2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev Lighting Recall (23V418)
Ford Motor Company · 16,375 vehicles · Reported June 9, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 16,375 2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning 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. Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V418 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V418000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S30 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 9, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev |
| Units affected | 16,375 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting |
| Safety 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 | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev in recall 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.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning Bev with recall 23V418?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Inoperative or flickering reverse lights may not alert other driver's that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the exterior lighting.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V418?
Recall 23V418 covers 16,375 vehicles: 2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev.
NHTSA lists 16,375 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | Ford | F-150 Lightning Bev |
What is the fix for the F-150 Lightning Bev lighting recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the rear lightbar, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 23V418 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V418 to NHTSA on June 9, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 9, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 9, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V418000. |
| October 9, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 40 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 23V418?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V418 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 2022-2023 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 23V418?
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 23V418000 applies to your F-150 Lightning Bev.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the exterior lighting happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 Lightning Bev owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 58 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 23V418 was reported on June 9, 2023, owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 11 of them (22%) 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 June 9, 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 lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 201 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 58 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.
- 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev: 110 complaints in total, 24 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev: 91 complaints in total, 34 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The rear marker light that is on the tailgate of my Lariat has water in it and no longer works. this reduces the visability of the vehicle. There is a recal to repair this exact problem issued for my yr vehicle but not my specific vin.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11637280, filed January 21, 2025
I’m on my 2nd rear tailgate light bar. The new one has moisture in it causing the backup lights to flicker becoming distracting when trying to backup in the dark or have other drivers realize I’m backing up.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11645048, filed February 26, 2025
Moisture entered the rear light bar and caused the reverse / back-up lights to fail. Reverse / back-up lights do not work and thus do not illuminate the area behind the truck when backing up.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11645063, filed February 26, 2025
Can recall 23V418 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)).
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.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022-2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
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 23V418
Did the recall 23V418 fix work?
Since recall 23V418 was reported on June 9, 2023, owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 11 of them (22%) 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 October 9, 2023.
Is the 23V418000 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 23V418000?
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 23V418000 (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.