Hybrid Brake lights

[Alex M.]

I noticed that the brake lights will activate when vehicle is in a heavy regeneration and slowing down and not pressing the brake pedal. Has anyone else noticed this? 2025 Lariat hybrid.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

I noticed that the brake lights will activate when vehicle is in a heavy regeneration and slowing down and not pressing the brake pedal. Has anyone else noticed this? 2025 Lariat hybrid.

How did you notice this??

 

[Alex M.]

How did you notice this??

Noticed the reflection of the high mounted stop light off my tonneau cover in my rearview mirror one night

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Ok. That was without using the L button correct?

 

[icegradner]

Must be a new feature with the 25's if it does.

 

[First Sergeant]

I'm fairly certain this is for 2025 models only. If you decide you need to set up truck for flat tow, this will most likely cause problems. Going down long passes with regen will keep brakes constantly activated. Someone may have to find out how to disengage or be able to manually turn off this feature. It is possible Ford thought this through and when in flat tow mode it is automatically turned off, but, eh, we know how Ford operates. Had this problem with my 2002 Holiday Rambler motorhome when using exhaust brakes that lit up brake lights when in use. I noticed it right away, but belonged to a forum where a couple guys smoked their "toad" brakes. Fix was easy on that one though, just a fuse to pull out and no more brake lights while using exhaust brake.

 

[Darnon]

I'm fairly certain this is for 2025 models only. If you decide you need to set up truck for flat tow, this will most likely cause problems. Going down long passes with regen will keep brakes constantly activated.

It'd only be an issue if a Maverick hybrid was towing another vehicle with slaved brakes.

 

[Alex M.]

Ok. That was without using the L button correct?

Correct, haven't tried it in L though

 

[First Sergeant]

It'd only be an issue if a Maverick hybrid was towing another vehicle with slaved brakes.

Depends on how the Maverick is getting the brake signal from the motorhome. I suppose I could put the fuse back in motorhome to test if Maverick brakes are activating with exhaust brake use. My previous vehicle I had was a 2005 Jeep. It was in fact activating (from the brake light signal/exhaust brake use) my brakes on the Jeep and my guess is it will do the same with a Maverick. For those of us who tow behind a motorhome or who tow trailers, I would definitely check it out as no one wants a brake job on a new 2025 Maverick, or on a trailer You are correct also, that towing a trailer behind the Maverick may get brake activation when on regen. Would not want that either. Surely (don't call me Shirley) Ford thought that issue out before production?

 

[Aherpa]

I noticed that the brake lights will activate when vehicle is in a heavy regeneration and slowing down and not pressing the brake pedal. Has anyone else noticed this? 2025 Lariat hybrid.

Regen will not activate the brake lights on my 2022 Lariat . . . it's a point of contention for me. If the truck is 'braking' (not just slowing) the brake lights should come on. It's good to know that Ford fixed it. I wonder if there is an option in Forscan . . . .

 

[First Sergeant]

It'd only be an issue if a Maverick hybrid was towing another vehicle with slaved brakes.

Darnon and Glen Baker. I would like to apologize for my posts (incorrect on this issue). It seems I replied on this thread without thinking things through properly and both of you are correct. The Maverick being towed behind the motorhome will not be an issue as far as regen is concerned, because the Maverick is NOT ABLE TO REGEN in TOW MODE. A big DUH for me. The only issue would be (as mentioned by Darnon) would be if somehow regen could cause an issue with trailer brake applications. I will now return to another Buffalo Trace with ice! Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[icegradner]

Regen will not activate the brake lights on my 2022 Lariat . . . it's a point of contention for me. If the truck is 'braking' (not just slowing) the brake lights should come on. It's good to know that Ford fixed it. I wonder if there is an option in Forscan . . . .

If it did every time the truck was getting some regen, while coasting, then the brake lights would come on any time your foot was not on the accelerator. Given that all vehicle will slow down while coasting, I think we can agree that would be excessive, yes? I suspect having a threshold would be good, like if you are using L, which can regen heavily, sure having the brake lights come on would be good. Ford was likely trying to keep costs down by having less additional programing vs the EB.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Agree that there's a level of regen which should trigger brake lights.

One of my wife's favorite features is the auto braking down hills, we have tons of them here! One on her way to work is like a mile down hill 35mph and she can just drive without pressing either pedal.

 

[HeyBales]

Agree that there's a level of regen which should trigger brake lights.

One of my wife's favorite features is the auto braking down hills, we have tons of them here! One on her way to work is like a mile down hill 35mph and she can just drive without pressing either pedal.

That Hill Descent Control is a good example of not needing auto-brake lights.
While others may indeed need to brake to maintain speed and therefore show lights, not everyone needs to.

It was while testing that control along with Low mode I discovered an annoyance.
Low mode steep enough the regen was actually lightened up in order to maintain speed.
Until the steepness leveled out just enough that I guess it was no longer a "hill", so Low came back on full force with my foot not on Go pedal, to quickly overcome the sudden slow down.
If someone had been behind me expecting me to keep a steady speed while they were slightly distracted - we both would not have liked the result.

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