Lightning Experience Improvement Suggestions

[Perry]

I

Yes, the sketch app in the entertainment tab in infortaimnet(where YouTube and ahem… Netflix should be).

I never noticed that app! And yes, Netflix and others should be there

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[TrapMastiff]

I


I never noticed that app! And yes, Netflix and others should be there

That’s what I’m saying my man.

 

[Perry]

You know what app I’d like to see? And this will sound strange maybe, but I’d like to be able to run my Kindle app from my iPhone on the truck screen. I love to read, and often do when I’m parked in the truck, sometimes while grabbing some food, and I’d love to be able to put my book on the big vertical screen, which is the perfect ratio for reading.

 

[TrapMastiff]

Added.

All that said- These are my concerns with my new Lightning, the FordPass app, FordPass Visa App and Ford Motor Company generally.



FordPass App. TL;DR it’s ok.

1. I should be able to message and schedule service, send photos and videos about my concern and track progress of my service(and loaner car) visit all in real time on the native app. Not some BS link to a website that you have to call a number if it’s anything other than a haphazard selection of services(none of which cater to an EV).
2. I bought a 72k truck. How in 2025 does my phone not work as a key? Wild. And disappointing. For 2k more a cyber truck uses no key fobs.
3. Service history- why can’t I see actual invoices that I can download(native on the app)? That’s absurd.
4. Maintnance schedule- should default to my mileage.
5. I should be able to change the color of my truck as well as wheels in the app.
6. I should be able to open and close the trunk and tailgate from the app.
7. I should be able to see out of the cameras from the app live streamed and be able to send clips from my phone to anyone.
8. I should be able to send an address from my phone(maps) to my truck.
9. I should be able to see how fast it’s going, what doors are open, and what music is playing, and what lights are on in real time on the app
10. I should be able to purchase parts, service, accessories(for my VIN) and vehicles all on the app(like Amazon).

F-150 Lightning Features(or lack thereof)-

1. Software updates. A clear and concise description of all versions and software updates that have ever been on the truck under the software update tab.
2. The splash screen shows a 2022 Lightning not my 24.
3. Drive mode- eco should be available(why is this not a thing?). Numb the accelerator, minimize usage of A/C, max regen, etc.
4. Chargeport heater. When it snows and you are charging, it’s impossible to close. Additionally, the charge flap seems flimsy and will break if you try to close it anyway. Or look at it wrong. I should be able to enable the charge port heater from the GUI in the truck.
5. instrument cluster packs- the Instrument Cluster is one giant screen, why can’t I buy any gauge cluster representation ford has ever made? You guys(corporate) own the copyrights…. From the model T to a 69 Boss mustang, or a 1993 Saleen mustang or 2002 F-150 lightning or even a Ford GT40. I mean that would be awesome- you guys did this on the mustang… I should be able to replicate that on my dash. Why? Because it’s cool! And Ford isn’t boring right?
6. Feedback- feedback microphone is cool, but why can’t I get a ticket number? This way it looks like I’m heard and the customer has incentives to continue providing feedback.
7. Feedback cont- why can’t I send a feedback request OR FEATURE REQUEST through the app?
8. Again- a 72k truck….. garage door remote, manual rear windshield vent thing, and MEMORY SEATS should be standard. Also why can’t I have an optional(or dealer installed 2nd row heated seats. IN A 72k TRUCK! All these should be something I can install at the dealer.
9. The games are cool and creative. I want to see Netflix and YouTube as well as a web browser I can hook up a mouse or game controller to. Additionally the instrument cluster should also be a second screen to watch movies on.
10. UPFITTER SWITCHES! You guys make them for like every other truck except this one. I should be able to splice in lights no sweat. Make terminals at various places in the truck so I can easily add them to the upfitter switch .
11. The power outlets are badass! Thanks.
12. DOG MODE- the screen should tell people that my mastiff Otto is chillin at whatever the temp is set so my windows won’t get broken out.
13. Improve the GUI of the truck- zone lighting up fitter switches, pro-power and things of the sort should be in a tab labeled “Ford Pro” not scattered about the interface.
14. A way to upload insurance documents so that if you get pulled over it’s on the screen.
15. No notification on the app if charging stops
16. Make Google EV routing work on all trucks (soon™)

1. Opening frunk should not turn off remote start
2. Eliminate Pro power minimum power draw in 6 minutes or it shuts off
3. Longer passenger side windshield wiper(so I'm not looking thru half clear half not)
4. Default to last drive mode when starting
5. Physical climate buttons on all trims
6. Auto climate using more fan speed so it keeps up
7. ACC better able to handle crossing traffic without freaking out and mashing the brakes, especially at Michigan lefts
8. Android auto dropping out at specific streches of road and re connecting
9. Bluecruise able to drive thru open road tolling
10. Better climate control for rear seat
11. More aggressive auto hi beam turn on, especially turning back on after on coming traffic has passed
12. Projecting iPhone/android apps on the screen.
    1. Project Amazon kindle when parked and map the next song buttons to flip pages.

Ford Motor Company Generally-

1. At this price point why don’t you guys have a Lightning experience? When I went to the ST SUV experience with my wife it was so memorable we nearly purchased another Explorer ST to replace the lemon ST we had a nightmare with(see above).
2. Ford Power Promise- I should get tracking(within hours) and a phone call within a day of closing(I wonder if Qmerit works Sundays)
3. I should be able to submit all paperwork to the dealer via the app. Theoretically I should be able to see the entire deal in real time on the app. This prevents people from getting bored waiting on F/I.
4. SWAG!- there’s like nothing available on the ford website flightning specific swag(shirts, yetis, coolers, etc).
5. Lightning specific accessories- I have to wade through a bunch of F-150 gas/diesel accessories instead of having ONE MORE DROP DOWN.
6. Ford Performance- can’t you guys make an accessories pack for the Lightning like the mustang? Lowering kit, wheels performance tires fog lights spoilers, decals, an ST mode? You guys made a Ford Performance Lightning concept so I know not everyone over in Dearborn isn’t boring.
7. An active duty service member should not have to fight tooth and nail to fund a car though FoMoCo. All I needed to provide was orders. I kept being asked for proof of residence(AD Servicemeber buying a vehicle in Colorado with FL as state of residence).

FordPass Visa and App

1. I should be able to see my points and tier levels directly on the app. Not get a link to sign in again
2. Ford Credit, FordPass, and FordPass Visa should be one app.

Additionally:



Why can’t I purchase lifetime BlueCruise at anytime via the app?

 

[Temix]

FMC - you should consider hiring this guy.

This one topic is more meaningful than most of the Ford app features.

 

[TrapMastiff]

FMC - you should consider hiring this guy.

This one topic is more meaningful than most of the Ford app features.

@Ford Motor Company

As a matter of fact, I already have a 9-point plan to improve Customer Satisfaction and Sales for FMC and another EV manufacturer.

 

[TrapMastiff]

I appreciate it.

The traction on this thread is superb.

 

[Temix]

I appreciate it.

The traction on this thread is superb.

I’d honestly bet $50 that if this list could be shown directly to the FMC CEO without the layers of bureaucracy, it would be implemented in the current app or the next version.

 

[TrapMastiff]

I’d honestly bet $50 that if this list could be shown directly to the FMC CEO without the layers of bureaucracy, it would be implemented in the current app or the next version.

Interestingly,

I’ve interacted with a possible update to an app and had very pointed feedback on how to make it better.

I would be honored to meet Jim Farley. That dude is someone who gets it. If I had 15 minutes of his time- I think EV sales would go through the roof.

what I have seen in the automotive space is the same I’ve seen with my counterparts in other organizations.

Silos of excellence.

No cross functional work or very few opportunities for end users to provide inputs before serious decisions are made.

By no means should car making be a democratic process with the end user, but I fundamentally believe that finding what works, and more importantly what can be improved with little cost is more important.

Take the iPhone for instance. It is updated until the hardware is no longer capable of running the latest software.
That’s the same process that Tesla has done a superb job on, that Ford and others have fallen short on.


Ford makes the best truck on the market right in this moment.
If they step up their software game they will run the table.

 

[TrapMastiff]

@Ford Motor Company

What are the chances Jim Farley gets on here.

The F-150 platform is the biggest seller right?

 

[Nftypjs]

Big facts.
similar to the dog mode where you leave the truck running, turn off the shut down timer and draw a note using sketch.

are there any feature requests or other items you would like to add to the list?

Would be pretty simple to add drive modes in the dash screen and steering wheel controls instead of having to go into the menu. Like stupid easy, especially considering every other electric car I've driven has the drive mode in the steering wheel.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Items to add that haven’t been covered:

Ford Pass App:

- The ability to enable or disable Pro Power.

- If opening at a charging location that is part of BlueOval but does not support plug-n-charge preset me with a prompt to activate the charger.

- If you want me to use the Ford nav then add a trip planner!!!! This needs to include custom departure time, SoC, and towing options.



F150 Lightning Features:

- @Ford Motor Company Give me a setting to manually initiate battery pre-conditioning for DCFC! That or add it all major CarPlay and Android Auto nav apps like ABRP, Apple Maps, and Google Maps.

-Give me a notification when the truck is pre-conditioning for DCFC.

-Address the silly 12v issues. I still see the odd error or the truck shutting down due to low voltage. I plug the truck in EVERY day so there no reason for this. I’m mildly terrified to add any accessories to the truck as I’m concerned the 12v system won’t be able to handle it.

-Address the weird bugs. I weekly will encounter the truck giving the wrong chimes for an open door, BlueCruise, park sensors, and others. This could be related to the 12v bugs.

-Give me the ability to disable auto shutoff of Pro-Power if the load is too low or better yet, give me a user selected timer option.

-The addition of a Baja or Raptor mode would be amazing. I’d love to see a much more aggressive rear power bias on the power split.



Next Gen Lightning Considerations:

-The 131kWh pack is plenty. That said for road trips, I’d love to see faster charging speeds. I’d LOVE to see an 800v charging mode that can bring the truck from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes. This would also mean that 10% to 50% or 10% to 60% charging sessions would be only 10 to 15 minutes. Speeds like this would be a game changer, especially for those who tow. There are tons of 350kw and 400kw chargers out there. Let’s leverage them! 800v charging IS the future.

-Let’s up the Pro Power 240v to 12kW (240v x 50a) and utilize a NEMA 14-50 outlet. This is better for operating welders and using the truck as home backup via Pro Power.

-Speaking of the 240v Pro Power outlet, we need a floating natural!!!!! You’ve created a system that if owners want to back up power to their home with Pro Power that we need to violate code by not connecting the home ground circuit to the truck. Doing so trips the trucks GFCI. Fix this!

-More power feedback. It’s great that Ford supports V2H back up power via the SunRun. HOWEVER, it would be amazing if the truck supported an open source or non-proprietary V2H option. Nothing against the Ford Powerstation Pro or SunRun hardware but the reliability issues are well documented in these forums. Furthermore why would customers want to invest $10,000 into a system that ONLY will work for this generation of the F150 Lightning?




Ford Motor Co:

I genuinely hope you continue to invest in and develop the Lightning platform. Every non-EV owner that I’ve exposed to this truck is always blown away. Yes adoption is slow but the tide is shifting. You have two things to overcome, 1. EV stigma, and 2. the price. Every trim level of these trucks need to be $7,500 to $10,000 less. Getting old school truck buyers to invest $80,000 into tech that is so stigmatized in the conservative space is a difficult proposition. Pricing would go a long way to fixing that issue.

Please address the over the air updates. Why did I have to schedule a service appointment for a software update to my braking system? I thought that was the point of OTA updates?


Now I know that’s a lot of feedback, but it’s because I want to see this truck get better and mature. You’ve already created what I truly believe is the best EV truck on the market, and good as it is, has shown even more potential that would lead to it dominating the market. Do it!

 

[BabyDoc1012]

For those that mention having drive mode default to last used, I believe it is an EPA thing, just like it is ICE vehicles to maintain maintain the EPA rating. That is why engine start/stop always turns on as well as drive mode returns to normal.
Honestly, I the improvements I’d like to see is a button on the fob to open the frunk. Most of these recommendations are superficial, which is fine, but what Ford really needs to do is to have the service soon notification tell you what needs to be serviced, not generic powertrain fault. Maybe focus on getting through a year with minimal recalls, and work with the dealers to actually do the work Ford pays them for and we as customers expect. Not just order a part based on what the customer says, but actually pull codes to see what’s wrong.

 

[P-38]

For those that mention having drive mode default to last used, I believe it is an EPA thing, just like it is ICE vehicles to maintain maintain the EPA rating. That is why engine start/stop always turns on as well as drive mode returns to normal.
Honestly, I the improvements I’d like to see is a button to open the frunk. Most of these recommendations are superficial, which is fine, but what Ford really needs to do is to have the service soon notification tell you what needs to be serviced, not generic powertrain fault. Maybe focus on getting through a year with minimal recalls, and work with the dealers to actually do the work Ford pays them for and we as customers expect. Not just order a part based on what the customer says, but actually pull codes to see what’s wrong.

There is a button to open the frunk. It's closer to the driver's side. It also closes it.
On the interior of the truck there is a button as well to the left of steering wheel near the light controls.

 

[P-38]

-Speaking of the 240v Pro Power outlet, we need a floating natural!!!!! You’ve created a system that if owners want to back up power to their home with Pro Power that we need to violate code by not connecting the home ground circuit to the truck. Doing so trips the trucks GFCI. Fix this!

This is an electrical code thing that Ford is going to be unable to fix.

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