DO NOT BRING LIGHNING IN FOR RECALLS! Truck is dead at dealer. ***Update 10/16, fixed after 5 weeks***

[PrimeRisk]

And yet, Tesla can push monthly OTA updates to the entire car in 30 minutes without external power. IDK how Ford manages to make this stuff SOOOOO complicated and failure prone. The dealer shops must hate this stuff.

Monthly is a very low estimate. I get point releases about monthly and that is guaranteed to be followed by at least one additional patch 1-2 weeks later. I've never had to take it in or have mobile service come for a software update nor have I ever had trouble with one in either Tesla. I know there are reports out there of certain OTA updates bricking some Teslas, but they are few and far between.

In addition, I always end up with pages of release notes about what an OTA update is supposed to be fixing and what new features are being introduced. The general and very high-level blurb that Ford provides on the updates does not provide much insight as to what it does and whether or not I should defer the installation.

Do better Ford.

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[PrimeRisk]

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/update-2023-20-7-bricked-my-car.307537/

I’d say it’s just luck of the draw

If you read that thread, the Tesla was not bricked, it just had a dead 12v. After the OP popped the hood and put a power supply on it, it started right up with no issues.

It's unclear if the 12v battery went flat during the installation, before, or after, but the reality is that the vehicle wasn't bricked.

 

[Zprime29]

What setting is this?

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...programming-guide-using-fdrs.8249/post-412933

I changed the 2 to 3 and it made the image go back to its original size. I still have the menu button for the camera options, some have had the menu go away and the options are always present.

 

[F150ROD]

If you read that thread, the Tesla was not bricked, it just had a dead 12v. After the OP popped the hood and put a power supply on it, it started right up with no issues.

It's unclear if the 12v battery went flat during the installation, before, or after, but the reality is that the vehicle wasn't bricked.

There are plenty of other threads that have caused issues during updates. It’s not the only one.

 

[RickLightning]

Didn't read the thread, but here are my observations over 3+ years of Mach-E ownership and 1.5 of Lightning ownership:

1) It boggles my mind that after all this time Ford keeps having issues with updates, both OTA and at dealerships.

2) Ford made Mach-Es for 2021, 2022, and then 2023. 2023s having low batteries seemingly due to software issues. Really? 3years experience.

3) Ford has a new process where tech has to get approval to order some parts, like an APIM. I had battery array replaced in May. Powertrain software applied in September (4 months!). GWM and APIM wouldn't update. Tech had to notify hotline and I had to get truck. Then bring it back a week later. Then 3 more days. Blew away my data. Didn't resize 360 image despite it being in procedure. Broke BlueCruise (I fixed with @rugedraw's help). Set clock wrong, messing up charging. 3 years experience by tech and Ford and still they screw things up and inconvenience customer. Getting old.

My confidence that anyone has a full understanding of how modules and software changes are impacted by updates wanes by the day.

 

[rugedraw]

My confidence that anyone has a full understanding of how modules and software changes are impacted by updates wanes by the day.

Unfortunately, stories like yours and the one this thread are about are very common. This is why I think having a Mongoose in your toolbox is invaluable. It's crazy that fixing something yourself with the help of total strangers off the internet can be a more viable option than taking a fully warrantied vehicle to the dealer, but I guess it is what it is.

 

[RickLightning]

Unfortunately, stories like yours and the one this thread are about are very common. This is why I think having a Mongoose in your toolbox is invaluable. It's crazy that fixing something yourself with the help of total strangers off the internet can be a more viable option than taking a fully warrantied vehicle to the dealer, but I guess it is what it is.

Mongoose, pricey power supply, AND the subscription. But yes, I have considered it.

 

[WoodduckMN]

I took my 22 Lariat in for a ripped CV boot on the left rear. They were going to do the two CSPs one went with no issue, the other they are having issues getting it to install. They didn’t have the part to replace the CV boot, so now my truck is sitting at the dealer to see if they can get the software updated for a Monday pick up and then I will need to reschedule for the CV boot to be installed.

 

[Henry Ford]

Unfortunately, stories like yours and the one this thread are about are very common. This is why I think having a Mongoose in your toolbox is invaluable. It's crazy that fixing something yourself with the help of total strangers off the internet can be a more viable option than taking a fully warrantied vehicle to the dealer, but I guess it is what it is.

This has been my experience with every vehicle I've ever owned. When I was young and poor the water pump of my 1991 Chevy Lumina went out in a place where I didn't have the tools or the time to replace it. I had it towed to a chain repair shop (might have been Midas) and told them exactly what I wanted, a new water pump. They insisted I needed a coolant flush and new hoses. I told them I was poor and they eventually agreed to only change the water pump. They only changed the water pump, a fact I discovered when my car almost immediately overheated. They drained enough coolant to change the pump but instead of putting it back in they put the full bottle of used coolant in the back seat of the car.

 

[Lytning]

This has been my experience with every vehicle I've ever owned. When I was young and poor the water pump of my 1991 Chevy Lumina went out in a place where I didn't have the tools or the time to replace it. I had it towed to a chain repair shop (might have been Midas) and told them exactly what I wanted, a new water pump. They insisted I needed a coolant flush and new hoses. I told them I was poor and they eventually agreed to only change the water pump. They only changed the water pump, a fact I discovered when my car almost immediately overheated. They drained enough coolant to change the pump but instead of putting it back in they put the full bottle of used coolant in the back seat of the car.

You gotta give them an "A" for following instructions ... and an "F" for common sense.

 

[LifeAsDane]

Sitting on a stack of 4-5 recall/TSB's and this is exactly why I'm in no rush. I'll bring my truck in right before warranty is up to have all that handled.

 

[PeterInWallaWalla]

I have symptoms of both the parking assist and frunk problems. I am scheduled for the update to be done in my driveway at the beginning of November. I have had no bad experiences with the process, yet!

 

[NilartPax]

I had my 2022 in today for the front sensor CSP. I was watching my 12V battery level remotely. I could tell it was on a charger because of the voltage, but the SOC went down to about 26%. Being out of warranty, I would have been upset if it died, but they left it on the charger for a bit after the update was done and it's back in the 90's.

It seems like the non OTA updates really strain the LVB and all the electronics that run off it.

How are you remotely monitoring the 12v battery? Is this somewhere in the app? That would be great.

 

[NCevGuyF150]

Took mine in for bad battery packets in May. Convinced dealership to do the repair despite powertrain updates halted.

Powertrain update finally applied 2 weeks ago. 3 other CSPs attempted. APIM update failed. Tech tried numerous recommended things, including "erasing customer data". Yup, have to redo phones, lost all saved nav destinations, lost charging locations and settings... Didn't work, so he was told to replace USB hub. That didn't work, so they said to remove battery cables and tie together for 20 min. He did it overnight, got truck back late yesterday.

It is pretty clear that 3 years in on Mach-E, 2 on Lightning, that Ford still has a lot to figure out. Truck took a total of 4 visits for battery packets (1 to add software, 1 to identify packets, 1 to put in packets, 1 to update software). Then 2 more for the other updates.

So I get to spend time today recreating what I can. Redoing PaaK is so much fun. Had 50 plus destinations saved, they're gone.

Well, this is actually new technology. And I have no problem with them learning and getting the bugs out if they’ll make a better product in the future. I love my lightning. I have had some troubles with it. They did replace the 12 V battery and reprogrammed the entire truck. It is never operated better since I got it back. They also put two modules in the battery pack. I’ve had it back about a month and I love my truck again. I’m hoping that when the warranty runs out of this one I can buy another lightning and that by then they will be a really good product. This is the 10th Ford product/F150 that I have owned. I do enjoy this truck and the money. I’m saving on fuel.

 

[WoodduckMN]

I took my 22 Lariat in for a ripped CV boot on the left rear. They were going to do the two CSPs one went with no issue, the other they are having issues getting it to install. They didn’t have the part to replace the CV boot, so now my truck is sitting at the dealer to see if they can get the software updated for a Monday pick up and then I will need to reschedule for the CV boot to be installed.

Day 2 still having issues getting one of the updates to work. Maybe tomorrow.

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