F150 Bugs/Undesirable Features

[bramstoy]

First of all, technology giveth and it taketh away!

I do appreciate many of the tech features and creature comforts but here are a few annoying F150 bugs that I would certainly change if I had my druthers:
1. The external marker, cargo and tail lamps turn on every time I open or close a door. I wish to disable this. I have searched manuals, switches and settings high and low and contacted Ford support multiple times regarding this matter. Ain’t nothin doin!
2. The interior “dome” lights button will not override the automatic on feature. For instance; I turn on the lights by pushing the button and forget to push it again before getting out. I have to get back in the truck, close the door and wait for the automatic circuit to time out before I can then turn the lights off again!
3. The cargo light button will not override the automatic on feature. If the cargo light is on and I wish to turn it off then I should be able to push the button and have that happen! Also the opposite. (Push button, reverse current state)
4. The headlamp switch will not preserve the current state post ignition. For instance, if the switch is in the marker light or off position with the engine not running and I then start the truck, the switch will default to auto and the lights will come on! Not ideal for backing out of the driveway without shining lights through the house windows.
5. The center cluster screen will not preserve the selected mode. It would be nice to not have to select the preferred display screen every time I start the truck.
6. The trip meters tend to reset automatically on occasion. They also display “hold ok to reset” for several seconds over the numbers I am trying to read every time they are selected.

I have a 2023 STX and there are many features that I truly appreciate but the ones above have been the most annoying! NO stealth lighting for camping or courtesy, for one thing. Thoughts, suggestions, solutions? Thanks for reading through this. Be well!

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[hatallica]

5. The center cluster screen will not preserve the selected mode. It would be nice to not have to select the preferred display screen every time I start the truck.

This is one of the stranger "features". It is like roulette. Sometimes I land on the Android Auto screen. Sometimes I land on Settings. The only one that never happens is Audio, where I typically leave it when I turn off the truck.

 

[kt06siggm]

Number 4 is a design feature to default back to Auto headlamp mode. You can change this behavior with Forscan if you'd prefer the headlamps to stay in the mode you choose with the selector. You may also be able to change the behavior of Number 2 with forscan, but cannot confirm.

 

[HammaMan]

Most of this is resolvable in forscan and buttons in the truck. Turn off the auto interior lighting with the button in the overhead console. There's also police dark mode that keeps the vehicle blacked out.

 

[bramstoy]

Most of this is resolvable in forscan and buttons in the truck. Turn off the auto interior lighting with the button in the overhead console. There's also police dark mode that keeps the vehicle blacked out.

The interior lighting buttons in my truck will not override the auto feature but you did inspire me to try something and it worked. If scenario 2 from above occurs, rather than waiting for the circuit to time out I can push the auto button, then push the lights button and the lights go off. I can then reenable the auto feature before exiting if I choose.
Regarding Forscan; If I’m not mistaken, Forscan is a proprietary Ford software which requires a module to interface with it through the OBD port to change settings, so there’s that. Correct me if I’m wrong.
How do I access “police dark mode”? Is that a Forscan setting? Thanks for your feedback!

 

[HammaMan]

Forscan is a program some russians coded many years ago and still update, has nothing to do with ford.

 

[TarnishedCopper]

Why should the users have to utilize a computer program and risk screwing something else up just to make the lights and display work as we want it to? And why doesn't this expensive beast remember the settings we set? I got in my truck Tuesday and it reported it had just done an update. All the screen options I set were wiped out and replaced by what Ford wanted us to have. Why can't Ford simply use switches to turn things off and on like they did from the year 1910 forward? I am wondering if there will be a time when Ford will do an update and if you are over whatever magic number of miles they choose they will turn your truck into a yard ornament. Not having the Nav package, Sirius XM (not available when I bought this truck) and trying to get the Android Auto to link-up and work while driving is plain dangerous when Ford reset the options!

 

[EdJ]

The interior lighting buttons in my truck will not override the auto feature but you did inspire me to try something and it worked. If scenario 2 from above occurs, rather than waiting for the circuit to time out I can push the auto button, then push the lights button and the lights go off. I can then reenable the auto feature before exiting if I choose.
Regarding Forscan; If I’m not mistaken, Forscan is a proprietary Ford software which requires a module to interface with it through the OBD port to change settings, so there’s that. Correct me if I’m wrong.
How do I access “police dark mode”? Is that a Forscan setting? Thanks for your feedback!

Forscan is a pretty powerful tool you can download to a laptop and mini version for smart phone...here is the link. Read everything and be cautious, if you're not sure don't do it. Before I change anything I write down the current parameters, so if need be I can go back to the factory settings...https://forscan.org/

 

[srmerk]

There are several things I don't care for in my 24 that I had and understood in my 18.
1. Daytime running lights are the very small amber lights not head lights. I know some might think the amber lights look cool/better but I would perfer headlights
2. Automatic lights setting; I use the automatic light settings. What I find odd is during the time of the day I might check my setting to ensure I have lights(dawn dusk and that grey rainy day) there is no indication on the dash panel I have my lights set to automatic. ONLY AFTER my lights come on do I have the dash display my lights are set on Automatic. Really? During that questionable time when I observe other cars without lights I must duck my head under the steering wheel to see the light switch setting. WTF Ford Engineers
3. Setting Needed: In more than half the states within the US it is required BY LAW to have lights(Head and Tail) when you wipers are on. Why is this not a standard option? This only makes sence......
4. While speaking of lights. I would perfer to have head and tail as a default setting, have the lights turn on and off when vehicle turns on/off. Sounds simple

 

[HammaMan]

Why should the users have to utilize a computer program and risk screwing something else up just to make the lights and display work as we want it to? And why doesn't this expensive beast remember the settings we set?

If you want infinite options, there's going to have to be a tradeoff. If you don't want to configure your vehicle, congrats, it's exactly as it's going to be. Usability in HMI is literally a doctorate level field and you can tell companies that understand it and those that don't. Ford doesn't quite get it but that's okay because their incompetence is endemic -- they've done it all along and it's top down. They've got 2 settings menus in sync alone with drivability options sprinkled under both.

 

[Davexxxx]

Re the interior lighting, vs. ambient lighting ... Is there a way to have the rear cab lights come on but not the fronts, when a door opens?

 

[bramstoy]

I have my doubts. They’d have to be on separate circuits, which is not likely.

 

[jasonkosi]

3. Setting Needed: In more than half the states within the US it is required BY LAW to have lights(Head and Tail) when you wipers are on. Why is this not a standard option? This only makes sence......

If your lights are on the auto setting the headlights & taillights come on when you turn the wipers on. Ford and many other manufacturers have had this for years.

 

[Goldeneye36]

I am overall very happy with my 2024 but there are a few quirks that I wish I could change.

1. Preserving my AC settings between drives. It's been cooler overnight where I live so I've been turning off the AC and opening the windows. It's mildly annoying to have the A/C default to On every time I start the truck even if it's 50 degrees outside.

2. The seatbelt display in the center of the cluster won't go away automatically when the seat belts are fastened. You have hit OK on the wheel or wait a very long time. Yes, I know my seatbelt is fastened. Go away now.

III. Keeping the gear display up between drives without having to hit the +/- every time. Not sure why they changed this as previous years going back as far as my 2011 retained it's setting.

D. It would be nice to have even more gauges available, particularly for Powerboost-specific stuff like HVB SOC, temps, etc. Actually I would prefer even more customizability for the digital dash in general.

 

[srmerk]

If your lights are on the auto setting the headlights & taillights come on when you turn the wipers on. Ford and many other manufacturers have had this for years.

Thanks for the input. I just tested and you provide "light" in an otherwise dim situation

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