An Update on Your Forum Experience from Ford Motor Company

[Kev12345]

To be honest, yes but no. My M3 is horrible at actually downloading the OTA updates, so I end up being almost as upset. At least Ford isn’t giving them to me. Tesla has the cookies in front of me but there is that blasted glass in the way.

Even the last minor update took 3 attempts to get it to fully download, that was connected to the home WiFi, and tethered to my phone for over 3 hours of driving. So Tesla’s release schedule might be great but their delivery does still have some hiccups too.

is that typical of most users or just your car?

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[GDN]

is that typical of most users or just your car?

We had 2 model 3's for about 4 years, now have a Y and the Lightning for 2. All 3 of our Tesla's had good luck with SW, downloads and installs. I'll note it may not be perfect for all, but the Tesla experience is light years ahead of Ford for my experience. I understand the Ford history and their nightmare of mix matched vendors, but that doesn't give any excuses for Ford still not rolling the SW out and getting trucks updated.

 

[Pitbull2o08]

Dear Ford,

Can I has my missing:

• Frunk cargo net
• Spare tire lock
• Tailgate assist

Sincerely,

Window Sticker

And my bluecruise. Not bluecruise 36 month trial.

 

[Grease Lightning]

is that typical of most users or just your car?

Not sure. Haven’t driven other people’s Teslas while they were updating.

Unlike Ford, Tesla required the download under WiFI so that is a disadvantage to it right away when it had an LTE connection anyway.

Also not sure on the queuing they offer as does all the millions of Tesla’s try to pull the update the same time it is released? Remember how Apple used to have bottle necks on OS update day because they didn’t have the bandwidth for the demand.

 

[Kev12345]

Not sure. Haven’t driven other people’s Teslas while they were updating.

Unlike Ford, Tesla required the download under WiFI so that is a disadvantage to it right away when it had an LTE connection anyway.

Also not sure on the queuing they offer as does all the millions of Tesla’s try to pull the update the same time it is released? Remember how Apple used to have bottle necks on OS update day because they didn’t have the bandwidth for the demand.

Are you implying fords OTA updates are superior to Tesla?

 

[Grease Lightning]

Are you implying fords OTA updates are superior to Tesla?

The ability to use the built in wireless radio, for sure. If you have an LTE connection anyway you should definitely not be tied to WiFi. That is so 1999.

 

[GDN]

The ability to use the built in wireless radio, for sure. If you have an LTE connection anyway you should definitely not be tied to WiFi. That is so 1999.

Unless you are paying the wireless bill. That is how Tesla was able to include LTE for so long. I know it is paid for by most owners these days, but there is no comparison between the two in any way. Every Tesla update requires an "inhibit" if you will. It'll download from your wifi - then install when you tell it to. The key is that it works.

Fords next gen will follow this method too. They'll have central computers with simply switches and responders through the vehicle. They've already said so for the most part.

With Ford today it won't even attempt to to download and trigger until you start the truck. Why? It's been sitting in the garage for the last 12 hours overnight - why not download and install there. No, you want me to get in the truck and drive and now you're going to try and update SW. It makes no sense other than they are likely still scared to death if the truck isn't running they'll have 12v battery problems. You'll never have that issue with Tesla.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Unless you are paying the wireless bill. That is how Tesla was able to include LTE for so long. I know it is paid for by most owners these days, but there is no comparison between the two in any way. Every Tesla update requires an "inhibit" if you will. It'll download from your wifi - then install when you tell it to. The key is that it works.

Fords next gen will follow this method too. They'll have central computers with simply switches and responders through the vehicle. They've already said so for the most part.

With Ford today it won't even attempt to to download and trigger until you start the truck. Why? It's been sitting in the garage for the last 12 hours overnight - why not download and install there. No, you want me to get in the truck and drive and now you're going to try and update SW. It makes no sense other than they are likely still scared to death if the truck isn't running they'll have 12v battery problems. You'll never have that issue with Tesla.

Sorry you have had bad experiences with your Lightning getting updates.

I haven’t had the same experience and the one time I thought I wasn’t getting them I spoke to a BEV rep and they let me know they hadn’t started sending them to the ‘23 at the time and said I should see them around x quarter and right at the end of the quarter I got my first update and then a reasonable stream after.

I will say the number of updates for sure are better on my M3, but the install has been less then “perfect” like most Tesla fanboys claim. Then some updates like the Santa slay and reindeer this are cute but a waste of the download.

I have to say I always love how hurt people get when I admit my M3 and Tesla experience is not, wait for it Legendary. I enjoy it but is strictly utilitarian.

 

[Kev12345]

Many lightning users either came from Tesla or still own one. Nobody is hurt. We’re just in disbelief.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Many lightning users either came from Tesla or still own one. Nobody is hurt. We’re just in disbelief.

You sure seem hurt when you are in “disbelief” for my own personal experience.

You sound like a Ford service advisor and the lovely “cannot recreate the stated issue”.

Shocking things do happen to others that don’t happen to you. Like all the poor souls that have had a battery module failure. I don’t need to experience it first hand to understand that is an experience that they had.

 

[Kev12345]

Not discounting your personal experience. Maybe your car had some unknown issue with updating? I don’t think that’s typical for the average Tesla.

I like the idea of frequent updates even if most of them are behind the scenes or silly like Santa mode. It shows they’re making an effort to make the vehicle better over time. Ford has made SOME nice updates but it has been seriously slow going. my original point stands that we want a better and more frequently updated Tesla-like software experience for the truck.

 

[WilliamRobert]

Please send me your Vin and your dealer information. I'll look into it for you.

Has anyone actually had any luck with this canned response?

Rick

Yes!

 

[tls]

Thanks for the post! We are actively working on new products and experience that aim to be best in class, including our software! Thanks for being part of the Ford Family and we are excited for the future!

As a Tesla owner since 2015: I will not buy another Ford vehicle if you inflict Tesla-like vehicle software on me.

The incredibly low quality (both in terms of feature set and reliability) of the FordPass app and your over the air update processes, however - you could take some cues from Tesla to fix those.

 

[tls]

The ability to use the built in wireless radio, for sure. If you have an LTE connection anyway you should definitely not be tied to WiFi. That is so 1999.

Tesla vehicles will update over LTE if their software gets sufficiently out of date that Tesla wants to manage it out of the fleet. Typically a year or so. But - if you can get hold of one! - their service personnel can also trigger this remotely, so a service center visit is not necessary to resolve "stuck" updates most of the time.

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