Ford's F-150 Cost Cuts: 2015 to 2018
 

I bought a 2018 F-150 Platinum, identical to my 2015, and I've noticed a few differences between the two.... specifically where Ford made small cuts to save money. Some are arbitrary, some annoying and some disappointing. I wanted to start a list for what I've seen and anything you guys may have noticed that they got rid of, skimped, changed (not for the better), etc. I understand Ford is running a business but if you're going to raise the price by more than $1000/year, I'd at least expect Ford to provide the same level of comfort/convenience/finishing. **Please keep this this 2015+ F-150's only. The goal is to identify small, subtle, unadvertised changes on the current gen trucks and not the drastic changes from previous gens.

PRND Console Lights - As has been discussed in several topics, earlier this year Ford decided to no longer back-light the PRND indicators in the center console.

Multi-color Interior Lighting - Also previous discussed in other topics, Ford no longer has multi-colored LED's inside. Not a big deal to me, as I never changed mine from the stock setting, but I do really miss the handle's light turning red when a door is open.

Cooled / Vented Seats - While the 2015+ cooled seats were a disaster compared to previous generations, really disappointed Ford took the cheap/easy way out by simply making them vented now (fan only sucks air into seats now; not active attempts to cool anything).

Front Seat Chrome Trim - On the sides where you adjust the front seats, there's a U-shaped groove around the edge of the panel. On my 2015 Plat, those grooves had chrome strips inlaid - my 2018 doesn't.

Hood Latch - My 2015 hood latch (under the hood) had a yellow rubber boot covering it (to protect from hot metal and to make more visible) - my 2018 doesn't.

Owner's Manual Holder - My 2015 came with a thick padded vinyl holder for the manuals, My 2018 came with a simple thin cloth holder.


Please add any others you've noticed.... and save your "white people problems"-type comments. Like I said above, I only expected the same as my 2015, not better.

My 18 PRND lights up, just does not undicate what gear its in. It dims with the dash lights.

Yeah, they recently got rid of the illumination feature, so some early 2018's have it but more recent 2018's (like mine) do not.

My 2018 does not have the illuminated gear lights. I did notice the hot hood latch the other day.

While I'm sure they do some things to cut costs, I would assume that they also simplify areas that have caused problems in the past (cooled seats). Is the chrome trim on the seat just on the Limited models? I saw someone doing that mod.

They done away with the "Boxlink's" tie down as standard equipment on the XLT 302A package for the 2018's.

MY 18 seats get really cold set on high (3 lights lit) and after a while I have to turn them down to the middle setting (2 lights lit) even on a 90 + day.
To me it feels like the air is blowing out from the seat when I hold my hand over them and with my back, butt and legs covering most of the seat and seat back how can those areas get cold (they do get very cold) if it was sucking in the air instead of blowing out. Maybe a Ford certified mechanic or someone with verifiable knowledge can chime in. Holding a tissue over the seat to see which way it blows can be deceiving and not actual proof either way.

Earlier post indicates the new seats aren't cooled, just ventilated. Are you saying your seats are cooled?

They also switched to the super duty tow mirrors mid year, which I think was a step backwards.

whats the difference? i thought the 15+ f150 tow mirrors were the same as the 17+ super duty.

The old ones had like 2 ridges on the backside and the new ones are just flat. Just google it and you'll see the difference. They switched mid year 2018.