2021 Ford F-150 Wiper Motor Recall (22V142)
Ford Motor Company · 157,306 vehicles · Reported March 11, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 157,306 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V142 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V142000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22S12 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 11, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 157,306 |
| Component | Visibility > Windshield Wiper / Washer > Motor |
| Safety risk | Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 22V142?
The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 22V142?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-150 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the motor, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V142?
Recall 22V142 covers 157,306 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 157,306 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | F-150 |
What is the fix for the F-150 wiper motor recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S12.
When was recall 22V142 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V142 to NHTSA on March 11, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 22, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 11, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V142000. |
| June 22, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 55 months ago. If your F-150 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-150 is part of recall 22V142?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V142 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V142000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should F-150 owners do about recall 22V142?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V142000 applies to your F-150.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any motor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are F-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,015 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 171 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 22V142 was reported on March 11, 2022, owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 6 of them (4%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the lighting and visibility and were received on or after March 11, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,015 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 171 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford F-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 171 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
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.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11636663, filed January 17, 2025
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.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11641349, filed February 7, 2025
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.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11658989, filed May 5, 2025
Can recall 22V142 make my F-150 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 22V142000 does not automatically make your F-150 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your F-150 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-150 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V142
Did the recall 22V142 fix work?
Since recall 22V142 was reported on March 11, 2022, owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 6 of them (4%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 22, 2023.
Is the 22V142000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-150 is part of recall 22V142000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V142000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.