Traded my 2023 for a 2025

[Charles Juedemann]

I liked my 2023 Lightning so well that I decided to trade it for a newer one. I had 34,000 miles on it and I wanted a new one to last me a long time. Big mistake. First of all I did not know Ford was cancelling the Lightning so that was a little let down. But the biggest disappointment was in the overall quality of my 2025 It is not as good as my 2023 was. The worst part is that my 2025 only charges up to 285 miles on a warm day. My 2023 would show a charge of 320 miles or more. THAT is a big difference. So I made an appointment to have the dealer check it out. The first bad sign was when the service tech began questioning me about how I charged the truck, did I run it empty, no, did I allow it to go down to 30 miles before charging sometimes, and on and on. They looked at a computer screen and said there was no error codes and that if I wanted them to look at it it would be $195 service just to check it out (the truck has 5000 miles on it) , because there were no error codes. So I am stuck with a truck that has doors that sound funny when closing, has air that does not blow on the feet, and worse, a truck that runs 30-40 miles less than my old one.

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[TaxmanHog]

As I'm watching several forum members trade up, I'm tempted to trade up, but my 2022 is the cream of the crop, sure newer model years get newer features I'll never see via OTA, but selling out so soon is against my typical 8 to 10 year cycle, it just doesn't fit well with me.

I'll hang on for EREV or T3

 

[truthlesshunter]

really odd...my 2022 lariat ER is in for warranty work right now and they gave me a used 2024 on the lot. It is an XLT so lots of creature comforts are different..but the truck "feels" less well put together, more NVH, etc.

Also, we think it's the heat pump but there is a constant whir sound and feel near the feet. It does diminish as the truck warms up but stays there. We are very happy with our 2022 compared to that one

 

[Athrun88]

Sorry to hear about your experience, but, as the old saying goes: "They don't build'em like they used to". Usually applies for things that are several decades old vs modern versions, but I find myself using that phrase more and more these days to compare things that are even 5 years old.

Thing to know about iterative updates like model years is that every year, the bean counters find ways to extract more money for the least investment in year-over-year refresh. A new grille, new colour options, etc.. while cutting things or replacing parts with more plastic or cheaper plastic, leather with pleather, etc...

I've found that the first 2 years or so of a new model or model refresh are the best ones as the manufacturer puts their 'best foot forward' as long as you can get over the early adopter tax or other quirks of a new model/system. The latter years, usually 3-5 years and just before a model refresh, those are the ones with the comprimises, cut down features, or other 'enhancements' that are only beneficial to the bean counters.

As for your particular situation:
- The truck learns your charging/driving habits. Your 2023 has had 3 years to learn your habits so it's 'broken in' in terms of what the GOM will report. Your 2025 is fresh so it's systems haven't had a chance to learn yet. Give it the time to learn and it'll probably start reporting like your 2023 as long as the battery capacity is the same between the two (2023 ER to 2025 ER). Also, you don't mention what trims you had; if you got the 2025 Flash ER, you could have been equipped with the smaller ER battery instead of the true ER battery which may account for some of the range loss.
- The MY2024+ has heat pumps equipped instead of the resistive heating unit of the MY2022-2023. While being more energy efficient, some have mentioned that the effective heating/cooling has been lacking. I have a 2024 Lariat and find that I have to run the fan on a higher setting to defog the cabin or get any sort of impactful effect before I turn it down to a steady state. Not much of an issue as I am in the habit of remote starting the truck and setting the heat/cooling to a higher initial setting and turning it down once I get going.
- As for the other items, doors that make noises, etc... might just need some good'ole lube on the hinges. I know, expensive truck shouldn't need all that out of the gate, but it's still a mass production product so there will be minor defects here and there that fit inside the 'good enough' limits. Despite our trucks being as great as they are, they're not bespoke, hand built, custom trucks so some issues are/should be expected.

Hope things get better for you!

 

[gbuydos]

I was just thinking he got the smaller ER battery in the 25'.

 

[Maineiac12]

Sounds like you didn’t realize that some 2025 trucks got slightly smaller batteries.

 

[Charles Juedemann]

Thank you everyone. I feel bad about this truck. Both trucks were/are the Lariat with extended batteries but the 2025 does not do as well as the 2023. I did not know the 2025 had an underrated battery. Also changing the heat or warm up from resistive to pump, explains the constant pump or motor running. I do not like the 2025 and I will trade it as soon as there is something else. Right now there is no alternative to the Ford F-150 Lightning. Also, times are changing and now my dealer will charge me $200 if I bring the truck in and they do not find anything wrong with it. They look for error codes and if there are none, then you pay. The proof that this is wrong is that I hit a tire tread and knocked off the front air dam. Since the actuators still work, there are no error codes....but it is still broken. Keep in mind that my complain is the charge limit and not the range. However both are tied together. If I now only get 284 miles charge, when I used to get 320, I have lost range no matter how I drive.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Keep in mind that my complain is the charge limit and not the range. However both are tied together. If I now only get 284 miles charge, when I used to get 320, I have lost range no matter how I drive.

123 vs 131 kWh [320*[123/131] = 300] NOT for a Lariat -ER


Max range of 284 vs 300 miles is either seasonal temperatures or historic driving trends, are you charging to 100% to see this value?

My truck is a 2022 Lariat ER [131 kWh], at the moment 66% soc with predicted range of 180, [180/.66 = 272.7 miles] not an unusual value. When I charge it to 90% tonight the computed range and corrected for 100% will show a better value, much of these variations is in the algorithm.

But with the New & Improved lower capacity HVB the values are in line. only on Pro and Flash if equipped with 123 kWh HVB

 

[PA Lightning]

I was considering trading my 22 Pro SR when Ford announced the discontinuance so I could get a new truck that should concievably last longer.

I decided to stay with the 2022 since I have had no issues to date and if I need to replace the Pro, I will look for a slightly used one.

Ford made the decison a tough one when they sent me a $2k PCO but I am glad I stayed with the Pro.

 

[Charles Juedemann]

123 vs 131 kWh [320*[123/131] = 300]


Max range of 284 vs 320 miles is either seasonal temperatures or historic driving trends, are you charging to 100% to see this value?

My truck is a 2022 Lariat ER, at the moment 66% soc with predicted range of 180, [180/.66 = 272.7 miles] not an unusual value. When I charge it to 90% tonight the computed range and corrected for 100% will show a better value, much of these variations is in the algorithm.

But with the New & Improved lower capacity HVB the values are in line.

My charging and driving habits have not changed, and I know the limits with temperature. I have photos of 282 miles total, 100% charge at 70 F, and that is not good. I do not get the range on the 25 as I did on the 23. That is a fact. It has nothing to do with my history or charging times or temperatures. The 25 is not as good as the 23.

 

[RLXXI]

My charging and driving habits have not changed, and I know the limits with temperature. I have photos of 282 miles total, 100% charge at 70 F, and that is not good. I do not get the range on the 25 as I did on the 23. That is a fact. It has nothing to do with my history or charging times or temperatures. The 25 is not as good as the 23.

You don't get the range because it's a smaller battery. Taxman already explained that but I guess you missed it.

There are 3 battery sizes for these trucks, 98kWh, 123kWh, and 131kWh. 123 being the newest size.

 

[TaxmanHog]

The 25 is not as good as the 23.

That in a NUTSHELL is the issue, baseline MY25 with a 123kWh HVB is spec'd at 300 miles in perfect conditions. NOT for a Lariat -ER

 

[BhamDCam]

Sorry that you haven’t had a great experience with your 25, OP.

I’ve come to the conclusion that if something happened to my 23 Pro ER and had to get a “new” truck I would just turn around and start shopping for a used 22 or 23 Lariat. Heck, maybe I could convince @TaxmanHog to sell me his.

 

[Pod]

You guys trading n those early models for ‘25s. How are the trade deals? Did Ford compensate at all on trade in value or incentives?

 

[RocketGhost]

You don't get the range because it's a smaller battery. Taxman already explained that but I guess you missed it.

There are 3 battery sizes for these trucks, 98kWh, 123kWh, and 131kWh. 123 being the newest size.

OP said it's a Lariat, which I think still gets the 131kwh battery?

I think his issue isn't that the range in the '25 is any different. I think it's just that the range estimate is being calculated differently. The new truck may say it only has 285 miles of range, but he may get the same range as his '23 if tested side by side and driven until the battery dies. The '25 may be under estimating, and the '23 may have been overestimating.

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