Top Lightning gripes or dislikes.

[GDN]

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.

Your profile shows Austin - your map says you're snooping in North Dallas/Plano. I live just about 4 miles from that view.

 

[GDN]

I was truly afraid to open this thread, but glad to find it very civil and very straight forward. My gut says about 70% of the things mentioned here could be taken care of SW. Two or three of the better GUI guys about 2 weeks and it would be knocked out. Why Farley and Ford can take a poll like this or use this thread and get some decent satisfaction out I don't know.

My top few are the the shifter is clunky and in the way - move it. Camera SW button needed on the 15" Home Screen. GUI is clunky and slow. App and connectivity is about a 2 out of 10 right now.

 

[Wsl346]

Your profile shows Austin - your map says you're snooping in North Dallas/Plano. I live just about 4 miles from that view.

Nice. I do indeed live in Austin but grew up in the Big D so I make many a trip up I-35 every year.

 

[RickLightning]

Many of these issues have existed for years in ICE F-150s, aren't unique to Lightning, and aren't going to be changed.

 

[lightspeed]

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.

It's dumb that they don't offer the bench seat. The cab is exactly like every other F150 and they offer bench seats in other trims.

 

[Firestop]

I was truly afraid to open this thread, but glad to find it very civil and very straight forward. My gut says about 70% of the things mentioned here could be taken care of SW. Two or three of the better GUI guys about 2 weeks and it would be knocked out. Why Farley and Ford can take a poll like this or use this thread and get some decent satisfaction out I don't know.

My top few are the the shifter is clunky and in the way - move it. Camera SW button needed on the 15" Home Screen. GUI is clunky and slow. App and connectivity is about a 2 out of 10 right now.

@Ford Motor Company , you should review this thread…good stuff!!!!

 

[sotek2345]

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...

Mach-e has AWD

 

[Wsl346]

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

Pick-ups are the new executive car. People who used to buy 5 and 7 series are now buying high-end trimmed pick-ups.

 

[Jif1025]

Pick-ups are the new executive car. People who used to buy 5 and 7 series are now buying high-end trimmed pick-ups.

I’ll add that trucks are honestly better than cars or SUVs for small families too. May not have a third row, but there is far more space for my two kids on long trips than any other vehicle type offers. And when it comes to hauling all their required items…

 

[Lime Green]

I'm continuously surprised to see people requesting features or complaining about things not on the Lightning that Ford already includes in other vehicles. TIL, there's no quick access button for the 360 degree camera. ??? WTF ??? My '18 Expedition had the 360 degree camera and simple one button access to it. But there's quite a few other things that have come up... Seems like the Lightning team didn't bother to adapt what Ford had already implemented in the F150/ Expedition for many features? I know it shouldn't surprise me... I just know from the F-150s I've owned vs. my Expeditions that Ford seems to ignore a lot of functionality from one to the other even though their the same platform. Ford really could use some better human interface designers. I think all the big automakers could use them.

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.

The console gear shift is indeed totally stoopid. Takes more space than the dial most vehicles have gone to, which also sucks. The dial in my Expedition was fine, but the gear selector stalk on the steering column is still king. That way it's not taking space away from other things... The quad cup-holders in my F-350 are far superior to any stupid gear selector dial or shifter that renders half of my console surface unusable. What's that, Ford? You don't want to use the stalk on the steering column? OK, then do buttons on the dash... You know, like you already do in the Lincolns. So Ford already has parts in their existing library to implement. The one from the Navigator would be perfect. The work surface in the Lariat and Platinum (other trims can add it?) is nice though.

If there was a focus group that felt this was necessary, it was probably the same group that told Ford and GM a few years ago that V6 and smaller engine trucks/SUVs (and electric Mustangs) needed to have fake V8 engine noise pumped into the cab.

Biggest complaint I have while not receiving my Lightning just yet is camera recording... All the big/ legacy automakers need to get on this ASAP. They're underestimating how much their customers want this. But they're also trying to figure out how to monetize it and that's not really going to happen without driving away customers. Not with Tesla and Rivian doing it so well and including it as standard functionality. Add to that the interference from the insurance industry. Most people don't seem to get this, but the insurance industry as a whole does not like dash cams. It's not that they don't want or appreciate video recorded that helps their clientele in a collision claim. What they don't like is the secondary surveillance aspect. They really hate it when they're trying to build a case around an insurance claim, and then here comes video from some Tesla cam or something that just happened to be there and catch it all. But insurers nudging big auto away from integrating this functionality isn't helping anyone, nor is it slowing the adoption of the tech. Insurance companies are weird and often work against their own interests because upper management and bean counters are still a bunch of stuffy old cronies. Aftermarket solutions have become too available, inexpensive and able to install in minutes unless you want full 360 degree coverage.

Insurance companies love telemetry data and driving habit monitoring. They're far more interested in keeping tabs on their client than what is around their client.

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.

Didn't realize the XLTs don't get the opening rear window. That's just weird.

 

[Blainestang]

I’ll add that trucks are honestly better than cars or SUVs for small families too. May not have a third row, but there is far more space for my two kids on long trips than any other vehicle type offers.

Far more space than a minivan?

 

[Jif1025]

Far more space than a minivan?

I don’t know- I said most cars and SUVs because I’ve owned those while having kids- and been a bunch besides. Less experienced with a mini van- but was just providing reasons for why someone who doesn’t tow regularly and do “truck things” might still want a truck.

 

[Blainestang]

I don’t know- I said most cars and SUVs because I’ve owned those while having kids- and been a bunch besides. Less experienced with a mini van- but was just providing reasons for why someone who doesn’t tow regularly and do “truck things” might still want a truck.

Yeah, I agree that trucks are pretty practical if the overall size isn't an issue, *especially* the Lightning with the huge frunk (which solves one of the biggest issues with trucks, IMO, living somewhere that it rains several times per week parts of the year). I was just responding to the claim that "there is far more space for my two kids on long trips than any other vehicle type offers."

 

[Jif1025]

Yeah, I agree that trucks are pretty practical if the overall size isn't an issue, *especially* the Lightning with the huge frunk (which solves one of the biggest issues with trucks, IMO, living somewhere that it rains several times per week parts of the year). I was just responding to the claim that "there is far more space for my two kids on long trips than any other vehicle type offers."
[/QUOTE

I think I just missed the “[m]any” but in any event, I concede the point. And hey, you need that extra space in a mini-van to store your dignity (I kid, I kid- don’t @ me, mini van owners)

 

[greenne]

I don’t know- I said most cars and SUVs because I’ve owned those while having kids- and been a bunch besides. Less experienced with a mini van- but was just providing reasons for why someone who doesn’t tow regularly and do “truck things” might still want a truck.

I've owned a few minivans, a full size van, station wagon and a few SUVs. Now the Lightning. As far as compromise between utility and drivability the minivan wins hand down. If you need to tow or haul bulky items then a pickup is needed..but for the family, luggage sporadic trip to Home Depot, etc...minivan FTW.

It also drives very nice for long road trips...700mi days are no problem. The best road tripping vehicle I had was a Honda Odyssey. I drove that thing 3x from Washington DC to LA(and back).

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