2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 280 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and exterior lights. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022- Owner complaints
- 280
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes reported
- 8
- 11 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which F-150 Lightning is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD | 320 mi range |
- With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 320 miles. A much lower number on a mild day can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Speaker pop and static blasts
2,700–11,500 miles
Rear light bar water intrusion
36,000–38,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission78No crashes
Rear axle bolts shear off, usually on the passenger side. Owners report rattling, stripped axle splines and loss of drive power. Recall 23S65 covers 2021-2023 trucks with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package. Many complaints describe long waits for parts and dealers calling the repair temporary. High-voltage battery faults are the second pattern. Trucks show a "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power" warning and drop into limp mode, sometimes under 15 mph in traffic. One filing reports a fire in a parked truck. Some filings appear to describe gas or hybrid F-150s with harsh shifting.
Electrical752 crashes
At startup, the speakers can let out a loud pop and then static at full volume. The volume knob and power button do not stop it. Most of these reports name the B&O system, and the 6 injury reports mostly describe ear pain and ringing. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problem. Owners also report the instrument cluster going dark, the truck dropping into low-power or deep-sleep mode, the Sync 4 screen going blank, and water leaking in at the cowl. Two crash reports blame BlueCruise steering off course and a backup brake assist that did not work. One truck caught fire while parked.
Exterior lights32No crashes
Water gets into the tailgate light bar through cracked lenses. The reverse and brake lamps then flicker or quit, and the backup camera sometimes flickers too. Recall 23S30 replaced the bar on Lariat and Platinum trucks. Many owners say the replacement filled with water again and Ford would not cover it after the part's short warranty ran out. The front daytime running light strips also burn out. The LEDs cannot be replaced on their own, so dealers quote a whole headlight assembly at $2400 to $4000.
Equipment10No crashes
Every report here describes the audio system letting out a deafening pop, then loud static at what sounds like full volume, either at startup or while driving. Turning the volume down or switching the audio off does not stop it, and some owners pulled the sound system fuse. Three complaints list injuries such as ear pain, ringing and headaches. Drivers say the noise startled them enough to risk losing control. Dealers usually find nothing because the noise has stopped before the visit. Several reports name the B&O Unleashed system.
Acceleration and cruise control82 crashes
The truck either hesitates or surges without warning. Pressing the accelerator during a turn sometimes does nothing, then the truck lurches forward. The cruise control button is easy to bump at parking-lot speeds, and the truck then speeds up to its 15 mph minimum. Owners also report the throttle running away after adaptive cruise is cancelled. Two complaints describe crashes after unexpected acceleration, one in one-pedal mode while stopped at a red light. Dealers generally cannot reproduce these problems.
Automatic emergency braking61 crash
Driver-assist systems misread the road. BlueCruise drifts across lane lines and hugs the right edge. It can also swerve when the driver takes back the wheel. Adaptive cruise sometimes reads the speed limit on an exit ramp and brakes hard, from 65 mph to 25 mph in one account. One crash report says adaptive cruise, the collision warning and automatic emergency braking all failed to respond as traffic slowed. Owners say dealer software updates did not change any of this.
Body and structure6No crashes
The tailgate opens by itself while driving or idling, with no warning to the driver, and cargo can fall onto the road. In one report a power tailgate dropped open instead of lowering slowly and injured the owner's wrist. The electric frunk sometimes opens only partway or will not close and latch. Other reports describe a moonroof leaking onto the dash and a back-over prevention recall still waiting on parts.
Brakes42 crashes
In a few reports, the truck's braking aids fail to stop it. Two crash complaints say automatic emergency braking and the pre-collision warning did not engage. In one of them, auto hold released and let the truck roll into the car ahead. Another report describes the ABS, brake and traction control warnings lighting up at once, then the pedal sinking to the floor with brake fluid leaking. One owner says the brake pedal sits higher than the accelerator, so a foot can catch both pedals.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints F-150 Lightning owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Battery module failure. Vehicle in limp mode, with 20% available power. Drove to dealer (40mi one-way) at 55mph. Contacted Ford Battery Electrical Team for support. No loaner available. In a rental car until repairs made., If 1 or more battery modules are defective, what is likelihood of other modules going bad?
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Clicking noise began at 32,000 miles. Heard when brakes applied, then heard again when accelerating from a stop. Dealership needed the truck 4 different times to diagnose the problem. Entire differential needs to be replaced
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
While driving my entire dashboard went off. No speedometer, No Tach, No fuel gauge, No odometer, nothing. Replaced appropriate fuse still out. Vehicle has just over 36,000 miles
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
As soon as I pressed the start button, an extremely loud and shrill sound came from every speaker. Horn also started blaring. All speakers continued to crackle, pop, and scream until I pressed the ignition button again and opened the drivers door. I was able to prevent it from happening again by removing fuse #28. My ears are still ringing 8 hours later and may have permanent hearing loss. This will absolutely destroy a child’s hearing.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2022
Under recall 23S30 in 2023 my rear light bar assembly which included brake light, back up camera, and white reverse lights for illumination the area behind the vehicle when backing up. There was a new rear lightbar part issued as part of that recall. After almost 2 years the same issue has occurred again to my vehicle. I'm concerned the new part # has not resolved this original issue and a new recall needs to be put in place.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
Drl is half burnt out. The led is not replacable and drl is a part of a safety item that is required to be road legal. Not only has my 2022 f150 lariat with the quad led headlights have this drl led burnt out, many on the f150 forums and facebook groups for 2021-2023 are having the same exact issue. A safety item like drl should be recalled if it is not repairable.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
I turned on the truck and heard a loud crack followed by load static originating from the front passenger area. This was from the stereo speakers. My right ear endured a lasting and substantial amount of pain. I will estimate, based on measurements of SPL I've made as an engineer, that the crack was approximately 120dB.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2022
How the 2022 compares with other F-150 Lightning years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 has the most owner complaints of the 4 F-150 Lightning years we cover, about 4.3 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission7813
- Electrical7525
- Exterior lights326
- Equipment100
- Acceleration and cruise control82
- Automatic emergency braking61
Where the 2022 fits in the F-150 Lightning's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the first model year of the F-150 Lightning's first generation (2022 on). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Ford fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (9)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V863000TransmissionDec 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention.".
Risk: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 26, 2026.
25V731000Exterior lightsOct 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles previously repaired under recall number 23V418. The rear lightbar may have microcracks in the outer lens that allows moisture to accumulate, which can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lights.
Risk: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear lightbar and fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 10, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in March 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 29, 2025.
25V340000Wheels and tiresMay 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles equipped with 20" or 22" all season tires that were repaired incorrectly under recall 22V-453. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light may not illuminate as intended, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.".
Risk: Low tire pressure can lead to poor vehicle handling and a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C20.
25V313000Stability controlMay 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V801. The SYNC software may fail to activate the electronic stability control (ESC) system at the beginning of each ignition cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems.".
Risk: Failure to reset the ESC to active may result in the driver unknowingly operating the vehicle without electronic stability control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C15.
25V272000ElectricalApr 2025
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.
Risk: Electrical arcing increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power may occur, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S11. This recall expands previous recall number 24V-144.
25V131000ElectricalFeb 2025
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.
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.
23V801000Stability controlNov 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning vehicles. The SYNC software may fail to activate the electronic stability control (ESC) system at the beginning of each ignition cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems.".
Risk: Failure to reset the ESC to active may result in the driver unknowingly operating the vehicle without electronic stability control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C38.
23V418000Exterior lightsJun 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 BEV vehicles. The rear lightbar may have microcracks in the outer lens that allows moisture to accumulate, which can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lights.
Risk: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear lightbar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 9, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S30.
22V453000Wheels and tiresJun 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 F-150 BEV vehicles equipped with 20" or 22" all season tires. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light may not illuminate as intended, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.".
Risk: Low tire pressure can lead to poor vehicle handling and a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The body control module (BCM) software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C15.
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