Hybrid Shifting Clunkiness from Reviewers?

[Snakebitten]

I'm not sure exactly what the limitations are for over the air updates, but I would be very surprised if they were the kind of firmware updates to a transmission module that Ford uses IDS to accomplish. IDS has direct access to the bus all across the various modules. And there are an unbelievable number of modules in this truck.
But if that kind of thing does become something Ford could and would deploy, man would that be awesome. Although as a consumer and owner of the truck, I would want to have a say on what updates are applied.

I would guess the over the air upgrades would be limited to module settings that can be accessed through the Sync system? Whatever those capabilities are network wise. But there's SO much about these Powerboost trucks that I have never seen on ANY truck before that I don't know what I don't know.

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[ptricky]

I'm not sure exactly what the limitations are for over the air updates, but I would be very surprised if they were the kind of firmware updates to a transmission module that Ford uses IDS to accomplish.

Likewise. I was not expecting the updates to change anything in the core modules. I don't think the transmission got new firmware. I do suspect the update unexpectedly triggered the adaptive relearning process.

 

[scrming]

I echo others… I would really be surprised if actual firmware updates were taking place… I’m thinking along the lines that some learning stuff was simply reset as others suggested…. I do know however that what ever was done made a very noticeable difference.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

My May 7 KR PowerBoost has been smooth as butter over 5,000 miles, 3,500 of which were towing a 9,750-pound boat trailer rig. I have some issues with the truck, but the transmission has run fine, even when running at overheat mode on two occasions. Super-smooth, excellent downshift characteristics in tow mode. The truck has almost no engine braking torque, so the transmission gets a workout.

 

[toyko joe]

Had a very scary and interesting thing happen yesterday.

I was turning left onto a 4 lane main road that was not divided. The truck was in electric mode at the stop sign, as I started to turn left the truck shifted from 1 -> 3 and switched to hybrid mode, I was in the second lane of on coming traffic and the truck nosedives as if it stalled between electric and hybrid mode where it took what felt like 2 seconds to switch over to hybrid and accelerate. This was very alarming I felt like I was going to get broad sided and because of this I pushed harder on the accelerator so as soon as it was in hybrid mode the truck revved to 4000 RPM and took off like a bat out of hell.

Has anyone else experienced a stall of power between electric and hybrid modes when accelerating?

Very scary and not sure I can replicate the issue for a service tech... UGH!

 

[Smitdog]

I have a Limited PowerBoost built in February 2021, now have around 4400 miles on it.

I experience clunky shifting when starting from a stop, transitioning from electric to gas, and while shifting somewhere from 1st to 3rd (not sure if it skips 2nd, but it's somewhere in this range).

I also have major dash reboot issue that's been going on for months. Called 3 local dealers, and all want to keep my truck for 3-4 days just to look into the problem (and no loaners available). Can't even schedule an appointment to look at it, can only schedule an appointment for them to keep my truck for 3-4 days, in which case it will sit parked outside there for 3 of the 4 days. Completely unacceptable.

So I'm forced to schedule to drop my truck off when I'm on vacation at the end of January 2022.

And I've never received an OTA update.

 

[F-150 Prius]

I have a Limited PowerBoost built in February 2021, now have around 4400 miles on it.

I experience clunky shifting when starting from a stop, transitioning from electric to gas, and while shifting somewhere from 1st to 3rd (not sure if it skips 2nd, but it's somewhere in this range).

I also have major dash reboot issue that's been going on for months. Called 3 local dealers, and all want to keep my truck for 3-4 days just to look into the problem (and no loaners available). Can't even schedule an appointment to look at it, can only schedule an appointment for them to keep my truck for 3-4 days, in which case it will sit parked outside there for 3 of the 4 days. Completely unacceptable.

So I'm forced to schedule to drop my truck off when I'm on vacation at the end of January 2022.

And I've never received an OTA update.

TRANSMISSION
They fixed my truck with a software update and a service bulletin on shift cable adjustment (which was also software calibration, I think.)
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/f-150-hybrid-harsh-shift-transmission-problem-fixed.5873/

UPDATES
The OTA updates seem to be "quiet" (not a message on the touchscreen, no email or release notes or changes in the owner's manual) and I'm not sure how to check which version a truck has applied.
I did see a notice once saying something about an update but didn't read it and haven't been able to find it again. I expected to be able to go to the system menu and just browse updates and the release notes. It said something like 'your Ford just got smarter' and mentioned some additional functions I think in navigation and in what the FordPass app can do, so maybe it was only that the FordPass app was updated.

 

[ToddnTX]

14k mikes and pretty clunky… wish it was smoother may have to have the dealership look at it. I’m just not excited about having a rental for a few days.

 

[toyko joe]

TRANSMISSION
They fixed my truck with a software update and a service bulletin on shift cable adjustment (which was also software calibration, I think.)
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/f-150-hybrid-harsh-shift-transmission-problem-fixed.5873/

UPDATES
The OTA updates seem to be "quiet" (not a message on the touchscreen, no email or release notes or changes in the owner's manual) and I'm not sure how to check which version a truck has applied.
I did see a notice once saying something about an update but didn't read it and haven't been able to find it again. I expected to be able to go to the system menu and just browse updates and the release notes. It said something like 'your Ford just got smarter' and mentioned some additional functions I think in navigation and in what the FordPass app can do, so maybe it was only that the FordPass app was updated.

What's the service bulletin number? (it doesn't list it in any threads I've read) I'd like to have this applied at my next service. Thanks!

 

[F-150 Prius]

What's the service bulletin number? (it doesn't list it in any threads I've read) I'd like to have this applied at my next service. Thanks!

I'll email the service writer.
Also, I've just started a long road trip. The first 2000+ miles has been great (still not great mpg, but we're traveling on freeways at 80 mph fully loaded) and the transmission has been great. It still has some "firm" downshifts to 9th or 8th with light throttle pressure, but around cities and traffic, it's smooth and doesn't make mistakes or harsh shifts. There's still some vague hybrid lag sometimes, for example turning through an intersection at a traffic light and starting to acclerate, but the gear shifts and clutch engagement are smooth. I've been sort of trying to make it make mistakes, but I haven't found a way to consistently trick it. I don't see any specific problem. Next week we pick up the snowmobile trailer loaded with gear and then we'll start to see winter and high altitudes for skiing and sledding. That's where a hybrid and onboard power are going to be luxury. Hopefully I won't need to see the service tech again till the next 10,000 miles are in the books.

 

[col]

Has anyone else experienced a stall of power between electric and hybrid modes when accelerating?

Very scary and not sure I can replicate the issue for a service tech... UGH!

Yes, my F150 PB has the same exact behavior and I have had three close calls. After the first two near crashes, I really make sure to have a lot of space for the F150 to find itself.

I had a third incident when I did allow a lot of time/space to turn across traffic but someone jetted out of a parking lot. It was not nearly as close but it still was nerve wracking.

When others drive my truck, I make sure to let them know about the lag.

When I take the truck in for the next service, I intend to bring it up.

 

[The Rod]

I’ve had my PowerBoost a couple weeks now and it’s been clunky at times but hasn’t bothered me. But yesterday after the update it was really clunky! Like wow is this thing going to come apart clunky! Hoping something got reset and the truck is relearning.

I'm with you on this one. For me when the engine kicks back on after being in elec mode anywhere from 25-40ish mph, it hits HARD.

 

[F-150 Prius]

I'll email the service writer.

fwiw, I've exchanged emails with the tech and not been able to get specific service bulletin details on what was done to dial in the shifting on my truck. All I can offer is that it used to be like others describe here with hard/harsh shifts and now it's smooth – not perfect, still makes mistakes, still does that "turbo lag" thing somethings when it seems to need a half an extra step before the ICE responds to the throttle, but it's usually smooth.

 

[F-150 Prius]

Yes, my F150 PB has the same exact behavior and I have had three close calls. After the first two near crashes, I really make sure to have a lot of space for the F150 to find itself.

I had a third incident when I did allow a lot of time/space to turn across traffic but someone jetted out of a parking lot. It was not nearly as close but it still was nerve wracking.

When others drive my truck, I make sure to let them know about the lag.

When I take the truck in for the next service, I intend to bring it up.

has anyone been able to replicate this consistently?
I have one scenario where it seems to happen, but nowhere near as severe as some have described. My truck merely "hesitates."
The way I experience it is:
1) slowing down at the end of a freeway off-ramp
(light brake pressure from 50 mph to 5 mph)
2) turning right to merge into traffic
(say 20% throttle)
3) The truck starts to accelerate quickly on the electric motor, then goes flat
(no acceleration, but not decelerating)
4) then the engine kicks in and I get more acceleration than necessary.
(probably because I'm continuing to feed in throttle during the "flat" pause)

I've tried to make this happen "every time" but it doesn't. Same spot, same speed, trying to replicate the scenario I've described here, I haven't found the recipe. I'm almost always in Eco mode.

One thing I want to try is modes: I've had it happen in Normal and in Eco. But I've not tried having the truck in Sport AWD (when I'm playing in Sport mode, I have it in 2WD and I never cruise on the freeway in Sport … what's the point?) I wonder if AWD would change the power train algorithms to not worry about traction. I suspect that what I'm feeling is a traction nanny not wanting me to "light 'em up" … which, in a pickup can easily result in at least some momentary loss of traction and with an LSD could result in a bit of slip angle (I doubt it's possible to spin this truck with the safety drive aids turned on.)

 

[Snakebitten]

Since Sport Mode is REALLY 10-speed-no-EV mode, if EV strategy code is the culprit, I would think that you wouldn't experience the symptom.
In fact, if Ford removed the increased throttle Tip-in from Sport-Mode and perhaps shortened the time it holds a gear after WOT, they could change its name to "ICE mode".

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