10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,024 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #21

Dec 092022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
On Friday, December 9th 2022 I started my truck via pressing the push start button in the truck. The vehicle started and went through its normal start up procedures. However - once the Sync 4 infotainment screen began to come to life an extremely loud Pop - followed by a max volume static played for a few seconds. I was extremely confused and immediately attempted to turn the volume down using the volume control but it had no effect. At first - the pop was so loud I thought the noise was my window shattering but realized it was my stereo after the static began. Their was no active audio playing when this event occurred and after the static subsided, my speakers were unable to play any sounds until I turned the vehicle off overnight. My ears are still ringing from this event 2 days later - this is a massive safety hazard and one that seems to be getting no attention from Ford.

- Ft Rucker, AL, USA

problem #20

Dec 072022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
On the morning of 12/7/2022 I got in the truck and turned it on. All the speakers made a super loud pop/bomb/gun going off sound. Then all the speakers were making a super loud crackling sound. Had no control over the audio volume, ect. Turned it the truck off and back on, still nothing but the crackling sound. 12-?? screen and digital dash were acting weird also (delayed coming on and not synced when powering on). After several minutes started the crackling stopped and it started playing music from my carplay. Kids said they smelt a burning smell. On 12/9/2022 it happened again. Got in and before I even started it it made a loud bomb going off sound when the digital dash and 12-?? screen was starting up. Then it was fine.

- Clearwater , FL, USA

problem #19

Dec 022022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
When entering truck and apon hitting the push button start and loud pop was heard from speakers with a continus crackling afterwards.

- Haslet, TX, USA

problem #18

Oct 202022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
I get into the truck and push the start button, a very loud explosive ear piercing sound comes out of every speaker at full volume. It sounded like a canon shot out all my windows, a huge POP sound followed by scratching crackling sounds coming from the speakers. I tried turning down the volume to no avail, I turned off the audio but the loud scratching sound kept going at a very loud volume. The scratching sound went on for about 2 minutes then shut off. My ears were ringing and I was in a lot of ear pain due to the loud POP noise, it felt like my ear drums were blown out. I could hardly hear after this incident, I think I my have hearing loss from this loud noise. No one has inspected the vehicle, they say they want me to bring them the car when the problem happens again. I did not see any warning lamps or messages before or after the incedent

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #17

Nov 202022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
I started my truck up this afternoon and heard a deafening boom and then loud crackling. At first I thought something fell on my roof and the glass was breaking. After getting out and looking around I realized the noises were coming from the speakers and under the back seat, amp area. The crackling went on for about 5 minutes and didn't stop by shutting the radio off or shutting the truck off. This seems like a very terrible safety issue.

- Troy, PA, USA

problem #16

Nov 162022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
1. The back up brake assistant is not working. This has been defective since August 2022. It caused me to have an accident running into a post, filing an insurance claim for repairs. I have taken it to 2 different Ford dealers for service and to get the back up brake fixed. No resolve from FORD. 2. In September 2022 my F150 started going into low power mode then eventually into deep sleep mode. The battery was replaced at FORD. Now on 11/15/22 and 11/16/22 the vehicle went into low power mode and deep sleep mode again.

- Helena, MT, USA

problem #15

Nov 052022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Stereo system went to max volume with static and clicking, extremely loud. Volume control and power switch had no effect.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #14

Nov 072022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
As soon as I pressed the start button, an extremely loud and shrill sound came from every speaker. Horn also started blaring. All speakers continued to crackle, pop, and scream until I pressed the ignition button again and opened the drivers door. I was able to prevent it from happening again by removing fuse #28. My ears are still ringing 8 hours later and may have permanent hearing loss. This will absolutely destroy a child-??s hearing.

- Aldie, VA, USA

problem #13

Nov 032022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" Excessively Loud Popping Noise B&O Unleashed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It is so loud that when it happened I slammed on my brakes thinking something exploded. Luckily I was in a gravel driveway on my way out when it happened. It seems to be a problem with AppleCarPlay. It happened when I tried playing an audiobook via wireless carplay and it happened again today with wired carplay and playing some music. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I have not had a dealer look at it yet to others to look at. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The sound is so deafening that my head is ringing and pounding with just a minute the sound going off. I have not had anyone look at it. I want it to stop as quickly as possible. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" There were no warning lamps or messages.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #12

Nov 032022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
While driving the vehicle speaker system shorted out and begin playing static and popping noises at full volume. The intensity was so high that the vibrations caused my vision to blur and almost crash the vehicle.

- Harker Heights , TX, USA

problem #11

Nov 022022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Twice the Truck has had the audio system go haywire. Upon startup the truck speakers hada loud pop followed by and extremely loud static type noise that hurt my ears and I still have a headache 12 hours later. The noise would not stop, the radio appeared normal but no buttons or knobs would change or lower the noise. Upon multiple restarts the noise would not go away I drove 15 minutes to the dealer so they could experience the noise 1st hand. Had there been young children in my truck I feel like they might have suffered hearing damage it was that loud, sounded like a gas leaf blower running at full speed in the cabin of my truck.

- Apex , NC, USA

problem #10

Oct 202022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Turned on radio, very loud pop over the speakers followed by static. From being on Ford forums I quickly changed audio sources to make it stop. But for those who do not know this, it could easily cause an accident with being startled and distracted. Ford has not come up with a fix and there are many documented cases.

- Norwalk, IA, USA

problem #9

Oct 102022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Just as I left the driveway at my house, I heard what sounded like an explosion and shattering glass. My truck stereo had incredibly loud static that hurt my ears. The volume knob stopped responding and I could not make the sound stop. I turned off my ignition and then opened the driver-??s door. That stopped the sound. As soon as I turned on the truck again, the noise resumed. I was only able to stop the sound by changing the input from CarPlay to FM radio. Had this happened outside of my neighborhood, I could have been involved in a crash because the sound was so loud and disorienting. The stereo would not turn off at all. I am making a service appointment to have the truck looked at. Other F150 owners have indicated dealerships have been unable to duplicate/solve this issue. There were no warnings or error messages.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #8

Jul 052022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Extremely loud short static noise when trying to play audio through B&O Unleashed sound system that was factory equipped with my F150. After static I lost all audio. I changed input and the extremely loud short static noise happened again, this time with continuous clicking at full volume after the static stopped. Volume controls were completely unresponsive, I also could not turn audio off. The full volume continued until the vehicle was turned off and parked for over 10 minutes. After that everything worked as it should.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #7

Oct 082022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Loud pop followed by loud static from all speakers on start. Turned vehicle off and problem persisted until battery was disconnected.

- Stanton, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 042022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
On October 4, 2022 at ~1:30 p.m. EDT I was stopped at a red light when an extremely loud pop and deafening noise "exploded" in the truck cabin. If I had been driving at the time, the sudden and extreme noise could have caused me to react in a way to lose control of the vehicle. After the light changed, I turned into a business entrance, turned the vehicle off, got out of the vehicle, locked the door, and the noise still continued for several seconds. After the noise stopped, I got back in the vehicle, restarted it, and the noise returned. The noise sounds like it is coming from the sound system at more than full volume. I estimate the sound level at well over 100 dB. Trying to turn off the sound system had no effect on the problem. I had to drive my truck for at least 20 minutes to get home with the deafening noise continuing unabated for the entire trip. After about 10 minutes into the trip, I also detected an "electrical burn" smell in the cabin. The smell was strong enough that I looked around the cabin for smoke, but I did not see any. Something has definitely overheated. Two hours after the incident my ears are still ringing, and I have a severe headache. I am a retired Licensed Professional Engineer with over 50 years of Engineering and Safety experience. I did not notice any warning lamps or messages. The vehicle seemed to operate normally, except the air conditioning system seemed to be operating at reduced capacity. This issue has been reported by at least 50 members on the "f150gen14.com" forum.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #5

Aug 052022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
There are two things that have been happening, and are widely prevalent on different online forums as well. 1) While the vehicle is on the stereo will end up going into a loud max volume crackling and popping and won't shut off even when the truck is turned off. This has already caused an accident. Please see attached forums: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/dangerous-b-o-sound-system-issue.9254/ https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/gremlins-ii-crackling-static.93548/ https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/extremely-loud-electrical-pop-followed-by-loud-static.9591/ https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/my-ears-are-hurting-b-o-sound-system-goes-crazy-safety-issue.91946/ 2) Headlight DRL on Ford Raptor flickers while driving and is clearly a violation of NHTSA safety guidelines.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #4

Jul 252022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Excessive loud static noise / cracking from my 2022 F150 platinum B & O unleashed radio. Lasted for about 3 to 5 minutes while on satellite radio.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Aug 062022

F-150 Lightning 6-cyl

  • miles
When I got into my truck and pressed the start button, there was an extremely loud popping noise that appeared to be coming from the sound system. It was so loud that it caused ringing in my ears. I immediately attempted to shut off the truck, but the noise continued. I opened the door to exit the vehicle, and the loudest noises stopped, but a static sound remained. I got out, shut the door, and locked and unlocked the vehicle several times before the noises stopped. It has now happened to me on two separate occasions. Rear speakers now sound like they're blown and have a terrible rattle. I contacted my dealer, Bluebonnet Forn in New Braunfels Texas, and was told that there have been numerous reports of this type o event but they have no idea what s causing it and it'll take them 4-5 days before they can even look at my truck.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #2

Jul 042022

F-150 Lightning

  • miles
Car was in the driveway and refused to start. Back light flashed and the battery died. I stated to the dealership that the adaptive cruise was not working. The dealership stated that it was working and that they test drove it and it was working. I brought it in a second time and stated the adaptive cruise was not working. Again the dealership stated that it was working. Third time I complained and they admitted that the factory had not installed adaptive cruise and that the vehicle did not have the sensors for the Pre-collision Assist w/AEB. They would wait for the parts and install the necessary hardware. Prior to delivery my vehicle had a Factory Hold on it. Ford did not warn me that safety features I had paid for were not installed. Ford had their dealer deny that my vehicle was missing these safety features. These missing safety features and Ford"s denial put myself and others at risk. These safety features was why I bought a new truck in the first place. Ford and its dealers did not act in a responsible or ethical manner with complete disregard for safety.

- Winnipeg (St. Vital North), MI, USA

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