Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, brakes, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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.
These years share the 2024's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 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 |
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
A parked, unoccupied truck catching fire is the most serious report. The fire destroyed the truck at about 5,000 miles, and responders informally pointed to an electrical or battery cause. The repeated pattern is an instrument cluster that goes black while driving, taking the speed, range, and driver-assist readouts with it. Rodents chewing the wiring also sends trucks back to the shop. One owner blames the plant-based wire insulation and warns that the damage could lead to loss of control.
The common thread is brakes that fail to stop the truck while it speeds up on its own. Reports describe surges while creeping forward in a crowded parking lot and at highway speed, with the pedal pressed to the floor and no warning lights. In one case only shifting to Park brought the truck to a stop, and the problem kept coming back. A separate report describes the truck rolling out of a driveway into the street while in Park with the brake light on.
The folding gear shifter sticks in Drive or Park. It often brings a blinking amber light, a wrench symbol, and a service warning that signals reduced power. One new truck needed a tow with about 225 miles on it. Owners call a shifter stuck in Drive especially dangerous. Another report describes the truck moving forward while the shifter shows Reverse and the backup chime sounds, with no warning lamps. That creates real collision risk in tight parking spaces.
Excerpts from complaints F-150 Lightning owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The vehicle has been in the shop two times due to rodents eating the wiring. Wiring insulation is derived from a plant (soy) based oil, which rodents eat. The truck could have had wiring eaten in any number of areas leading to loss of control.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Had truck in Park brake light was on. Rolled out of my driveway into the street when I was walking back to my house alarm went off that is when I turned around and saw my truck part way in the road. Called dealership they called back right away they set up an appointment for March 13
Filed with NHTSA, February 2025
Folding shifter issues with many F150s. Gets stuck in park or drive. Seems to be a rampant issue. Stuck in park is one thing, stuck in drive is extremely dangerous... Also causes service lights.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks third for owner complaints among 4 F-150 Lightning years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2024 is the third model year of the F-150 Lightning's first generation (2022 on).
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the upper control arm ball joint nut, and replace the nut and/or knuckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S76. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V949.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the upper control arm ball joint nut, and replace the nut and/or knuckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S76.
Cars shoppers compare with the Ford F-150 Lightning, with their own 2024 checklists.
2024 owner complaints, side by side
