Sponsored

'23 Lariat Tail Light Replacement - a personal saga

MaintGrl

Well-known member
First Name
Marsha
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Threads
6
Messages
372
Reaction score
307
Location
El Sobrante, Ca
Vehicles
2023 XLT Lightning, Anti-Matter Blue SR (311a)
Occupation
Retired CWEA Grade 3 Maintenance Technician

mikeyb

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
7
Reaction score
21
Location
GA
Vehicles
2023 F150 Lightning
Most likely an aftermarket one. They're cheap but worth it.
I just did the $650 ($690 taxes and shipping) from eBay. Totally legit ford parts, stickers, labels the works. This is the 2nd I have replaced, 1st was from Ford, $2200 without the radar. This one had the radar but was not working. Swapped in my old radar attend, all good.
 

ddimit

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
200
Reaction score
195
Location
Sacramento, CA, United States
Vehicles
2015 Tesla model S 2023 F150 Lightning Lairat
Occupation
Manager
These are just a poor design. No one should make a taillight where the plastic projects beyond the fenders. that's just asking for problems like this to happen.
 

Aminorjourney

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 6, 2022
Threads
11
Messages
213
Reaction score
425
Location
Internet
Vehicles
vehicles that go
At this point, I am tempted to see if anyone has designed rear light guards for the Lightning, but the obvious caveat is that we need those darned sensors for Bluecruise (and some passive features) to work.
 

iam-s-Hon

Active member
First Name
Richard
Joined
Jan 7, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
37
Reaction score
35
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2021 Job 1 MME Premium AWD ER Iconic Silver, 2024 Lightning Lariat AMB
I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

Screenshot 2025-04-05 at 10.27.28 AM.jpg
I just did the $650 ($690 taxes and shipping) from eBay. Totally legit ford parts, stickers, labels the works. This is the 2nd I have replaced, 1st was from Ford, $2200 without the radar. This one had the radar but was not working. Swapped in my old radar attend, all good.
great to know. Just recently missed the chocks in the garage backing in and cracked mine on something sticking out from the back wall.

most of the damage to the black plastic below the red, so black duct tape to the rescue.
 

Sponsored

Sethsir121

New member
First Name
Seth
Joined
May 3, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Vehicles
2023 Ford Lighting XLT
I just did the $650 ($690 taxes and shipping) from eBay. Totally legit ford parts, stickers, labels the works. This is the 2nd I have replaced, 1st was from Ford, $2200 without the radar. This one had the radar but was not working. Swapped in my old radar attend, all good.
I just did this too, but my sensor says it needs to be programmed, do you think if I bring it to Ford they will do that?
 

Ted23Lightning

Well-known member
First Name
Ted
Joined
Mar 25, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
114
Reaction score
111
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Occupation
Mobile ADAS Technician
I just did this too, but my sensor says it needs to be programmed, do you think if I bring it to Ford they will do that?
They should be able to do it, but will charge u for it. Did u swap out the old one?
 

Ted23Lightning

Well-known member
First Name
Ted
Joined
Mar 25, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
114
Reaction score
111
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Occupation
Mobile ADAS Technician

Jesse-Infotainment

Well-known member
First Name
Jesse
Joined
May 27, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
809
Reaction score
862
Location
Dallas
Vehicles
2024 F150 Lightning Platinum
Bliss module as build is only the vehicle vin in Hex.

I always suggest swapping the ones from your factory because there are different Blis modules. They cant be flashed to the various firmware.

Everyone I have ever told to swap didnt and then they mess with it for three days and then figure out to swap it like I told them to.
 

Sponsored

SunPowered

Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
May 11, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
10
Reaction score
8
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash
Just brought a new Lightning home and am a little sick to my stomach as I begin to understand what I've just opted myself into. Great to mostly sidestep that $5K scam, I mean bill. All that said, does the EBay replacement assembly come with its own sensors/ electronics? Was the successful procedure to swap back to the originals or to go with what came with the lens? Thank you.
 

MaintGrl

Well-known member
First Name
Marsha
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Threads
6
Messages
372
Reaction score
307
Location
El Sobrante, Ca
Vehicles
2023 XLT Lightning, Anti-Matter Blue SR (311a)
Occupation
Retired CWEA Grade 3 Maintenance Technician
Just brought a new Lightning home and am a little sick to my stomach as I begin to understand what I've just opted myself into. Great to mostly sidestep that $5K scam, I mean bill. All that said, does the EBay replacement assembly come with its own sensors/ electronics? Was the successful procedure to swap back to the originals or to go with what came with the lens? Thank you.
I'm sure it depends on the seller. Some may have it with, or w/o sensors. But, (correct me if I'm wrong,) if you replace the sensors they need to be reprogrammed....
 

DeePagne

Active member
Joined
May 13, 2025
Threads
7
Messages
38
Reaction score
27
Vehicles
vw
I mildly crushed the passenger tail light cover backing into a parking spot. Yes, I heard the warnings. Yes, I thought it was just a bush and didn't see the metal rail. Yes, I despaired when I heard the crunching sound. The next week I took it to the local dealer where they promptly gave me a quote of $5223 for a replacement (screenshot below). There are posts in this forum for up to $2500, so this may be a new record.

Since the original MSRP of the truck was about $80k, it's difficult to believe that over 5% of the value of the truck lies in a single tail light assembly. This is absolutely criminal, folks.

Because the sensor and electronics were still working, and having read that it is easy to move sensors between assemblies, it was worth the $650 gamble to buy one on ebay and give it a shot. First I just installed the new assembly to see what would happen. Sure enough, although the lights worked, the truck immediately threw a fault in the blind spot and cross traffic sensor systems. The fact that these sensors need to be "programmed" to pair them to the vehicle is criminal step #2.

So I removed the assembly again, swapped the sensors, reinstalled and everything works! For anyone that may need to do this in the future, the swap really is very simple. There are five T20 torx screws that need to be removed to get to the back of the sensor to plug/unplug it to the wiring harness.

Screenshot 2025-04-05 at 10.27.28 AM.jpg
Are other trucks this expensive to repair small things?
 

Ted23Lightning

Well-known member
First Name
Ted
Joined
Mar 25, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
114
Reaction score
111
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Occupation
Mobile ADAS Technician
Just brought a new Lightning home and am a little sick to my stomach as I begin to understand what I've just opted myself into. Great to mostly sidestep that $5K scam, I mean bill. All that said, does the EBay replacement assembly come with its own sensors/ electronics? Was the successful procedure to swap back to the originals or to go with what came with the lens? Thank you.
If u have the original BSW module, just reinstall it in the EBay taillight.
 

SunPowered

Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
May 11, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
10
Reaction score
8
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash
Gotcha. Hope I never have to replace a tail light assembly, but am getting a feel for things here. And for DeePagne, no, on a Toyota (am coming from a Tundra) the whole headlight assembly is aftermarket less than $100 and maybe $250 OEM, and so is a whole tail light assembly. A couple screws/ bolts and you can easily DIY in minutes. This is a whole new mine field of expense. But I am enjoying driving into the future, so no regrets just yet.
Sponsored

 
 







Top