Should I buy a 2016 Ford F-150 with documented lighting problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented lighting issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2016 Ford F-150 lighting problems

moderate Owners of the 2016 Ford F-150 have filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$250

lighting complaints on the Ford F-150, by model year
Model year	lighting complaints
2013 F-150	8
2014 F-150	4
2015 F-150	11
2016 F-150 (this page)	8
2017 F-150	4
2018 F-150	12
2019 F-150	8
2020 F-150	4

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin 17-2234 Nov 2017

Some 2015-2016 F-Super Duty pickup vehicles equipped with a 6.7L engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with DTCs P2201, P2459, P2463 and/or P246C. Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) to the latest calibration using Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford J2534 Diagnostic Software (FJDS) release 106.01 or higher. Make sure you are connected to the internet when entering module programming to obtain the latest updates. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraftservice.com.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had lighting trouble with your 2016 Ford F-150? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the lighting problem on the 2016 Ford F-150?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?

Based on the 8 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 5,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to lighting?

No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/F-150. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.