Top Lightning gripes or dislikes.

[Pioneer74]

I LIKE that the rear camera is still available when the bed gate is Down, simply, if nothing else, to LET ME KNOW that the gate is down, otherwise, with my tri-fold hard tonno, I would NEVER know!

There is an indicator in the instrument cluster for that.

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[XLT Jeffy]

-HVAC heat battery usage
-Android auto connection reliability
-Frunk beeping
-Turning radius
-Turning 1PD off when parking + not being able to toggle on/off without going into the drive modes menu
-lack of OEM mud flaps
-"full view not available" text blocking rear camera

 

[metroshot]

Ok, I have to ask. If you don't tow or use the bed, why get a truck?

Ha, you got me Tom!

My Lightning was primarily to use for daily commuting in Los Angeles traffic and take advantage of single occupant carpool lane exemption.

Second reason: steelhead, salmon and brown trout spey fishing in remote rivers and need occasional 4WD.

Tough finding an EV that does all that except for maybe the Rivian or Toyota BZ4X that are unobtainable...

 

[xycarp]

I have an xlt standard range. It's my first new truck and I'm upgrading from a 2003 F250 diesel that I've personally put over 300k miles on. (Has 420k on it now). I use my truck 99% for work pulling a 14' enclosed 8' tall box trailer that weighs about 6500 lbs. In my line of work I rarely drive more than 50-75 miles a day and it's all at speeds of less than 60 mph.

I've put about 4k miles on my lightning and love it overall. These however are my gripes.

1)Tow/haul mode shuts off one pedal drive.
I love the one pedal drive once I got used to it. It seems silly to not use the Regen function with a load? If you have a trailer connected with in regular mode the blis system keeps thinking someone is in the Blindspot.
2) My truck doesn't save my trailer as default trailer. Have to set it up each time I connect it. Wish you could program the default settings different.
3) How tall the truck sits and how it sits butt high. I'm waiting for the aftermarket to offer a lowering kit to at least make the truck sit level without lifting it. Even with 600lbs of tongue weight it sits 4 inches high in the back. Me personally I would lower it 6-8 inches and do away with the running boards. The bed sides are so tall as it is you can't get stuff in and out without using the tailgate.
4) folding shifter. To me this seams like unnecessary parts. Why not make it push button on the dash somewhere and just give us either another seat up front or a useable flat area in between? Currently you have to move all your stuff including drinks in the cupholder, fold the shifter ECT and then fold it all up to get in the console. I ended up building a wooden platform to hold my paperwork and clip board. Maybe I'm old-school and just got used to my F250 being more user friendly?
5) integrate the existing cameras to allow recording. It's kinda silly with all the tech that comes on this truck to not be able to replay the info from the cameras.
6)I understand this is a safety issue but I don't like how you can't move the truck with the door open. I never new this was an issue till I got the lightning. Occasionally I will have to readjust the truck on a job site or such and it's awkward to get in and completely shut the door to move 1 ft.

I've been driving pick up trucks exclusively for over 35 yrs so maybe I get in a rut? What would you change?

This is a great thread. I suggest you pull this into a survey to see which ones existing owners actually bubble to the top. Maybe Ford can take collective truck owner feedback into consideration when planning updates…. Some of these are small software updates so you never know what might happen if we can provide a truly curated list.

 

[TaxmanHog]

This is a great thread. I suggest you pull this into a survey to see which ones existing owners actually bubble to the top. Maybe Ford can take collective truck owner feedback into consideration when planning updates…. Some of these are small software updates so you never what might happen if we can provide a truly curated list.

@Galaxidan let me know if you need help creating the poll, I don't recall if it is still possible for once the thread has started, though as a moderator I have the ability to input a poll anytime, I'll leave it in your hands assuming you are able to do it.

 

[Galaxidan]

I would have no clue how to make a poll. But feel free to do it. I could make a list alone on things software related that would make a better truck.

 

[Joneii]

-Pet mode
-Customizable instrument cluster display
-Option to disable Frunk beeping
-navigation system with more preferences so I can make it stop routing me through alleys
-PAAK (yep, still waiting)
-charging screen that pops up when charging and displays SOC, time to set SOC limit, requested and received kWs real-time as well as options to set charge limit, set max amps, set alerts to phone at certain SOC and SOC limit (this should also be displayed on the app).

 

[greenne]

Another vote for a more accessible 360 degree camera button, replace the useless autopark physical button with a cam button.

This 100%.....it would be helpful in low speed parking lot moves to quickly access the camera for use.

 

[sen7inel]

My biggest gripes have to do with seating. The lack of a front jump seat configuration is a strange omission in a utility-centric vehicle for both work crews and families alike. Instead, we get an overly complicated shifter and storage console, where both solve a problem that no longer exists.

I totally get some may prefer consoles, but let the truck at least have the option of being a truck. I'm secretly hoping that the lack of the jump seat as an option was a side effect of getting the truck to market quickly, and will become available in the near future (and thus something I can retrofit down the road)...

Lastly, is the Pro the world's only production vehicle with a foot+ infotainment touchscreen but no adjustable seat height? A truly bizarre and head-scratching juxtaposition of amenities.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I would have no clue how to make a poll. But feel free to do it. I could make a list alone on things software related that would make a better truck.

Go ahead and review the suggestions, then send me a PM or post a list here, I'll create the poll then.

 

[Wsl346]

I’m not a fan of the instrument cluster. The gauges all look like an afterthought. BMW, tesla, and rivian (to name a few) give you a map on the instrument cluster- pretty please, ford?

There isn’t too much I’ll miss about my e-tron but I will miss the gigantic google earth map in the drivers display. I was surprised to learn Ford doesn’t have this in theirs.

 

[GoodSam]

1-Fold out work surface should have indents for drink cups, maybe raised edges to catch a rolling/sliding pen/pencil/whatever. Also a rubberized, non-slip surface? Seems thick enough that the work suface could have internal storage for stuff as well without harming the padded surface quality. Someone could make a fold-out work surface replacement with these advantages.
2-Rear seating area could have been shortened by ~6" and the space given to a 6 foot bed length.
3-Rear tailgate "unique signature lighting" should be for all trims (shown for my XLT 312A on the list of provided features, but not provided).
4-Front grill should have chrome option.
5-Front light bar could be dumped or given adjustable color.
6-Front grill/light bar could be a 8K LED screen for any pattern you want! Same on tailgate!
7-Pro style quality rubber floor mats would be quite enough for a truck. Why the carpet?
8-More quality into battery contactors that seem to be heading to a Mach-E problem?

 

[Pioneer74]

2-Rear seating area could have been shortened by ~6" and the space given to a 6 foot bed length.

The "secret sauce" of the Lightning is that Ford reused as much as they could from the ICE trucks to get it to market quick and save on overall cost. Shortening the cab 6 inches and adding it to the bed world have meant a redesign of all the sheetmetal of the whole cab and bed.

 

[Jif1025]

There isn’t too much I’ll miss about my e-tron but I will miss the gigantic google earth map in the drivers display. I was surprised to learn Ford doesn’t have this in theirs.

This is light years better. Why Ford?!?

 

[Kev12345]

1 - center console folding shifter. so freaking stupid and complete waste of space. I think I remember hearing one of the engineers boasting about one of their focus groups deciding it was really important for truck owners to be able to hold a centre console shifter in their hand LOL.

2 -ford deciding NOT to include the opening rear window on the XLT's. when the only bed option is the short bed, it would be nice to have the extra bed length that the rear window provides. I guess their focus group decided a gimmicky folding big center console shifter was more important.

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