Vehicle recall 23V207000 · April 7, 2023
Lightning Emotors FT3-86, FE4-129 and 2 more models
The battery packs may have defective structural welds and experience an internal radiator leak, causing battery failure.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
- Notes
- Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. Please be reminded of the following requirements:You are required to submit a draft owner notification letter to this office no less than five days prior to mailing it to the customers.Also, copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner).Please be reminded that under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(3), it is illegal for a manufacturer, to sell, offer for sale, import, or introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that contains a safety defect once the manufacturer has notified NHTSA about that safety defect.This prohibition does not apply once the motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment has been remedied according to the manufacturer's instructions.As stated in 49 U.S.C. § 30118(f), submission of 8 consecutive quarterly reports is required. As described in 573.7, submission of the first of eight consecutive quarterly status reports is required within one month after the close of the calendar quarter in which notification to purchasers occurs.Therefore, the first quarterly report will be due on, or before, 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 23V207000
- Reported to NHTSA
- April 7, 2023
- Filed by
- Lightning eMotors Inc.
- Manufacturer campaign
- 2023-001
- Owner notification
- May 31, 2023
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 148
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Lightning Emotors FE4-129 (2019-2021): 2021, 2020, 2019
- Lightning Emotors FE4-86 (2020): 2020
- Lightning Emotors FT3-43 (2020): 2020
- Lightning Emotors FT3-86 (2019-2022): 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Has your Lightning Emotors been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Lightning Emotors dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.