Ford deleting Lightning Platinum features without telling the customer!

[PiMatrix]

I don't know if your the forum spreadsheet tracks options such as Max recline or even the built-in multi-contour seats with active motion (massaging seats standard with Platinum). We have serious problem for some owners in that Ford seems to be deleting these from the Lightning Platinum models without telling the customer. This is totally unacceptable. Oh and they are giving a $300 credit for what was a 12K Lauriet to Platinum upgrade to many who upgraded ONLY for those (in our case mandatory wife options) useful for long distance driving. 22" wheels most consider a negative. If you tried to add these standard multi-contour active motion and optional max recline options after delivery they certainly would be $4,000 or more. Not good Ford! So instead of the Platinum massaging chairs and max recline you get -300 instead. Really?

It was reported elsewhere that once the VIN number was assigned and build date established that it meant all the parts for your particular vehicle had been allocated and these chip shortages would not affect your build. Ford also said earlier that Lightning would not be deallocated supplies as it was their number one priority. Apparently Ford is reneging on that, I assume in order to cram incomplete cars into the quarter vs wait for late supplies.

Seems like an easy dealer chip upgrade in the future vs rip out the whole multicontour seat and/or Max Recline? Someone is really not thinking at Ford to do this detached from customer especially for their showcase Platinum Lightning. Even the dealers are aghast on how this is being done. Seems to be purposely hidden from customer until delivery. Then surprise, take it or leave it, and sign you are ok with it.

Anyone who ordered a Platinum should check their order option page and you'll see these deleted:

"code": "BX2AB",
"description": "Multicontour seats with Active Motion®",
"guxCategoryLabels": "",
"code": "BYPBL",
"description": "Max Recline Driver and Passenger Seat",
They are replaced with:

"Multicontour seats with Active Motion® Removal"

Sorry Ford, you are not keeping the $12,000 delta payment of Platinum owners to Ford and not supplying what is ordered. Either supply what was ordered, upgrade the missing chip in future, delay delivery, or downgrade us to Lauriet, or allow cancellation with full refund.. Customer should choose their option. This is my first Ford, and I hope this gets clarified fast.

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[EVTruckGuy]

Ford won't grant any of your requests. They did the same thing to ICE F150 orders over the last year. They keep taking away features without directly notifying the buyers due to supply issues.

I do agree the massaging seats are really worth a lot more than $300. Platinum buyers are getting a bad deal here.

 

[SteffanG]

It isn't necessarily a chip issue - there have been supply chain issues for a lot of different things. It could be a supplier issue for the wiring harness or the parts needed for the active motion.
A good portion of the wiring harnesses for many different manufactures comes from the Ukraine, I'm not sure if ford is included in that as well.
Look at the Bronco - I believe it is a major supplier issue with the hard tops.

 

[Whammy Bar]

I think this was in a previous thread, but I liked the idea that you also get to pay the $300 for them even there back in stock as a bit of a catch 22 to Ford for offering such a piss poor valuation/credit.

 

[sotek2345]

They did similar deletions to MME & Mavericks too.

Don't get someone worked up over deletion of cupholder ambient lighting......

Hey! I am not going to throw a stink, but I will miss the cupholder lightning.

This is a raw deal for the Platinum folks though. I remember a number of posts about people going Platinum specifically for that feature.

 

[FlasherZ]

It was reported elsewhere that once the VIN number was assigned and build date established that it meant all the parts for your particular vehicle had been allocated and these chip shortages would not affect your build. Ford also said earlier that Lightning would not be deallocated supplies as it was their number one priority. Apparently Ford is reneging on that, I assume in order to cram incomplete cars into the quarter vs wait for late supplies.

I think those seats are definitely worth more than $300 credit. Have you called Ford to ask them your options here? Venting here might make you feel better but probably won't get much done. Tweet at Farley or Levine, call the customer service line, and perhaps even e-mail Farley's office.

I do want to address one thing, though - an assigned VIN does *not* mean that your parts are all there to build your specific truck. VIN is assigned at scheduling time, which could be a few months out. So you can still be affected by any type of supply chain shortage.

 

[GreaseLightning]

Usually the difference in price between a loaded Lariat and a base Platinum is within a couple thousand dollars with the major difference between the two being nicer front seats and finishes. The $10k jump on the Lightning from Lariat to Platinum is just extra margin for Ford because they knew people would pay to have the top trim on the Lightning. I wouldn’t be concerned about getting a refund….your dealer may pay you to not take the truck.

 

[Amps]

allow cancellation with full refund.

The deposit refund option is open to all orders. I’d really be asking for the Lariat ER with Max Tow for a same time frame build date.

 

[PiMatrix]

I think those seats are definitely worth more than $300 credit. Have you called Ford to ask them your options here? Venting here might make you feel better but probably won't get much done. Tweet at Farley or Levine, call the customer service line, and perhaps even e-mail Farley's office.

I do want to address one thing, though - an assigned VIN does *not* mean that your parts are all there to build your specific truck. VIN is assigned at scheduling time, which could be a few months out. So you can still be affected by any type of supply chain shortage.

Yes, working all the channels. The Ford Lightning hot line said No way this is true, Lightnings are not being affected by part shortages, they are number one priority for Ford. Mentioned the article in Ford Authority and he said the news is filled with mis-information. If they were doing this to Lightnings he would know about it, it's what he does all day. He was a bit indignant the press was writing this giving Ford bad press. Lightning is off limits he said. Call your dealer he suggested..... Dealer general manager said he had not heard about it but see options deleted. Working way up though regional managers now and beyond. This is just sleazy behavior by Ford and not what I expect. I've bought mainly German cars before so maybe was spoiled. The shortage does seem to be a chip, not a harness, or other parts. It controls the active motion. Here is the article in Ford Authority where I first saw this. One article, not sure if this one, mentioned Trucks assigned VINs were not affected just new orders that had not been assigned a build date and VIN. Another said it's an option for owners who do not want to delay delivery. But not true.... Looks like the chip is the same between models so perhaps we can pick one of at local junkyard and I'll mail them the missing part? In any event it's just not how you do business. Let the customer decide how they want to handle the issue, give options, not arrogance and secrecy and hidden 300$ credit that shows up after a 1.5 year wait. The dealer was not happy about not being involved in EV sale process but having to cleanup Fords unilateral decision.

https://fordauthority.com/2022/06/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-adds-multicontour-seat-removal-option/

https://fordauthority.com/2022/06/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-trucks-fill-up-michigan-parking-lot/

 

[AT193]

The dealers mannequin Platinum by me has the max recline seats in it. It would be a shame if they put a feature in apparently such short supply into mannequins, just to sit in dealer lots for 6 months

 

[PiMatrix]

Yes, my dealer also had a mannequin Platinum that just arrived fully loaded. Note it is not just the max recline seats but also the multicontour active motion that is supposed to be in Platinum now is the Lauriet seat with 300 credit. Dealer said he'd switch out the seats except he already sold the mannequin and he owes to customer in six months. Dealer will go to bat to figure out options. So Ford is selling demos on lots they are not giving customers that already ordered. Poor planning by someone. Supplies are known long in advance.

 

[NVevF150]

Yeah, that sucks. There should be better communication direct from Ford cust service with option(s) to keep as order with changes, step down to Lariat ER, or wait for a future schedule with the original options. The question you have to ask also, is this “dealer approved” aka their responsibility to reach you and authorize Ford to continue?

Ford is certainly not the only auto maker plagued with this same issue and choosing to deliver models which are missing options. Nor is it any secret when you look into all of them but you should still have a choice, and $300 is not enough. I almost regret not ordering Platinum cuz I like the truck and would consider now spending the extra $10k for the fancy seats, stereo upgrade, grille, and the better looking wheel (tho I’d change those too eventually)and nicer interior trim. I might not care if I got to seek both in person first, but feel my Lariat lacks in ALL these areas. I historically buy the fancy version and don’t want to wish I had things I could have optioned. But I’d be livid if I ordered a Plat and got surprised with the Lariat seats.

 

[RDeFran]

There are advertised and published features on most packages that are deleted. My never showing up XLT ER still shows signature rear lighting, power back window and the big screen that it does not have. I would have ordered a Lariat had I known those three specific items were going to be dropped.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Note it is not just the max recline seats but also the multicontour active motion that is supposed to be in Platinum now is the Lauriet seat with 300 credit.

I could be wrong, but don't you still get the platinum seats, just not with max recline and the massage feature?
Lariat seats are totally different.

 

[gorwell]

XLT ER still shows signature rear lighting, power back window and the big screen that it does not have

In zero specifications did an XLT have any of those features.

Maybe a generic image that says computer generated and having caveats.

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