Exterior Lighting Problems of Ford F-150 - part 1

Daytime running lamps, vertical beam on driver side does not function after 4 years. Research shows it's likely melting the headlight assembly components during overheating and burnout.

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

My 2021 Ford F-150 lariat has a repeated failure of the front led daytime running/perimeter lighting (driver's side). The light was intermittently dim before failing completely. This occurred around 94,000 miles. Because this lighting is part of the truck’s front visibility system, the failure creates a safety concern, especially in daylight, rain, fog, and low-light conditions. Based on owner reports, this may be a widespread defect affecting other 2021+ F-150 trucks. I request NHTSA evaluate this issue for a possible defect investigation and recall.

Tail light on the drivers side was hyper flashing and upon inspection found that it is not working. When I removed the tail light to replace the bulb I noticed that the whole tail light assembly was full of water. The bulb is inside a housing that is inaccessible, so bulb cannot be replaced without replacing the whole tail light assembly. Leaking tail light assembly causing failure of turn signals or brake lights is a serious safety hazard and can cause an accident. Additional safety risk if blis system fails and driver is not aware that it isn’t working.

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

While driving on a surface road in columbia, MD at approximately 40 mph, the dash display of the 2024 Ford lightning flash went completely blank, leaving no indication of vehicle speed, battery percentage, battery temp, motor temp, cruise control status etc. Zero information was displayed, and the dash was completely cold and dark. This failure, while traveling at speed, represents a gross safety hazard, especially because the same lcd displays automatic emergency braking informaion etc. Immediately, I was able to pull over, and establish an obd-2 connection to the ecm, and pull error logs. I also took screenshots of critical components and voltages. I cleared the codes, re-checked for codes and saved another error log showing a couple of codes. I then cycled power to the truck several times, hoping for a reboot to clear the error. I also performed a manual reset of the Ford sync system. Using the obd-2 virtual dash on my reader, I was able to safely display speed and battery data, and drive immediately to the nearest Ford dealer (koons Ford). On the way, I phoned crossroads Ford (apex, nc) who did a remote error check using the vehicle's modem. The dealer may have saved this data. Upon arrival to koons, service writers and technicians were able to witness and verify inoperability of the dash unit, and cycle the vehicle power, whereafter the problem persisted. They then took it back for service and evaluation. After approximately 4 hours, I was told that the "dash reset itself after a couple hours" and they could not get it to repeat the error after it came back. Before this, there were no warning signs of dash failure, nor since.

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

Drl led strips premature failure. The vehicle is only 5 years old and the drl on the fog lights and the headlight assembly are failing. Multiple f150s in this year range are experiencing similar issues. This poses a safety risk due to not being able to properly see and be seen due to poor lighting.

2024 Ford F-150 lightning complete instrument cluster blackout while driving. Screen goes entirely black intermittently, lasting up to 30 minutes. Occurs while vehicle is in motion. Issue persists even after stopping and restarting vehicle. Loss of speedometer, battery state of charge, warning lights, and all driver information. This creates unsafe driving conditions with no way to monitor speed or critical vehicle systems.

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

Both of the daytime running lamps (drls) on my 2021 f150 have failed. They cost `$2,000 each to replace. They are leds, and were billed as never needing replacement, and certainly not under 50k miles. A quick search shows that this is a common issue with 2021+ f150s, and looking around on the road, I notice many with the same issue. This failure of safety equipment reduces visibility and could contribute to accidents.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers : 25v512000 (power train) and 26v104000 (electrical system, exterior lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle shaft assemblies had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The failure mileage was unavailable.

I am reporting a significant safety defect regarding the integrated rear light bar on my vehicle. The component initially developed visible stress cracks across the housing. This has now progressed to a total electrical failure of the unit. The light bar serves as a primary housing for the vehicle's brake lights and reverse lights. These lights no longer illuminate. This is a critical safety concern as it leaves the vehicle without functional signaling for stopping or reversing, significantly increasing the risk of a rear-end collision, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v896000 (power train) and 26v104000 (electrical system, exterior lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact was informed that parts needed to be ordered and was later informed that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were expected to be available in the third quarter of 2026. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v512000 (power train) and 26v104000 (electrical system, exterior lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v512000 (power train) and 26v104000 (exterior lighting, electrical system); however, the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change. The contact was informed by the dealer that a hub bolt had detached from the vehicle. The contact was informed by the dealer that the hub bolt had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were not available and were on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Submitted the vehicle for recall repairs under recalls 25v315, 25v455, 25v104 and 25v517. Maintenance was scheduled to last less than a day. When I returned for the vehicle, I was informed the update had caused several module components to "brick. " they informed me they had to receive authority from form to order new components and attempts another repair. I called March 17 for an update and was told the new components bricked again and that the issue was elevated to Ford engineering. Called Ford customer service and was given a case number [xxx]. Call Ford customer service March 30 and was told there is no update, fix or estimate of when a repair might be available. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Daytime running light just went out one side.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned? the led driver module and headlamp control module (hcm) software. Specifically, the c-clamp daytime running lamps (drl) / parking lamps have failed to illuminate or are flickering. The vehicle is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the failure of the parking lamps reduces the vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, especially during dusk, dawn, or inclement weather. This creates a "dark car" profile that increases the risk of a crash, as other motorists may not be able to discern the width or position of my truck on the road. This is a direct violation of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 108. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed? yes, the malfunction is consistent and has been observed during normal operation. A Ford dealership has been contacted; however, they refused to perform a no-cost repair or diagnostic because my specific VIN has not yet been added to recall 23c36, despite the vehicle exhibiting the exact symptoms described in that safety recall. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by others? no, it has only been inspected by myself and described to a Ford service advisor. (if you took it in and they saw it, change this "the dealer service advisor visually confirmed the failure but declined a warranty repair. ") were there any warning lamps or symptoms prior to failure? no warning lamps or messages appeared on the instrument cluster or Fordpass app. The failure of the led c-clamp was the first and only symptom. This occurred on 03/06/2026 when I bought the truck and did not know the c-clamp drl was not working.

Driving home last night looking in my rear view mirrors I noticed it looked dark at the back of my f150. Once home I noticed I had no rear running lights, no brake lights, no rear turn signals. Not sure related but 2 days earlier I noticed that about 5 indicator lights on my dashboard were activated all relating to driver assist lane changing, backing up assist, hill parking assist, traction control and so on.

Daytime running lights are failing.

The tail lights have a design flaw that results in micro cracks appearing in the lights. This is similar to the issue related to the rear light bar, however it applies to the rear tail lights. (for reference the Ford recall for he light bar is here: recall reference number 23s30. The result in my vehicle is that the left tail light is now filled with moisture, full water droplets. This is both for the red tail light as well as the white backup light. When these lights fail it will cause a safety issue. Additionally, the same light housing includes the backup sensors, so when they fail there will be no backup alert. My left tail light is already filled with water like I mentioned. A perfectly symmetrical crack is forming on the right tail light although there is no visible water in that light yet. This should be fixed under a recall by Ford since I did not cause the cracks in the tail lights.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford F-150 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph and hauling a trailer, the rear brake lights failed to illuminate. There were several messages displayed related to the trailer connection and brake lights. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailer was difficult to control, and the display screen inside the vehicle was flashing off and on. The vehicle was driven back to a storage facility. While reversing and attempting to park the trailer, the message that the trailer was disconnected from the vehicle was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted and informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 26v104000 (electrical system, exterior lighting). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v104000 (electrical system, exterior lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

? highlight summary: my 2023 Ford F-150 (VIN: [xxx] ) has intermittent rear tail lamps, brake lights, turn signals, and backup lights failure due to water intrusion. The right side has completely failed; the left side is beginning to fail, creating a serious safety hazard at night or in low visibility. Both the dealership and Ford customer assistance have avoided returning calls and are denying responsibility, and this is a common problem nationwide. ? complaint – 2023 Ford F-150 rear lighting failure •vehicle: 2023 Ford F-150, VIN [xxx] , ~73,000 miles •issue: intermittent rear tail lamps, brake lights, turn signals, and backup lights failure due to water intrusion •right side: completely failed; left side: starting to fail •safety risk: creates serious hazard at night/low visibility, increasing risk of rear-end collisions •dealership: d-patrick Ford superstore, evansville, indiana, e. Walnut st. •initially could not duplicate issue •Feb 7, 2026: confirmed problem, quoted ~$3,000 for repair •truck returned “all lights working,” but right side still not functioning •manufacturer & dealership response: Ford customer assistance and dealership are denying responsibility and avoiding calls, leaving the defect unresolved nearly a year •nationwide problem: common issue reported by many F-150 owners, indicating widespread safety defect •request: immediate review and corrective action for this recurring and escalating safety hazard information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Led daytime running lights burnout. No repair by Ford without replacing whole housing. No covered under warranty.

I'm reporting that my driving/fog lights aren't working and haven't for some time. My truck only has 58,000 miles on it and is only 5 years old, I have been guided to report this issue to the NHTSA. I drive allot in the early morning and am not getting the lighting I should, it's agravating that you pay so much for a vehicle and the lights don't work properly. I have read 100's of post/emails and vlogs, there are thousands and thousands of these trucks with that same issue, what can I do to repair or replace these lights? thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The passenger side day time running light is dimmed drastically and almost not visible anymore on the upright section. After doing research , this seems to be a very common issue and not a cheap repair. Some states day time running lights are mandatory to work to pass inspection. Ford has not acknowledged this issue and/or making profit from changing out the whole headlight assembly to fix. It seems like it is a bad design or low quality product for a supposed safety issue.

According to repairman, water made it into the rear tail light, shorting out a module that controls all lights, windows, a/c and heating controls.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 🔎.

Both quad led side strips (vertical daytime running lights) on my 2021 Ford f?150 have burnt out. The failure occurred gradually, with the left strip failing first around [insert approximate date] and the right strip failing shortly after. These led strips are a safety feature, and their failure reduces visibility while driving. I have attached a photo of the burnt drl, a photo of a working drl for reference, and a screenshot of my Ford live chat showing my ticket number and that I am tracking this issue publicly in a facebook group of other owners experiencing the same failure. This appears to be a recurring defect affecting multiple trucks in the 2021–2023 f?150 range. I am filing this complaint to document a safety defect that may require investigation.

The supernovas you use as headlights are ridiculously blinding. Stop designing vehicles on flat roads. Real roads have cuuurves and hills. It's a matter of public safety.

Headlights are way too bright. They blind other drivers and make it difficult for other driver to see at night. This causes a dangerous situation in which a crash is possible.

These lights are too bright! outlaw them before mf like me just simply start breaking or shooting them out. Get off your ass government, you're allowing automakers to cause uneeded accidents.

The headlights are too bright and I get "brighted" not stop.

Headlights are too bright.

Led headlights are too bright and cause temporary blindness from being dazzled.

This vehicles headlights are too bright and too high up on the vehicle. I am blinded anytime one is in oncoming traffic or behind me. It is a hazard while they are around because I can not see in my mirrors and have lingering spots in my eye sight long after I am away from these vehicles.

Headlights are blinding and are unsafe. Caused me to stop in middle of road for vehicle to pass before I could see again.

The led lights are dangerously, blindingly bright, causing oncoming traffic to lose sight of the road.