Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford F-150 Lightning

Ford F-150 Lightning Years to Avoid

5 scored model years (2022–2026) · model average 54/100

Avoid the 2022 and 2023 F-150 Lightning. Both years pile up complaints about broken rear axle or hub bolts, water-soaked tailgate lights, and electrical faults that leave trucks parked. The 2024 is the year to buy, with far fewer complaints and fewer recalls.

Verdict

Avoid
2022 39/1002023 45/100
Buy
2024 61/100
Model average
54/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Ford F-150 Lightning Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Ford F-150 Lightning average of 54/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1202239/100Risky9280Power Train (78)
2202345/100Mixed11175Electrical System (71)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

39
RiskyReliability score: 39 out of 100, rated Risky

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

Sheared rear axle bolts are the main problem, usually on the passenger side, with rattling, stripped splines, and loss of drive power. Owners also describe speakers that pop and blast static at startup, and battery faults that drop the truck into limp mode. This year has the highest complaint rate of any year, plus 9 recalls.

9 recalls280 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Power Train (78), Electrical System (75), Exterior Lighting (32), Unknown Or Other (26), Equipment (10), Vehicle Speed Control (8)

View full 2022reliability report →
45
MixedReliability score: 45 out of 100, rated Mixed

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

Electrical faults lead here, including a truck lurching at parking speeds and a no-start with a Stop Safely Now warning. Rear wheel-end hub bolts also fracture, with failures reported around 18,000 miles, and owners describe parts shortages and trucks sitting at dealers for months. Water in the tailgate light bar returned on some replacements.

11 recalls175 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Electrical System (71), Power Train (37), Exterior Lighting (17), Unknown Or Other (17), Steering (5), Service Brakes (5)

View full 2023reliability report →

What Are Common Ford F-150 Lightning Problems?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

150 complaints

Most reported in 2022, 2023, 2024

2022: At startup, the speakers can let out a loud pop and then static at full volume.

POWER TRAIN

118 complaints

Most reported in 2022, 2023, 2024

2022: Rear axle bolts shear off, usually on the passenger side.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

49 complaints

Most reported in 2022, 2023

2022: Water gets into the tailgate light bar through cracked lenses.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

48 complaints

Most reported in 2022, 2023, 2024

2022: The startup speaker blasts show up here too, with loud pops and static that keep going until the truck is shut off.

SERVICE BRAKES

13 complaints

Most reported in 2023, 2022, 2024

2023: Braking fails to respond as expected in low-speed situations, and two reports end in collisions.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

13 complaints

Most reported in 2022, 2023

2022: The truck either hesitates or surges without warning.

Best Ford F-150 Lightning Year to Buy Instead

61
GoodReliability score: 61 out of 100, rated Good

2024 Ford F-150 Lightning

The 2024 has far fewer owner complaints than the 2022 and 2023, and its top reports are not the axle and hub bolt failures that dominate those years. It also carries 4 recalls, against 9 and 11. It is not spotless: a sticking shifter, brake surges, and one parked-truck fire are on record.

Score: 61/100 (Good)4 recalls19 complaints
View full 2024reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning has 4 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Ford F-150 Lightning Years by Generation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ford F-150 Lightning years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2022 and 2023 model years. Both rank lowest for reliability and sit well below the model's own average. They share broken axle or hub bolts, water in the tailgate lights, and electrical faults. Shop for a 2024 instead.
Which Ford F-150 Lightning years have transmission problems?
This is a battery-electric truck, and the data lists no transmission category. Power train complaints do exist: sheared rear axle bolts in 2022, fractured wheel-end hub bolts in 2023, and a folding gear shifter that sticks in Drive or Park in 2024.
Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning worth buying?
Generally no. The 2022 has the highest complaint rate of any year, at 179.3 complaints per 10,000 sold. Owners report rattling axles, loss of drive power, limp mode, and speakers that blast static at startup. Dealers often cannot reproduce the electrical faults, which makes them hard to fix.
Are the 2025 and 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning safe choices?
They cannot be judged yet. The 2025 has just 2 owner complaints and the 2026 has none, but both are new, and complaints build up with time on the road. The 2024 has more history and is the safer pick.
Is the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning free of problems?
No. Its owner complaints are few, but they include a parked truck fire, an instrument cluster that goes black while driving, brakes that fail to stop a surging truck, and a shifter stuck in Drive or Park. It is the best of the tracked years, not a flawless one.

How we score every Ford F-150 Lightning model year

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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