2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev High-Voltage Battery Recall (23V168)
Ford Motor Company · 18 vehicles · Reported March 15, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 18 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev vehicles. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged. A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V168 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V168000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S15 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 15, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev |
| Units affected | 18 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery |
| Safety risk | A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev in recall 23V168?
The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 F-150 Lightning Bev with recall 23V168?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A battery short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-150 Lightning Bev shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the traction battery, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V168?
Recall 23V168 covers 18 vehicles: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev.
NHTSA lists 18 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | F-150 Lightning Bev |
What is the fix for the F-150 Lightning Bev high-voltage battery recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery pack, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S15.
When was recall 23V168 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V168 to NHTSA on March 15, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 31, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V168000. |
| March 31, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 43 months ago. If your F-150 Lightning Bev 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 Lightning Bev is part of recall 23V168?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V168 is open on your F-150 Lightning Bev, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023 F-150 Lightning Bev vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should F-150 Lightning Bev owners do about recall 23V168?
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 23V168000 applies to your F-150 Lightning Bev.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any traction battery 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are F-150 Lightning Bev owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 58 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 23V168 was reported on March 15, 2023, owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 4 of them (7%) 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 ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after March 15, 2023, 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 ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 110 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 58 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.
- 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev: 110 complaints in total, 58 about the ev and hybrid battery
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Powertrain Failure. Vehicle unresponsive. Multiple complains through various individuals of this failure.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11641609, filed February 9, 2025
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning. While driving, the gauge screen on my vehicle intermittently goes black, leaving me without critical driving information, including speed, battery charge level, and warning indicators.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, NV, NHTSA complaint 11641677, filed February 10, 2025
The front trunk (or frunk) of the electric truck has a power lift as the primary means of opening and closing it and this has a failure warning/dash light stating it requires service.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, MO, NHTSA complaint 11649803, filed March 21, 2025
Can recall 23V168 make my F-150 Lightning Bev 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the F-150 Lightning Bev went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 Lightning Bev been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-150 Lightning Bev recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V168
Did the recall 23V168 fix work?
Since recall 23V168 was reported on March 15, 2023, owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 4 of them (7%) 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 March 31, 2023.
Is the 23V168000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-150 Lightning Bev is part of recall 23V168000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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 23V168000 (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.