Public paper · October 5, 2026 · Lightning production concluded December 2025

Used Ford F-150 Lightning, 2022-2026: A Buyer's Checklist for Recalls, Battery, and Warranty

Ford ended production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, saying on December 15, 2025, that the current generation "has concluded." That makes it a used-truck buy. Check the battery (98 kWh standard or 131 kWh extended), the 15 NHTSA recall campaigns on file for 2022-2026 trucks, the warranty left on the 8-year/100,000-mile EV component coverage, and how far it really tows.

Close-up of a gray charging connector with a green status light plugged into the open charge port on the front fender of a pearl white pickup inside a home garage, with a pegboard of hand tools in the background. — A home charger plugged into the fender port of a white pickup, the first thing worth testing on a used electric truck before any money changes hands.Illustration

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Ford built the F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, starting full production on April 26, 2022. On December 15, 2025, Ford said production of the current generation "has concluded." The next Lightning will be a generator-backed extended-range electric truck, also built at the Rouge, with no on-sale date yet. Ford says support for current owners, including software updates and parts, "remains fully unchanged."

So the all-electric Lightning is now a used-lot shopper's truck. It is the rare pickup where the first thing to inspect is the front trunk, and the second is a recall list.

Which battery?

Standard Range: 98 kWh usable, 452 hp, EPA 230 miles (2022) or 240 miles (2023-2025), 7,700-pound towing (Car and Driver). Extended Range: 131 kWh usable, 580 hp, EPA 320 miles (300 on Platinum), up to 10,000 pounds with the Max Trailer Tow package. Both make 775 lb-ft. Ford also lists a 123 kWh extended pack for 2025. On 2023 models, the VIN's eighth character is "L" for standard range and "V" for extended, per Ford's VIN guide.

Recalls first

NHTSA lists 15 Lightning recall campaigns for model years 2022 through 2026. The big ones: battery fire risks (23V-168, 24V-144 and 25V-272, and 25V-131, where Ford advises charging to no more than 80 percent until repaired), front upper control arm nuts (24V-949, 25V-341), a park module that may not lock in Park (25V-863), and 2025 brake hose bracket screws (25V-438). Several are re-repairs of earlier campaigns. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Repairs are free.

Battery and charging

The range readout is not a battery test; Ford says it learns from past driving, weather, speed, terrain, towing, and payload. Plug the truck in at Level 2 and, if possible, a DC fast charger. Ask whether the Ford Charge Station Pro comes along, because Ford no longer sells it and automatic home backup power needs it. Test every Pro Power Onboard outlet: 2.4 kW standard, 9.6 kW optional with a 240-volt outlet.

Warranty left

Ford covers the battery and eDrive for 8 years or 100,000 miles, including capacity below 70 percent, from the first owner's delivery date. Bumper to bumper is 3 years or 36,000 miles; powertrain is 5 years or 60,000. Ford says a buyer of a previously owned Lightning gets whatever coverage remains.

Towing, honestly

Car and Driver towed a 6,100-pound camper at 70 mph with an extended-range Lightning Platinum and got about 100 miles on a full battery. It is a great local hauler. For the cross-country camper trip, budget a lot of snack breaks at chargers.

Plant country is the test

Ford's 2023 VIN guide lists the 11th character "W" as Rouge Electric, Dearborn, Michigan. The free checker at https://assemblyalert.com shows the plant country of final assembly, which is what the OBBBA car-loan interest deduction looks at. The VIN's first digit is not the verdict. Per IRS Topic 505 (https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc505), used vehicles do not qualify, because original use must start with the taxpayer. Not tax advice.

Notes and sources

Car loans · sourced with Assembly Alert. https://assemblyalert.com/blog/used-ford-f-150-lightning-buyers-guide
Plant country is a VIN fact. Free checker: https://assemblyalert.com. The first digit of the VIN is not the test. Not tax advice. IRS Topic 505: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc505
Recall data pulled from NHTSA on October 5, 2026. Some broader Ford recalls are filed under plain F-150; the VIN lookup is the final word.
The picture is an illustration, not a photograph of an F-150 Lightning. It shows an unbadged truck.

One national paper. Car loans · sourced with Assembly Alert (https://assemblyalert.com/blog/used-ford-f-150-lightning-buyers-guide). xPostUrl null. No Also-from grid on this paper.

Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).