2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
0/100
#4 most-complained of 4 F-150 Lightning years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning ranks 4th (best) among 4 model years, with a Complaint Index of 0 and just 8 complaints logged. It carries 3 recalls covering the transmission park module, front brake hose bracket, and front upper control arm.
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 70
- 78 city / 63 hwy
Top 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System4 (50%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (50%)
- Brakes3 (38%)
- Engine3 (38%)
- Structure & Body1 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (13%)
What owners report
- Some owners report low-speed unintended acceleration while shifting into reverse or park, including one case that occurred about six times over 7,300 miles.
- Owners describe the vehicle failing to stop when commanded, with the truck surging forward instead of braking during a near-stop maneuver.
- Multiple owners report a 'High Voltage Battery Fault' message followed by a 'Take Vehicle to Dealer' warning and a 'Stop Safely Now' alert, with median failure mileage at 10,900 miles.
- One owner reports the adaptive cruise control activating unintentionally at low speed with no second confirming action, causing sudden acceleration.
- Owners report a firmware issue where Sport mode and one-pedal driving silently revert after restarting the vehicle, without warning on the dashboard.
- One electrical system failure involving a front-end collision at 15-20 mph was linked to a fire and no collision warning sounding beforehand.
2025 Ford F-150 Lightning recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 25V438000Jun 27, 2025Brakes5 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles. The front brake jounce hose bracket screws may loosen and detach, which can allow the jounce hose to contact the tire and result in a brake fluid leak.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front brake hose and replace both brake jounce hose bracket screws, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S71.
- NHTSA 25V341000May 23, 2025Suspension, Wheels & Tires29,501 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150 Lightning BEV vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the upper control arm ball joint nut, and replace the nut and/or knuckle assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S76. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V949.
2025 Ford F-150 Lightning fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 78 MPG
- Highway
- 63 MPG
- Combined
- 70 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2025 compared with other F-150 Lightning years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning reliable?
- Among the 4 model years with data, 2025 ranks best with a Complaint Index of 0 and only 8 complaints logged so far, compared to 2023's index of 100.
- Does the 2025 F-150 Lightning have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls: an integrated park module that may fail to lock into park, a front brake jounce hose bracket screw that may loosen, and a front upper control arm ball joint nut that may not be tightened properly.
- What is the top problem area for the 2025 F-150 Lightning?
- Electrical System complaints lead at 50% of the complaint share, tied with Collision Avoidance & Cameras also at 50%, followed by Brakes and Engine each at 38%.
- What year Ford F-150 Lightning should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2023 is the year to avoid among F-150 Lightning years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 11 recalls, while 2025 is currently rated Best.
- How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 F-150 Lightning?
- EPA rates the 2025 F-150 Lightning at 70 mpg combined (78 city / 63 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,100.