How common are transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning?

NHTSA lists 17 such complaints for the 2023 model year, which is 16% of all 109 complaints filed for that year.

Is there a recall related to the 2023 F-150 Lightning powertrain?

Yes, recall 25V863000 covers the integrated park module, which may fail to lock into park; the fix is a software update done over-the-air or by a dealer at no charge.

At what mileage do these powertrain problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 2,300 miles.

Have these powertrain complaints led to crashes or injuries?

NHTSA records 2 crashes and 2 injuries tied to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 F-150 Lightning, with no fires reported.

Is the 2023 F-150 Lightning's powertrain complaint rate worse than other years?

The 2023 model's 16% share is close to the 2022 model's 14% and the 2024 model's 17%, so it is not an outlier among these years.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 F-150 Lightning, 16% of all complaints for that year, with a median failure mileage of 2,300 miles. A related recall (25V863000) covers an integrated park module that may fail to lock into park.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 17; 16% of 109
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 2
Median mileage: 2,300 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners report a sudden "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power" warning with a wrench icon, cutting speed to as low as 5-15 mph.
Some describe the truck becoming unresponsive after a powertrain failure, with related battery pack or 12V system issues.
One owner reported the front traction motor failing without warning, disabling all-wheel drive and limiting power to about 67%.
Another owner reported multiple lug studs shearing off the front wheel, leaving it barely attached.
A driver reported a drivetrain fault at highway speed that reduced power to the electric motors, dropping speed to 5 mph.
One complaint describes a powertrain warning combined with an A/C system fault code, prompting a dealer module inspection.

When 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 7, 2023, latest Sep 23, 2026.

17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jan 2024 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

NHTSA 25V863000Dec 12, 2025Transmission & Powertrain272,645 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Power train:automatic transmission:internal:park pawl
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.
Remedy: 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.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by F-150 Lightning model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

202213 (14%)
202317 (16%)
20245 (17%)
20251 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning?: NHTSA lists 17 such complaints for the 2023 model year, which is 16% of all 109 complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall related to the 2023 F-150 Lightning powertrain?: Yes, recall 25V863000 covers the integrated park module, which may fail to lock into park; the fix is a software update done over-the-air or by a dealer at no charge.
At what mileage do these powertrain problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 2,300 miles.
Have these powertrain complaints led to crashes or injuries?: NHTSA records 2 crashes and 2 injuries tied to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 F-150 Lightning, with no fires reported.
Is the 2023 F-150 Lightning's powertrain complaint rate worse than other years?: The 2023 model's 16% share is close to the 2022 model's 14% and the 2024 model's 17%, so it is not an outlier among these years.