2018 Ford F-150 lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Ford F-150 have filed 12 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 →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 F-150 | 4 |
| 2015 F-150 | 11 |
| 2016 F-150 | 8 |
| 2017 F-150 | 4 |
| 2018 F-150 (this page) | 12 |
| 2019 F-150 | 8 |
| 2020 F-150 | 4 |
| 2021 F-150 | 84 |
Among the 15 model years of Ford F-150 in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 F-150 has a pattern of lighting failures spanning hardware and software. The most egregious is recall 20C03 (NHTSA 20V-097) intended to fix daytime running light intensity but which also activates parking lights and tail lights unintentionally. Some owners report this violates state traffic law. Ford reportedly stated they have no intention of fixing it.
Intermittent low-beam headlight failures appear in multiple narratives at varying mileage, sometimes with check engine lights and electrical component replacements (BCM, battery junction box) yielding temporary fixes. One owner reported an internal crack in the headlight lens at just 1,900 miles; the dealer and manufacturer refused warranty repair.
Several owners independently describe headlights as dim in rain or snow, marginal even in good conditions, and unable to safely illuminate obstacles or wildlife at night. One reports excessive brightness causing glare to oncoming drivers.
Tail light water intrusion causing bulb failure occurred twice in six months on one vehicle. Recall parts for the lighting campaign remain unavailable at dealerships with no confirmed delivery date, leaving owners unable to complete repairs.
Same Ford F-150 lighting reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
DRL/BCM recall creates unintended parking light activation
Ford recall 20C03 (NHTSA 20V-097) reprogrammed the body control module to fix DRL intensity, but the update also activates parking lights whenever DRLs are on. This violates California Vehicle Code 24800, which prohibits parking lights during daytime driving. Ford stated they have no intention of correcting this.
When: After recall repair on 10/27/2020
Symptoms owners cite: Parking lights activate automatically with DRLs; Cannot disable parking lights when DRLs are on; Violation of state traffic law
Repairs/costs cited: No fix available; owners must disable DRLs to avoid citation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 20C03 (NHTSA 20V-097); Ford declined to correct the unintended parking light activation
Intermittent low-beam headlight failure
Both driver and passenger side low-beam headlights fail intermittently or completely, more frequent over time. High beams operate normally. Independent mechanic unable to diagnose. No check engine light appears. Suspected related to recall 20V097000.
When: At 127,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side headlight inoperable; Driver side headlight intermittent failure in low-beam mode; Failure persists in both auto and manual light settings; High-beam headlights operate normally; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; independent mechanic unable to diagnose cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 20V097000 (Exterior Lighting) suspected; manufacturer not informed
Recall parts unavailable / delayed distribution
Owner received recall notifications for campaigns 18V894000 and 20V097000 but Ford dealer reported parts not in stock with no confirmed availability date. Represents a significant delay in recall completion.
When: At time of notification
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts not available at dealership; No confirmed timeline for part availability; Recall repair cannot proceed
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed due to parts unavailability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 18V894000 and 20V097000 issued; parts unavailable with no confirmed delivery date
Cracked headlight lens (internal)
Driver side headlight cracked from inside, rendering it non-functional. At only 1,900 miles, Ford dealer could not diagnose repair method. Manufacturer classified as stress mark and refused warranty coverage.
When: At 1,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Internal crack in headlight lens; Single headlight functional; Dimmer light output from remaining headlight
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; dealer unable to repair internal crack; customer responsible for cost per manufacturer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer deemed defect a stress mark; denied warranty coverage
Headlights flashing intermittently with check engine light
Headlights flashed on and off while driving with check engine light illuminated. After BCM and battery junction box replacement, headlights recurred and horn also began inadvertently activating. Horn then replaced.
When: At 62,902 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flashing on and off while driving; Check engine light illuminated; Horn inadvertently activating after initial repair; Recurring electrical malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: BCM replaced, battery junction box replaced, horn replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer opened a case; repairs performed at dealership
DRL recall creates unintended tail light and license plate light activation
After recall repair for DRL intensity, daytime running lights now activate tail lights, license plate lights, and front parking lights simultaneously. Dealer cannot reprogram to disable these lights. Owner concerned constant tail light activation may confuse following drivers.
When: After recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights activate with daytime running lights; License plate lights activate with daytime running lights; Front parking lights activate with daytime running lights; Cannot be reprogrammed off
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reprogram BCM to disable tail lights, license plate lights, or parking lights
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall completed; dealer unable to reprogram to correct unintended side effects
Excessive headlight brightness causing glare
Headlights described as excessively bright and distracting to oncoming drivers, causing glare visible in both center and side mirrors. No safety standard appears to address the intensity.
When: As reported during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights excessively bright; Distracting glare to oncoming traffic; Ineffective use of rearview mirror dimming
Inadequate low-beam illumination in poor weather
Headlights provide insufficient illumination in rain and snow. Owner reports they provide marginal performance even in ideal conditions, and are dangerous during adverse weather when road surfaces are wet or covered with grime. Multiple owners report this as a safety concern for night driving.
When: During rain, snow, or poor visibility conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim in heavy rain; Poor visibility during highway driving in rain; Inadequate illumination to see obstacles or wildlife; Marginal performance even in ideal conditions; Dangerous during adverse weather
Tail light water leakage causing bulb failure
Tail light assembly leaks water, causing bulbs to blow. Owner reports this occurred twice within six months.
When: Recurring within 6-month period
Symptoms owners cite: Water leakage into tail light assembly; Bulb failure due to water intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement required (occurred twice in 6 months)
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2018 Ford F-150?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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 12 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 46,560 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.