It’s both good and bad news regarding Ford’s headlight updates: they achieved an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, but the base F-150 XL is still “in the dark”.
Ford scored an IIHS “average” score in the past, which kept them from the vaunted Top Safety Pick award, but things have changed. By offering upgraded headlights on certain trims and packages, Ford has moved up to a respectable score. Unfortunately, this is not a standard remedy, and some trims are not getting the upgrade.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently added headlight performance to their overall scoring process. They measure low beams and high beams based on many factors. Everything from glare to side visibility is being measured and scored.
Here’s what IIHS said about the headlights:
“Low beams: On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves, fair on the sharp left curve, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.
The low beams never exceeded glare limits.
High beams: On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle’s low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.“
from IIHS
This is good news for most Ford fans, but, as you’ll see below – not all F-150s are included. Unfortunately, according to TFL Studios’ own Andre; the headlights on his 2021 Ford F-150 XL (hybrid) are no good.
The models with updated headlights are:
- Lariat trim equipped with 502A package; built after June 2021
- Raptor trim equipped with 801A package; built after June 2021
- King Ranch trim; built after June 2021
- Platinum trim; built after June 2021
- Limited trim; built after June 2021
- Tremor trim equipped with 402A package; built after June 2021
Perhaps we’ll see further improvements throughout the lineup in the future? One can only hope.
