Glare free headlights NOT enabled on my Canadian truck

[Rtashiro]

Hi. Everything I read online says my truck should have the glare free auto headlamps enabled on my truck. I am located in Canada and purchased brand new from a local dealer. There is no toggle available to enable it. Is this something I should take to the dealer or should I just enable it myself on forscan? I’m curious why my truck isn’t enabled. It’s a 2023 lariat

Sponsored

 

[digitaldad]

My vote is just FORScan it if you're inclined...I'm sure thats much faster than trying to explain it to the dealer (then schedule/do the actual work).

 

[Rtashiro]

After posting in this I asked chat gpt and this is what I got





Why “Glare-Free High Beam” / “Adaptive Matrix Headlights” Are Disabled in Canada








Even though your 2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat has matrix LED headlights, Ford software-locks the glare-free function in North America (U.S. & Canada).








1.


Regulatory reason (main cause)

• Until February 2022, Transport Canada and NHTSA did not allow adaptive “glare-free” high beams — they required either full low beam or full high beam only.
• Even though the U.S. and Canada have since approved adaptive driving beam (ADB) technology (it’s legal now), Ford hasn’t yet certified or activated it for the F-150 platform here.
• Certification involves expensive testing, so Ford has chosen not to re-certify existing models just for software activation.

In other words:





The hardware is capable, but the software feature is turned off to comply with regional regulations and to avoid recertification costs.














2.


Regional software locks

• Ford builds one global version of the headlamp control module, but regional software (North America vs Europe) sets the feature set.
• The “glare-free” or “matrix” function is active on some European F-150 / Ranger / Lightning variants, where regulations have permitted it for years.
• In your truck’s Body Control Module (BCM) and Headlamp Control Module (HCM), the “glare-free” parameters are set to Disabled or “North American mode.”

Even if you enable those bits via FORScan, the feature won’t work fully unless:

• You flash in the European HCM firmware (which is risky and could brick the module), and
• The truck’s firmware supports the communication between BCM, IPMA (camera), and HCM in ADB mode.

So, it’s not just a toggle — it’s a combination of regulatory lockout and software-level firmware limitation.














3.


Ford’s public position








Ford has said (in F-150 forums and support responses):





“The F-150 is equipped with Matrix LED headlamps but the adaptive high-beam functionality is not enabled at this time in North America.”





The expectation is that Ford may activate it in a future model year (possibly via OTA update once officially approved), but as of the 2023 Lightning Lariat, it’s disabled.

 

[Rtashiro]

Perhaps my truck was just built before it was certified to work in Canada?

Sponsored