The drive-mode button is a huge design fail.

richnot · Feb 26, 2021

When I received my 18 Raptor the salesman knew nothing about the adjustable steering selection, he kept saying " Tilt and Telescopic " I guess you can't know everything about every car you sell but you should at least learn the basics.

When I picked up my 18 Jeep Rubicon with the world saving Auto Start/Stop which they list as it being a "Option" of sorts, anyway the salesman had no idea that there was a seperate battery under the standard battery just for the start stop feature

RubyDaCherry · Feb 26, 2021

Droid said:
Overall I'm really impressed with the drive modes on the Gen2, but after a year of owning it I still can't believe how poorly Ford designed their user interface.

First, it's just a button which says "mode" on the steering wheel. Not even "Drive Mode", just "Mode". Right underneath the audio controls, next to the mute button and bluetooth pick-up / hang-up buttons. A new user would rightly think this was an audio source selector.

Tap the Mode+ button twice (from Normal) and you're in 4HI with the rear differential locked. Tap the Mode- button twice and it shifts into Sport Mode, which puts the truck in 2HI (even if it was in 4AUTO). A single press doesn't do anything, thankfully...but given that it looks like an audio control, the user is likely to be staring at the stereo when they push it, and when it doesn't fire on the first go, they'll press it again.

Now I have to offer a detailed explanation to anyone who uses the truck (e.g. Mom when she visits) that there's this potentially dangerous button on the steering wheel that if you push it can make it so the truck won't go around corners on pavement. Or that it will silently exit the 4Auto mode you turned on because it was raining and deliver 450hp to the rear wheel with the least traction....and with more aggressive throttle response, snappy shifts, and less traction/stability control.

While you do make some good points, it's not that big of a deal ol sport, it's common sense at the end of the day. Doesn't take long to figure out what the buttons are for, and if someone can't figure it out at that point, well frankly they are a dumb-shit. With all that said, that's why they make brochures and owners manuals.

T-Rex 7 · Feb 26, 2021

I don't understand, why would you let someone else drive your raptor?

T-Rex 7 · Feb 26, 2021

A knowledgeable consumer will most likely always know more than a sales person when purchasing a Raptor.

Roger Huff · Feb 26, 2021

I'm in agreement too. However at least we don't have to stand in knee deep mud or water to lock in the hubs.

NASSTY · Feb 26, 2021

Roger Huff said:
I'm in agreement too. However at least we don't have to stand in knee deep mud or water to lock in the hubs.

I lock my hubs in ahead of time on my 92 Bronco if I think I may need to use 4wd. Then if I do need it I can shift to 4 hi on the fly.

04Ram2500Hemi · Feb 26, 2021

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’ve never given two thoughts to the modes button. It works (I guess), but I’ve only used Sport a couple times, and living in Montana doesn’t really make Baja Mode usable (I still think it’s cool though). I’ve also grown up in winter conditions, so I don’t trust the computer to change throttle response in some sort of Snow or Slippery mode.

Honestly, I may not know enough about the different modes. That said, the button on the steering wheel has never bugged me.

TurboTJ · Feb 26, 2021

Also the timeout is ridiculously fast. You click it, read what it says, look back to click it again and by then, that mode is already selected. I had to show my dad to keep cycling through the modes until he was sure what he wanted because letting off, even for an instant, will drop you into whatever mode you’re hovering over.

Changes as major as 4WD LOW and locking the rear difference should require you to select the mode and confirm it by clicking something else. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally dropped into 4WD low.

avalanchegrey · Feb 26, 2021

Same the other way around if you put it in 4 low and it stayed there and you drive the following day. You’ll be like... “WTF this stupid thing didn’t go back to normal setting.” LOL

GordoJay · Feb 27, 2021

avalanchegrey said:
Same the other way around if you put it in 4 low and it stayed there and you drive the following day. You’ll be like... “WTF this stupid thing didn’t go back to normal setting.” LOL

I wouldn't.

I grew up with mechanical transmissions and transfer cases. This electronic stuff sucks. I've had the transfer case fail to shift a couple of times, so now I don't trust it. I check the mode every single time I start it. That's special. But it could still be wrong. When it didn't shift, the light on the dash and the behavior of vehicle the didn't agree. Since it was in 4L but saying it was in 2H, it was really obvious, but there's not guarantee that it won't be in 4H some day with the light saying 2H. So I also pay attention to how it drives after I start it in case it's confused. You cannot trust computers.

The drive-mode button is a huge design fail.

richnot

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RubyDaCherry

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T-Rex 7

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T-Rex 7

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Roger Huff

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NASSTY

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04Ram2500Hemi

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TurboTJ

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avalanchegrey

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GordoJay

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