The defect
Lightning eMotors Inc. (Lightning) is recalling certain 2020 FE4-86 and FT3-43, 2019-2021 FE4-129, and 2019-2022 FT3-86 vehicles. The battery packs may have defective structural welds and experience an internal radiator leak, causing battery failure.
The risk
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Lightning will replace the battery pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Lightning customer service at 1-970-744-7241. Lightning's number for this recall is 2023-001.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lightning Emotors FE4-129 | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Lightning Emotors FE4-86 | 2020 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-43 | 2020 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-86 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Emotors FE4-129 | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FE4-129 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FE4-129 | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FE4-86 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-43 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-86 | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-86 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-86 | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Lightning Emotors FT3-86 | 2022 | 0 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2023
178 of the 894 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2023 concerned the electrical system; Lightning eMotors Inc. filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 23V904000 29 Dec 2023 | Cake 0 Emission USA Inc |
| 23V901000 26 Dec 2023 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 23V888000 22 Dec 2023 | Prevost Car (US) Inc. |
| 23V894000 22 Dec 2023 | Rosenbauer America |
| 23V879000 21 Dec 2023 | Daimler Trucks North America, LLC |
| 23V873000 21 Dec 2023 | REV Ambulance Group Orlando, Inc. |
| 23V867000 20 Dec 2023 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 23V864000 20 Dec 2023 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2023