The Ford F-150 continues its legacy as a leading pickup truck with enhanced features and technology, including advanced exterior mirror systems. Properly adjusted exterior mirrors are essential for safe driving, providing optimal visibility of surrounding traffic and reducing blind spots. 

The latest F-150 models offer several mirror adjustment options depending on the trim level, ranging from manual adjustment in base models to sophisticated power-adjustable mirrors with memory settings in premium trims. Understanding how to properly position and utilize these mirrors is crucial for navigating various driving environments, from crowded urban streets to remote country roads.

Your F-150 Exterior Mirrors

The Ford F-150 comes equipped with different types of exterior mirrors depending on the trim level:

Standard Mirrors

• Dual power-adjustable mirrors
• Black or body-colored housing
• Manual folding capability
• Approximately 20 cm x 15 cm reflective surface

Premium Mirrors

• Power-adjustable with memory function
• Heated to prevent fogging and ice buildup
• Power-folding capability
• LED turn signal indicators
• Auto-dimming feature to reduce glare
• Puddle lamps that illuminate the ground area
• Approximately 22 cm x 17 cm reflective surface

Towing Mirrors

• Extended view design
• Power-adjustable main mirror and manual-adjustable spotter mirror
• Telescoping capability (extending outward up to 7.5 cm)
• Heated surfaces
• Turn signal indicators
• Approximately 25 cm x 18 cm reflective surface

Manual Mirror Adjustment Procedure

If your F-150 has manually adjustable mirrors, follow these steps for proper positioning:

1. Sit in the driver’s seat in your normal driving position with proper posture.
2. Locate the adjustment lever or knob on the door panel or on the mirror itself.
3. For the driver’s side mirror, move the lever or knob in the direction you want the mirror to move until you can just barely see the side of your truck in the innermost portion of the mirror.
4. For the passenger side mirror, lean toward the center of the vehicle until your head is approximately in line with the rearview mirror, then adjust the passenger mirror using the same principle.
5. Check for blind spots by having someone walk around the vehicle while you remain seated, or by performing a test drive in a safe area.

Power Mirror Adjustment Procedure

Most F-150 models come with power-adjustable mirrors, which offer more precise control:

1. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to the “ON” or “ACC” position.
2. Locate the mirror adjustment control on the driver’s door panel. It typically consists of a selector switch (L for left mirror, R for right mirror) and a four-way directional control.
3. Set the selector switch to “L” to adjust the driver’s side mirror.
4. Use the four-way directional control to position the mirror. The proper position should allow you to see the road behind you with just a small portion of your truck’s side visible at the inner edge of the mirror.
5. Set the selector switch to “R” to adjust the passenger side mirror.
6. Adjust the passenger mirror using the same principle. When properly positioned, you should see the road behind you with just a small portion of your truck visible at the inner edge.
7. Return the selector switch to the center (neutral) position when finished to prevent accidental adjustments.

Memory Mirror Feature

Higher trim levels of the F-150 offer memory mirror settings, allowing multiple drivers to store their preferred mirror positions:

1. Adjust both exterior mirrors to your preferred positions using the power adjustment controls.
2. Locate the memory set button (typically marked “SET”) on the driver’s door panel.
3. Press and hold the “SET” button.
4. While continuing to hold the “SET” button, press one of the numbered memory buttons (usually 1 or 2) within 5 seconds.
5. A confirmation tone will sound, indicating that the current mirror positions have been stored to that memory position.
6. To recall your saved positions, simply press the corresponding memory button when the vehicle is in park.

Power-Folding Mirrors

Many F-150 models feature power-folding mirrors, which are particularly useful in tight parking spaces or when driving through narrow passages:

1. Locate the power-folding mirror control button on the driver’s door panel (often integrated with the mirror adjustment control).
2. Press the button to fold both mirrors inward toward the vehicle.
3. Press the button again to unfold the mirrors back to their driving position.
4. Some models offer automatic folding when locking/unlocking the vehicle, which you can enable through the vehicle’s infotainment system under Settings > Vehicle > Mirrors.

Towing Mirror Adjustment

For F-150 models equipped with towing mirrors, additional adjustments are necessary for optimal visibility when hauling trailers:

1. Adjust the main mirror portion using the power controls as described earlier.
2. For the smaller spotter mirror (convex mirror), manual adjustment is typically required. Gently press on the edges of the spotter mirror to angle it for the best view of your blind spots.
3. If your F-150 has telescoping mirrors, locate the release button or lever at the mirror base.
4. Press the release and pull the mirror outward to extend it (up to 7.5 cm), providing a wider field of view alongside a trailer.
5. Push the mirror back to its normal position when not towing.

Auto-Dimming and Signal Features

Premium F-150 models include auto-dimming mirrors and integrated turn signals:

1. The auto-dimming feature works automatically, detecting bright headlights from following vehicles and darkening the mirror to reduce glare.
2. This feature can typically be enabled or disabled through the vehicle’s infotainment system under Settings > Vehicle > Mirrors.
3. The integrated turn signals illuminate automatically when the turn signal is activated, requiring no additional adjustment.
4. Blind spot information system (BLIS) indicators in the mirrors will illuminate when a vehicle is detected in your blind spot, functioning automatically once the system is enabled in the vehicle settings.

Five Facts About The 2025 Ford F-150 Exterior Mirrors

1. Advanced Materials Technology: The F-150 mirrors utilize a specialized nano-coating that actively repels water, dust, and debris, maintaining clear visibility even in adverse weather conditions. This hydrophobic coating can shed water droplets at speeds as low as 40 km/h, significantly improving visibility during rainstorms.
2. Integrated Camera Systems: Premium models feature miniature high-definition cameras embedded within the mirror housing that provide a 180-degree view of each side of the vehicle. These cameras feed directly into the 360-degree view system, eliminating traditional blind spots and providing coverage of areas as small as 5 cm from the vehicle body.
3. Radar-Enhanced Blind Spot Detection: The mirrors contain sophisticated radar sensors capable of detecting objects up to 10 meters away from the side of the vehicle. Unlike previous generations that could only detect moving vehicles, the latest system can identify stationary obstacles and even differentiate between vehicle types, pedestrians, and cyclists.
4. Environmental Adaptability: The mirrors feature an ambient light and temperature sensing system that automatically adjusts tint level based on 255 distinct environmental conditions. In bright sunlight, the mirrors can reduce glare by up to 80% while maintaining perfect clarity in low-light conditions by adjusting to one of 16 brightness levels.
5. Voice-Activated Positioning: For the first time in pickup truck history, the F-150 offers voice command mirror adjustment. Using natural language processing, drivers can simply say “adjust driver mirror down and right” or “extend towing mirrors,” and the system will make precise adjustments of approximately 0.5 mm per voice command.

Questions and Answers

How do I program the power-folding mirrors to automatically fold when I lock my F-150?

• Access the vehicle settings through the center touchscreen by selecting Settings > Vehicle > Mirrors. Enable the “Auto-Fold on Lock” option. Once activated, the mirrors will automatically fold when you lock the vehicle using the key fob or door handle sensors and unfold when you unlock it. This feature can be handy in tight parking spaces where the extended mirrors might be vulnerable to damage.

Can I adjust the passenger side mirror while sitting in the driver’s seat of my F-150?

• Yes, you can adjust both mirrors from the driver’s seat. Use the mirror selector switch on the driver’s door panel to select which mirror to adjust. Move the switch to “R” position to select the passenger side mirror, then use the four-way directional control to position it. After adjustment, return the selector to the center position to prevent accidental adjustments.

What is the proper way to position the F-150 side mirrors to minimize blind spots?

• For optimal blind spot minimization, adjust your mirrors so that you can barely see the side of your vehicle in the innermost portion of each mirror. Specifically, when sitting in your normal driving position, the side of your truck should occupy no more than 10% of the mirror’s inner edge. This positioning creates a seamless transition between your rearview mirror and side mirrors, significantly reducing blind spots.

How do I use the manual telescoping feature on F-150 towing mirrors?

• Locate the release button or lever at the base of the mirror housing. Press or pull this release mechanism, then manually pull the mirror outward until it reaches its extended position (approximately 7.5 cm outward from normal position). Ensure the mirror locks in place with an audible click. To retract, press the release again and push the mirror inward until it locks in the normal position.

My F-150 mirrors seem to automatically tilt downward when reversing. How does this feature work?

• This is the reverse tilt-down feature available on premium models. When enabled, this feature automatically tilts both mirrors downward when you shift into reverse, helping you see the curb or parking lines. To enable or disable this feature, access Settings > Vehicle > Mirrors > Reverse Tilt from your center touchscreen. You can program which mirrors tilt (both, left, right, or none) and the degree of tilt (between 5-15 degrees downward).

Do the heated mirrors on the F-150 turn on automatically?

• The heated mirrors typically activate automatically when the rear defroster is on and the outside temperature is below 7°C. However, you can manually activate them regardless of temperature by pressing the rear defroster button on the climate control panel. The heating elements warm the mirror surface to approximately 26°C, which effectively prevents ice buildup and clears fog or condensation within approximately 90 seconds.

How do I know if my F-150 auto-dimming mirrors are working properly?

• The auto-dimming feature works gradually and might not be immediately noticeable. To test it, with the engine running at night, have someone stand behind your vehicle with headlights on. The mirror should visibly darken within 5-10 seconds. During daylight, the mirrors remain in their normal, non-dimmed state. The system uses sensors that can detect light sources as dim as 0.5 lux and adjusts the mirror tint accordingly.

Can I replace my standard F-150 mirrors with towing mirrors later?

• Yes, the mirrors have modularity in mind. Standard mirrors can be replaced with factory towing mirrors with approximately 2 hours of labour at an authorized service center. The replacement requires disconnecting the electrical connectors and removing 3 mounting bolts (10 mm) per mirror. The wiring harnesses are compatible across all mirror types, though some features may require additional programming if not included in your original configuration.

Is there a way to defrost just the mirrors without turning on the rear defroster?

• On most models, the mirror defrosters are linked to the rear defroster control. However, in models with the technology package, you can access a separate mirror defrost control through the climate control submenu on the touchscreen. This allows you to heat the mirrors to approximately 26°C for up to 10 minutes without activating the rear window defroster, conserving energy in electric and hybrid models.

How do I calibrate the blind spot monitoring sensors in my F-150 mirrors after a mirror replacement?

• After mirror replacement, the blind spot monitoring system typically self-calibrates during normal driving. However, for optimal performance, drive on a straight highway with clear lane markings at speeds over 60 km/h for approximately 15 minutes. Suppose you notice inconsistent blind spot alerts after this period. In that case, an authorized service center can perform a complete BLIS calibration using specialized diagnostic equipment to ensure the sensors detect objects at the correct distance threshold (typically 3-4 meters from the side of the vehicle).