Is Anybody Happy With Their Lightning?

[StevenC56]

I have a Maverick on order, but started having reservations about the size and utilitarian interior a couple weeks ago, so I started looking at the Ford Lightnings. I read about the tech and features and was pretty excited. But there are so many negative reviews online. There's maybe 1 positive review for every 9 that say "I hated my Lightning and sold it and a huge loss" reviews. Even here it seems like the majority are unhappy with their purchase. Am I making a huge mistake even looking at the Lightning?

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[husky10101]

No matter what vehicle when you go to the forum for that vehicle, most of the comments are negative or how to fix or resolve an issue. Don't hear how happy folks are very often. I use forums to help resolve an issue for every vehicle I have owned.

 

[Flipper]

very happy here. My tesla is collecting dust if that tells you anything

 

[SteuLight]

I absolutely love mine. I bought it because I needed a new tow vehicle (I have a 6500 lb, 30' travel trailer), but I didn't want to buy another gas guzzler. The lightning tows beautifully.

The thing is, it's such a great vehicle, that even if I didn't need a tow vehicle, I'd still want my lightning.

I think you see a lot of the complaints on this forum because those are the people who are seeking help (or wish to vent their frustrations). Those of us that love our lightnings are just out driving our trucks, rather than here posting on the forum. Having said that, there are some threads where you can see a lot of that positivity, like the 'What did you do to your lightning today' thread or the 'Pics of Lightning Trucks Doing Truck Things. Post Yours!' thread.

 

[Grumpy2]

The ICE F150 has always been good for universal purposes. Folks buy a Lightning expecting the same and some are disappointed, almost always because they didn't look exactly at how they were going to use it.
In my case I can charge at home most of the time, I can live with 85% of its rated range each day and still charge at home most of the time, and I think it is the greatest pickup I ever drove. I charge away from home perhaps once per month.
You need to test drive it to see if the size will be an issue. Try parking it a couple of times, ...

 

[mr.Magoo]

It's the internet and people love to complain.

If you get in your car and it does something weird, you complain about it.
If you get in your car and get from point A to B without any events you say nothing. So yeah, there'll always be more negative comments.

I've had mine for two years and overall I'm "happy", it's nice, super quiet, very comfy, I haven't had much issues except a wonky gps early on.

If anything I'd say it's a bit boring, but I'm a petrol head at heart and I really miss the sound. I don't miss the constant visits to the pump and the bills that came with it, but I do miss the sound.

 

[LSP]

I have a Maverick on order, but started having reservations about the size and utilitarian interior a couple weeks ago, so I started looking at the Ford Lightnings. I read about the tech and features and was pretty excited. But there are so many negative reviews online. There's maybe 1 positive review for every 9 that say "I hated my Lightning and sold it and a huge loss" reviews. Even here it seems like the majority are unhappy with their purchase. Am I making a huge mistake even looking at the Lightning?

I think that like with most reviews, there is a greater propensity for people that have had a negative experience or are dealing with a temporary problem to voice their concerns/opinions on the Forum. Another point would be that an early adopter needs a level of patience and expectations that I sense some of the folks on this Forum do not have.

I have had my 22 Lariat ER for over two years and absolutely love it and so does my wife. Our cousins in Minnesota have the 23 version of the same truck and love their's as well.

Hope this helps and happy shopping!

 

[BhamDCam]

I've had my Pro ER for a year now. My favorite vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[Lytning]

I think many of the “negative” reviews are owners expressing their frustrations with @Ford Motor Company not delivering software and update results commensurate with our otherwise fantastic trucks.

 

[Mmiketa]

Had mine since November, love it. It was an upgrade from my Model 3.

 

[Tony Burgh]

A lot of clueless people bought Lightnings without ever owning a truck. Or an EV.
But they can get on line and whine. Their catch phrases are “Come on, Ford” and “but a Tesla ………”.

 

[davehu]

I have a Maverick on order, but started having reservations about the size and utilitarian interior a couple weeks ago, so I started looking at the Ford Lightnings. I read about the tech and features and was pretty excited. But there are so many negative reviews online. There's maybe 1 positive review for every 9 that say "I hated my Lightning and sold it and a huge loss" reviews. Even here it seems like the majority are unhappy with their purchase. Am I making a huge mistake even looking at the Lightning?

one year and 9000 miles later i couldn't be happier. it's been everything i expected and more. I should add that I've owned three Covettes (65,78,85) and not only will Sparky smoke all three it's actually more fun to drive and it tickles me to death when a stranger walks up to my open Frunk and says "what the $#$%, where is the moto?"!

 

[davehu]

I absolutely love mine. I bought it because I needed a new tow vehicle (I have a 6500 lb, 30' travel trailer), but I didn't want to buy another gas guzzler. The lightning tows beautifully.

The thing is, it's such a great vehicle, that even if I didn't need a tow vehicle, I'd still want my lightning.

I think you see a lot of the complaints on this forum because those are the people who are seeking help (or wish to vent their frustrations). Those of us that love our lightnings are just out driving our trucks, rather than here posting on the forum. Having said that, there are some threads where you can see a lot of that positivity, like the 'What did you do to your lightning today' thread or the 'Pics of Lightning Trucks Doing Truck Things. Post Yours!' thread.

exactly!

 

[invertedspear]

My first car was a truck (a 77 GMC I started driving in 97). I've driven a lot of pick-ups since then. My most recent truck before the lightning was an '06 F150 V8. In 2022 I got a MachE since I had no idea how long it would take my reservation to come up and my '06 was starting to need a lot of maintenance to keep going. I learned how to be an EV driver with the MME, when I finally got my truck I was so happy to be in an F150 again. It outdrives the MME (I didn't have the GTPE), and it does everything I need a truck to do. It helps that I have a 40amp charger at home, and that I live in a city. I've looked at what it would take to get to some parts of my state, and I know that EV is only really viable in major cities in this state. I would never recommend it to someone in far rural areas. Know the limitations, or await those NEVI chargers. AZ is about to get a hell of a lot better for EVs by the end of 2025.

As many others said, people go online to complain, or to brag. A truck doing what you expect it to do doesn't fit that mold.

TL;DR: This is the best truck I've ever owned and suits my situation really well, but I would hesitate if I didn't have adequate charging around me.

 

[Refactoringdr]

Purchases in Jan. 23. I have 61k miles on it and it my favorite vehicle I have ever owned. Only thing I drive. (But realized everyone's use-cases are different, so do your research)

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