2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev Electrical Heating Element Recall (23V688)
Ford Motor Company · 931 vehicles · Reported October 13, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 931 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev vehicles. The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems." An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V688 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V688000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23C32 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 13, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev |
| Units affected | 931 |
| Component | Visibility > Defroster / Defogger / Hvac System > Windshield > Electrical Heating Element |
| Safety risk | An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev in recall 23V688?
The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2023 F-150 Lightning Bev with recall 23V688?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a 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 electrical heating element.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V688?
Recall 23V688 covers 931 vehicles: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev.
NHTSA lists 931 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 electrical heating element recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the electronic cabin coolant heater, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the electronic cabin coolant heater, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C32.
When was recall 23V688 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V688 to NHTSA on October 13, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 3, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 13, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V688000. |
| January 3, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 36 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 23V688?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V688 is open on your F-150 Lightning Bev, 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 23V688000. 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 Lightning Bev owners do about recall 23V688?
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 23V688000 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 electrical heating element 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 110 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 24 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 23V688 was reported on October 13, 2023, owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 5 of them (21%) 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 October 13, 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 110 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 24 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
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Tailgate light bar was replaced under safety recall due to concern of moisture getting into housing. Replacement bar now shows signs of water in light bar after rain storm. Both red and reverse lights are flickering.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11649370, filed March 19, 2025
Driver's side tail light has moisture within the housing and intermittently fails to work. This is a similar issue to the light bar across the tailgate that was recalled and repaired, but Ford has no open recall on the tail lights. Dealership estimated a $3000 repair with no admission of manufacturer's defect.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, MO, NHTSA complaint 11649799, filed March 21, 2025
The rear lightbar was replaced under a safety recall with a defective part. The replacement started flickering after 4 months and the reverse lights would strobe due to moisture. The dealership inspected and determined it was defective,not damaged and Ford has agreed to pay 60 percent only.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11652326, filed April 2, 2025
Can recall 23V688 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.
Recall 23V688000 does not automatically make your F-150 Lightning Bev 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))?
A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Bev can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.
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.
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.
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 23V688
Did the recall 23V688 fix work?
Since recall 23V688 was reported on October 13, 2023, owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 5 of them (21%) 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 January 3, 2024.
Is the 23V688000 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 23V688000?
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 23V688000 (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.