated, but the lights themselves do not turn on. It was happening intermittently before both stopped working completely.

The daytime running lights have failed one by one. Now they are all out of service. These are white led fixtures built into the area around the headlight. These are not user-serviceable. The dealer says they are going out on all trucks due to a wiring issue.