Sponsored

Ford LIES!

Wendy

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 5, 2024
Threads
3
Messages
142
Reaction score
137
Location
Puget Sound
Vehicles
1967 Saab 96 (dead), Silverado (squished), 2023 F150 Lariat ER
So many Acronyms (FLAs and TLAs - Three Letter Acronyms) like BECM, DTCs, MIL!

Why is there an Illuminated Mother-In-Law in my truck?
Ford F-150 Lightning Ford LIES! Screenshot 2026-03-05 074331
Aaaaah!
Sponsored

 

ElectrifyingMe25

Well-known member
First Name
Trav
Joined
Jul 31, 2025
Threads
13
Messages
133
Reaction score
169
Vehicles
F150 Lightning, XLT, 2023
Occupation
Engineer
I own three, yes THREE electric Ford vehicles. I know, shame on ME for being a slow learner!

Yesterday on my way home, the Lightning lit up like Christmas in the Walmart parking lot and left me dead. Sat for three hours waiting for a wrecker to come load me up and take me to Ford. While waiting I tried all the usual shenanigans (power off, power on, stand on left foot, then right, etc.) and the car would not go back into drive. The whole time the dash told me death was imminent and I should come to grips with all my evil doings (it actually said "Stop Now" and other unhelpful messages)

Today, the dealership says "Started right up - looks good. Nothing else we can do here. When do you want to pick it up".

Fu$% Y%$ Ford. I can't believe for a second that there is not trouble codes somewhere they can see from the three hours of me dead at WallyMart! This is total horse shit. They simply threw up their hands and didn't even TRY to diagnose this thing.

How can I trust this, or any of my other shitty Ford electrics on a trip of any milage?!?!?
I would recommend three things to keep in a little toolbox/tote in your frunk...
An OBD2 scanner for reading Lightning codes, a 12v jump box, and a wrench to disconnect the 12V battery to reset your EV. Of course scan the codes before disconnecting the 12V battery.

This kit will solve a lot of your problems. Also, take pictures of what errors the dashboard is showing for the dealer and for proof for Ford... If you don't have proof, the dealer won't believe you.

Best of luck.
The good outweighs the bad for the Lightnings.... Hopefully Ford will keep updating our trucks until they make them were they won't create mystery faults.
 

DavidS

Well-known member
First Name
DAVID
Joined
Dec 27, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
51
Reaction score
52
Location
Green Bay, WI
Vehicles
F150 Lightning Lariat
I would recommend three things to keep in a little toolbox/tote in your frunk...
An OBD2 scanner for reading Lightning codes, a 12v jump box, and a wrench to disconnect the 12V battery to reset your EV. Of course scan the codes before disconnecting the 12V battery.

This kit will solve a lot of your problems. Also, take pictures of what errors the dashboard is showing for the dealer and for proof for Ford... If you don't have proof, the dealer won't believe you.

Best of luck.
The good outweighs the bad for the Lightnings.... Hopefully Ford will keep updating our trucks until they make them were they won't create mystery faults.
It looks like Sodium Ion jump boxes are starting to appear on Amazon. They might be a good alternative for winter use, especially if you’re storing the box in the frunk.
 

21st Century Truck

Well-known member
First Name
Martin
Joined
Jul 11, 2024
Threads
17
Messages
1,030
Reaction score
1,226
Location
Virginia
Vehicles
Ford 150 Lightning 2023 XLT ER pkg. 312A
It is shocking to me that a 12V battery the size of a Coke can is the keeper of my entire Trucks health! What a horrible design.

I had LITERALLY 20 seconds notice from lights on the dash to 4 ton brick.
The 12V battery a bit larger. It is about the size of a four-pack of 16-ounce Coke cans. :wink:

I actually had something nearly identical happen last month, and I have over 90 thousand miles on my Lightning and know it pretty well. The truck refused to start when running shopping errands one sunny day. Just was completely dead dead dead. I of course tried everything and nothing solved the problem. So I called my insurance company's tow truck.

To my embarrassment, the tow truck driver 1st wiggled the negative and positive cables for the 12V battery. GUESS WHAT: the negative cable was loose. Talk about a red face on my head haha.

Good Luck! You have a good truck.
 

Heliian

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2023
Threads
5
Messages
1,918
Reaction score
2,208
Location
Canada
Vehicles
2023 LR Lariat, code name "Boogaloo"
If you haven't already, replace the 12v battery.

It's about the size of a six pack of tall cans.

What forscan changes did you make?

Do you have an obd reader plugged in all the time? Those draw battery also.
 

Sponsored

EV Engineer

Well-known member
First Name
M
Joined
May 22, 2025
Threads
4
Messages
67
Reaction score
88
Vehicles
2023 Ford Lightning XLT
Occupation
Engineer
"Never blame on malice what can be explained by incompetence"

Sounds like a poorly run dealership with a bunch of knuckleheads. This isn't some systemic FoMoCo thing.
 
OP
OP
FastCote

FastCote

Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Oct 16, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
18
Reaction score
16
Location
Columbus OH
Vehicles
2022 MachE GT, 2022 F150 Lightning Lariat, 2022 F150 Lightning Platinum
If you haven't already, replace the 12v battery.

It's about the size of a six pack of tall cans.

What forscan changes did you make?

Do you have an obd reader plugged in all the time? Those draw battery also.
I have an OBD link Bluetooth dongle. I ran it in my first lightning for 2 years with no issues. It's been in this current lightning for another year with no issues until now
 

flux capacitor

Well-known member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Nov 21, 2023
Threads
0
Messages
98
Reaction score
100
Location
Florida
Vehicles
2023 F-150 Lightning
Since the dealer found nothing wrong it kind of sounds like what happened to me a couple of years ago I went to make an errand and it did almost the same thing refused to start or go into reverse. The speedometer went blank. I shut it off and on and still nothing. I tried a bunch of other things since I was starting to panic. I have a small garage the truck barely fits in the thought of a tow truck pulling out gave me nightmares of my truck getting scratched to hell pulling it out. I finally gave up and took my other car. Later that night I tried again and it turned on everything worked I could put it in reverse and back out of the garage all was good. I thought maybe it was a theft deterrent the more you try and for some reason the truck cannot verify you it finally locks you out. It has been a few Ford updates since then and I have never had that issue since, but I also don't try to do too many things when starting the truck and focus on one thing at a time and stay calm.
 

Sponsored

rugedraw

Well-known member
First Name
Javier
Joined
Dec 14, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
1,829
Reaction score
2,222
Location
Miami
Vehicles
2021 Ford F150 Platinum FX4 EB/2023 Bronco Sport Badlands/1991 Mustang 5.0 coupe
Occupation
Auto Sales
OMFG, they have been looking up THE WRONG TRUCK this whole time.

My confidence is at an all time low
It's funny, because when I looked up our messages to get your VIN, you told me in the message that you have two. It never occurred to me that the dealer was pulling the incorrect VIN. It's a silly mistake, but I see how that can happen.
 
OP
OP
FastCote

FastCote

Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Oct 16, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
18
Reaction score
16
Location
Columbus OH
Vehicles
2022 MachE GT, 2022 F150 Lightning Lariat, 2022 F150 Lightning Platinum
It's funny, because when I looked up our messages to get your VIN, you told me in the message that you have two. It never occurred to me that the dealer was pulling the incorrect VIN. It's a silly mistake, but I see how that can happen.
Ya, I actually feel bad for the guy. He apologized profusely. I told him shit happens. At least then can properly diagnose now :)
 

ElectrifyingMe25

Well-known member
First Name
Trav
Joined
Jul 31, 2025
Threads
13
Messages
133
Reaction score
169
Vehicles
F150 Lightning, XLT, 2023
Occupation
Engineer
Ya, I actually feel bad for the guy. He apologized profusely. I told him shit happens. At least then can properly diagnose now :)
Thank goodness the discovery of the mistake was made. It never hurts to check and double check when it comes to stuff that doesn't add up. I'm happy for you.

Let us know how it goes from here.

Best of luck.
 

TruckOwner1

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
11
Reaction score
32
Location
US
Vehicles
Lightning
What's worse is Ford used to show the LVB status on the ford website when you logged in and looked at your vehicle. As everyone was asking them to add the functionality to the Ford app they removed the feature from the website.

I'm surprised they haven't come up with a monthly fee to get the functionality added back.
 

RLXXI

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
34
Messages
1,631
Reaction score
1,469
Location
3rd rock
Vehicles
2025 F 150 Flash, 2013 F 150 XLT, 2014 Escape, 2011 Suzuki DR 650SE
Occupation
Automotive Technician
I use several of these, battery monitor Bluetooth only. I think they have some with wifi but the cost climbs.
Sponsored

 
 







Top