Normal day to day stuff. Question

[daczone]

I've had my truck for a few months now and I prefer to be in the Sport Mode. But when I put it in Sport it only is there for the current driving session. I get a quick question the next time I drive but it usually goes away too fast for me to catch it. So my question is... Can I KEEP it in Sport/Performance mode? Even if I have to use Forscan? I hate this feature/function.

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[B177y]

This is a fun little quirk. All modes default back to "Normal" on a restart. Even if you're towing and have it in Tow Mode, it goes to Normal on a restart after a microsecond-long message that asks if you want to stay in Tow Mode. Same with Sport Mode, if you don't click ok for the microsecond that the message is up, you're back in Normal.

 

[The Weatherman]

As indicated above you can keep it there , but only if you respond to the prompt at the next startup. The issue has been discussed more than any dead horse before it. It was a NTSHA issue due to the change in handling characteristics of the varies modes.

So you must acknowledge you know what the state is.

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

On my xlt ER, on the infotainment screen, I set the "shortcut" to "drive mode"

For the rare occasion I forgot to press the "ok" to keep it in sport mode. I can easily tap one spot on the screen to get back to drive mode then tap to reactivate sport mode... Just be ready for a jolt of acceleration if you are actively driving and pressing the accelerator.

 

[bmwhitetx]

The issue has been discussed more than any dead horse before it.

Respectfully disagree . As a member here 2 years longer, I rank the dead horse topics as:

1. My range estimate is less than expected
2. [It's cold here now] and my range estimate has gone down.
3. I charged to 100% and my range estimate ...
4. Tesla Supercharger didn't work for me [what do you mean they aren't all available!]
5. What version of BC do I have?
6. What software version does my truck have?
7. Why can't my 2024+ charge above 48A?
8. I connected my bed outlet to my house panel and the GFI keeps tripping.
9. How do I stay in Sport mode
10. I want to install a solar tonneau to increase my range
11. Does the Lightning have a LFP / LiFePO4 battery? [No]

update 8/5/25: added software version (thanks @flypony53) and GFI
update 8/25: added LFP, 48A vs 80A charger

 

[hturnerfamily]

it's interesting that our answer to 'why' for Sport Mode is simply that NHSTA won't allow it, although, I own another EV, and have seen many other vehicles where your 'mode' you were in last, CONTINUES for the next start-up, regardless, even if it's 'Sport' related.

I find that it's actually more 'unsafe' if the Sport Mode you expected defaults to 'Normal' mode, and the first thing you encounter is your truck running away from you down your driveway as you start to pull out... interesting. I would think that more regeneration, slowing, is a GOOD thing, not something for the NHSTA or anyone else to be worried about.

 

[RickLightning]

The NHTSA doesn't care about Sport Mode. They care about Off-Road mode, because it changes stability control that isn't optimal for on-road driving. They think some idiot will (and they are right) keep it in off-road mode on pavement.

Ford could simply not maintain that driving mode, and keep the others, but it was easier to simply revert to Normal to undo it. Hopefully future software changes will let us keep Sport Mode engaged.

 

[Altivec]

it's interesting that our answer to 'why' for Sport Mode is simply that NHSTA won't allow it, although, I own another EV, and have seen many other vehicles where your 'mode' you were in last, CONTINUES for the next start-up, regardless, even if it's 'Sport' related.

I find that it's actually more 'unsafe' if the Sport Mode you expected defaults to 'Normal' mode, and the first thing you encounter is your truck running away from you down your driveway as you start to pull out... interesting. I would think that more regeneration, slowing, is a GOOD thing, not something for the NHSTA or anyone else to be worried about.

I agree its way more dangerous for it to be switching modes then to leave it as is. I have been playing Fords annoying game and doing my best to keep it in sports mode by pressing ok before the two second pop up goes away. The odd time I forget, I get freaked out when the truck starts coasting instead of getting the sports regen I am expecting. I also tow a lot and the decision to automatically take it out of tow mode even thought the truck is well aware a trailer is still attached is almost criminal.

As others have stated this complaint has been beaten to death for FOUR YEARS now. As a programmer, this is as simple a fix as it gets. They can easily isolate "off road" mode as the only mode that defaults to "normal" but Ford chooses to ignore this simple fix that everyone has been asking for. They are clearly not understanding that something so simple as this will lose you customers in the end. Not because it's a huge deal but because they refuse to listen or commuicate to their customers. My loyalty to Ford trucks is really starting to plummet solely because of the software team. If this along with many of the other well documented things are not fixed by the time I am ready for a new truck, this will be my last Ford. They already lost out on Mach-E sale for my wife, for this exact reason.

 

[flypony53]

Respectfully disagree . As a member here 2 years longer, I rank the dead horse topics as:

1. My range estimate is less than expected
2. [It's cold here now] and my range estimate has gone down...
3. I charged to 100% and my range estimate...
4. Tesla Supercharger didn't work for me [what do you mean they aren't all available!]
5. What version of BC do I have?
6. How do I stay in Sport mode
7. I want to install a solar tonneau to increase my range

Hahahahaha...I had not seen number 7 yet, but yes...I would change 7 or add to 5 " what version of "software" is my truck on?"

I add to my dead horse topic that I keep hearing and then I add to is how do I force an update? Me, I am going on 1 year since my last update.

 

[flypony53]

I agree its way more dangerous for it to be switching modes then to leave it as is. I have been playing Fords annoying game and doing my best to keep it in sports mode by pressing ok before the two second pop up goes away. The odd time I forget, I get freaked out when the truck starts coasting instead of getting the sports regen I am expecting. I also tow a lot and the decision to automatically take it out of tow mode even thought the truck is well aware a trailer is still attached is almost criminal.

As others have stated this complaint has been beaten to death for FOUR YEARS now. As a programmer, this is as simple a fix as it gets. They can easily isolate "off road" mode as the only mode that defaults to "normal" but Ford chooses to ignore this simple fix that everyone has been asking for. They are clearly not understanding that something so simple as this will lose you customers in the end. Not because it's a huge deal but because they refuse to listen or commuicate to their customers. My loyalty to Ford trucks is really starting to plummet solely because of the software team. If this along with many of the other well documented things are not fixed by the time I am ready for a new truck, this will be my last Ford. They already lost out on Mach-E sale for my wife, for this exact reason.

I am in complete agreement here. After 3+ years of ownership, the "quirks" need to be worked out. So many little nits get in the way of a great truck.

 

[Wendy]

Respectfully disagree . As a member here 2 years longer, I rank the dead horse topics as:

1. My range estimate is less than expected
2. [It's cold here now] and my range estimate has gone down.
3. I charged to 100% and my range estimate ...
4. Tesla Supercharger didn't work for me [what do you mean they aren't all available!]
5. What version of BC do I have?
6. What software version does my truck have? (thanks @flypony53)
7. I connected my bed outlet to my house panel and the GFI keeps tripping.
8. How do I stay in Sport mode
9. I want to install a solar tonneau to increase my range

update 8/5/25 (added 6 and 7)

10. How do I keep ProPower from turning off.

 

[Joneii]

Where is Dog Mode or Pet Park or whatever un patented name you want to come up with?

 

[TechnoSwiss]

I don't suppose you can change modes via the OBDII port? Automate switching to sport mode via a system talking to OBDII? Course, if that were to work, that could open a whole new can of worms having a system plugged into your truck that you have setup to tweak settings automatically, I could see that going bad in a hurry...

 

[TechnoSwiss]

I am in complete agreement here. After 3+ years of ownership, the "quirks" need to be worked out. So many little nits get in the way of a great truck.

There's a story/legend in the software engineering circles of an individual who got so sick and tired of a bug in a company's software, that he applied for a position at that company, got hired, basically spent his time tracking down and fixing said bug, and then once it was pushed out, quit.

 

[Altivec]

There's a story/legend in the software engineering circles of an individual who got so sick and tired of a bug in a company's software, that he applied for a position at that company, got hired, basically spent his time tracking down and fixing said bug, and then once it was pushed out, quit.

I wish it were that easy. The problem with most of the issues that people complain about over and over again is that they are not hard to find bugs. Something like having the modes stick is easily fixable but Ford chooses to ignore the countless requests and do something else with the very limited resources they are allocating for this. I also get that. you can't please everyone but something like having the truck "stay the way you leave it", that almost everyone is surprised to learn does not function that way when they first get their new truck, is just plain deliberate and a slap in the face. 4 years and countless updates of fixing the update mechanism and they can't slip this into one of those updates is no longer justifiable. In this new world of software based cars, this type of conduct loses customers. If Ford does not start getting serious about software and fix these simple things that the masses have been asking for, this will be my last Ford. I have a ton of patience but unfortunately it ran out.

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