Gravity Bugs / Issues

[Malibu_Scott]

I don't spend much time here, so I didn't want to read 72 pages to see if Gravity owners figured out the key software in the vehicle was malfunctioning. The C Suite Lucid people at Pebble Beach for Monterey Car Week said the problem would be resolved in an over the air update this or next month. Having been locked out and not knowing the problem (or a possible workaround) only one day before leaving for Monterey, I drove my Air GT there instead. (The trip was 310 miles each way. No need to charge en route. At The Lodge they charged my Air for me gratis so that the drive back didn't cost me any electricity.)

For a workaround, I have turned off the sensors that open and lock the car as you approach and depart, respectively. I now manually open and lock with the key. I have one of the key cards as backup as well. When the Gravity is in my garage, I also open the driver's window so that I can at least get into the vehicle. So far I have not been locked out again, but I was disappointed I couldn't drive the Gravity to Monterey.

My biggest annoyance is the malfunctioning of the infotainment system, specifically Sirius XM.

 

[hmp10]

Okay, here's the story on our attempt to get our Gravity back for the road trip:

The HUD unit has been replaced, and the dancing windshield ghosts from the warped screen are gone. But the operating software has not been loaded into it as the service center won't have it until next week. So for now the unit is inoperable (which is okay with us on this road trip). They also said a general software update is imminent that will fix certain HUD issues. Even when the software becomes available, though, the car will have to go back to the Service Center for physical calibration of the HUD unit which cannot be done until it is operating.

After another consultation with Lucid's HQ engineering team today they got the navigation and GPS systems working as intended.

The rear seat rattle has been addressed by "tightening" some things. No new or different parts or methods used.

The Service Center said they would free up someone to return the car to us tomorrow (Saturday) or Monday. Since we are hitting the road early Tuesday and want some time to check the car out ourselves, I told them we would drive over to pick it up ourselves tomorrow if they can't bring it back then. They're going to get back to us once they sort out driver availability. Either way, Lucid will transport the car back to Miami when they have the software to load into the HUD and do the calibration which a mobile tech cannot do.

Once again, Lucid Service comes through for us as it has done over the past almost four years. It's truly the saving grace that keeps my appetite whetted for these amazing cars -- once their many teething problems are sorted.

 

[jered]

Ooh, I have a new problem I haven't seen here yet. I think it could be a loose cable or other communications bus issue.

I went to run an errand nearby, and when I got back in the car the cockpit panel was blinking. Everything works otherwise, but the vehicle will not shift out of park.

I called the main Lucid Support number and pressed "1" for support, and got an automated voice "A software problem has occurred; please try again later" and disconnected. Accurate, I suppose... even the IVR agrees.

I then called the local Service Center, which was much more helpful, but also stumped. While they were escalating the issue, all of the telltales lit up and I was able to shift into gear and drive home (about a mile). I parked, and again the Gravity will not shift into gear. I'm going to let it sit for an hour, and see if sleeping helps. Again wishing there was a hard ECU reset button...

 

[TahoeMichael]

Okay, here's the story on our attempt to get our Gravity back for the road trip:

...

Once again, Lucid Service comes through for us as it has done over the past almost four years. It's truly the saving grace that keeps my appetite whetted for these amazing cars -- once their many teething problems are sorted.

The tales from existing Lucid owners of Lucid Service working so hard for vehicle owners is one of the key factors making me willing to buy the Gravity in its first year of availability. Historically I've always adopted the mindset that you want to wait for the 3rd model year of any vehicle, to give time for wear-and-tear of 1st year vehicles to demonstrate problems, and the manufacturer to implement design revisions to address them.

 

[hmp10]

The tales from existing Lucid owners of Lucid Service working so hard for vehicle owners is one of the key factors making me willing to buy the Gravity in its first year of availability. Historically I've always adopted the mindset that you want to wait for the 3rd model year of any vehicle, to give time for wear-and-tear of 1st year vehicles to demonstrate problems, and the manufacturer to implement design revisions to address them.

I have the heavy burden of reporting that, as your mid-70's approach, this strategy becomes progressively less feasible.

 

[jered]

Ooh, I have a new problem I haven't seen here yet. I think it could be a loose cable or other communications bus issue.

I went to run an errand nearby, and when I got back in the car the cockpit panel was blinking. Everything works otherwise, but the vehicle will not shift out of park.
[...]

Back to normal after letting it sleep for 40 minutes.

 

[NoseyReporter]

Back to normal after letting it sleep for 40 minutes.

These bugs are so weird.

So far tho, nothing serious for us. Weird random little ones that make you raise an eyebrow but that ruins the enjoyment of the car.

 

[Steve11ca]

Progress on the clock being three minutes fast! As of today, the clock is now FIVE minutes fast!

Right there with you. Tried the recommendation of tech at the SC. Didn't do a damn thing. And all of a sudden, I now have the rear seat squeak after lowering and raising the seat. In addition, my rear seat driver seat isn't folding forward far enough to make to move for rear seat access. That one was of the things supposedly fixed at the SC. Looking forward to the San Diego SC opening, perhaps some time late next month.

 

[indigo6]

Just got my car back with a new key fob. All is working well so far. They also fixed a middle row bench squeak.

Unfortunately as part of the wash they took it to a touchless car wash and ruined the trim below the windows and the stealth trim along the side of the car. I got some of it off with detailing spray, but the trim still looks oxidized. Awaiting a reply from the service center

 

[jered]

Just got my car back with a new key fob. All is working well so far. They also fixed a middle row bench squeak.

Unfortunately as part of the wash they took it to a touchless car wash and ruined the trim below the windows and the stealth trim along the side of the car. I got some of it off with detailing spray, but the trim still looks oxidized. Awaiting a reply from the service center

Are you sure this doesn't wipe off with a cloth? We have the same oily sheen on the same trim after going through a touchless wash. It's weird, but it does come off.

 

[indigo6]

Are you sure this doesn't wipe off with a cloth? We have the same oily sheen on the same trim after going through a touchless wash. It's weird, but it does come off.

I was able to reduce its appearance, but it’s still visible on the plastic trim below the windows

 

[jrreno]

That's some of the irony here. We had fits the first few months with our early-production Air Dream Performance, especially on the software front. But after (sometimes too frequent) attention from Lucid service, it has matured into the best car I've ever owned with only a few occasional software hiccoughs similar to what we saw throughout nine years of living with Teslas -- but with the Lucid maintaining the structural robustness the Teslas never had.

Irritated as I currently am, I still hold to the conviction that this Gravity will mature the same way, although it's regrettable to be going through all the hassles again.

The only reason I would consider getting rid of the Air upon its approaching 4-year anniversary is the unavailability of an extended factory warranty, something I have always bought for our expensive-to-repair cars (the German ones, in particular). I know the battery and drivetrain have an 8-year warranty, but I suspect even a headlight unit on a Lucid could be a shocker.

I have replaced headlights on our Model S three times. I replaced them because the LED DRLs tend to fade and burn out.Like most cars in their class they are single non repairable modules. Last I looked the part went for $1200. I managed to find less expensive replacements on eBay. One does have to drop the front bumper to replace them tho!

 

[TahoeMichael]

I have the heavy burden of reporting that, as your mid-70's approach, this strategy becomes progressively less feasible.

The rise of "software defined vehicles" makes it easier to buy a car and hope for future updates. But of course you need a manufacturer that actually delivers on that. I'm happy to have heard from you that Lucid continually made improvements to the Air software, even if more slowly than many would like.

 

[TahoeMichael]

Just got my car back with a new key fob. All is working well so far. They also fixed a middle row bench squeak.
...

Is it a new key fob, but the same design as your original fob? Or does it appear to be an updated fob design?

 

[TahoeMichael]

I have replaced headlights on our Model S three times. I replaced them because the LED DRLs tend to fade and burn out.Like most cars in their class they are single non repairable modules. Last I looked the part went for $1200. I managed to find less expensive replacements on eBay. One does have to drop the front bumper to replace them tho!

For all that people complain about legacy manufacturers, they've often done a great job of making repairable vehicles, and EVs seem to be lagging behind. Although I still know plenty of mechanics who complain about an engine being designed by an engineer who seems to have never had to get the bolts undone after assembly.

 

[DrZorro]

Ooh, I have a new problem I haven't seen here yet. I think it could be a loose cable or other communications bus issue.

I went to run an errand nearby, and when I got back in the car the cockpit panel was blinking. Everything works otherwise, but the vehicle will not shift out of park.

I called the main Lucid Support number and pressed "1" for support, and got an automated voice "A software problem has occurred; please try again later" and disconnected. Accurate, I suppose... even the IVR agrees.

I then called the local Service Center, which was much more helpful, but also stumped. While they were escalating the issue, all of the telltales lit up and I was able to shift into gear and drive home (about a mile). I parked, and again the Gravity will not shift into gear. I'm going to let it sit for an hour, and see if sleeping helps. Again wishing there was a hard ECU reset button...

That's definitely a new one I've (luckily) never seen! Glad the deep sleep fixed it.

 

[GoDestruction]

Ooh, I have a new problem I haven't seen here yet. I think it could be a loose cable or other communications bus issue.

I went to run an errand nearby, and when I got back in the car the cockpit panel was blinking. Everything works otherwise, but the vehicle will not shift out of park.

I called the main Lucid Support number and pressed "1" for support, and got an automated voice "A software problem has occurred; please try again later" and disconnected. Accurate, I suppose... even the IVR agrees.

I then called the local Service Center, which was much more helpful, but also stumped. While they were escalating the issue, all of the telltales lit up and I was able to shift into gear and drive home (about a mile). I parked, and again the Gravity will not shift into gear. I'm going to let it sit for an hour, and see if sleeping helps. Again wishing there was a hard ECU reset button...

Did you try Ctrl+Alt+Del?

Sorry...

 

[bryway]

Our mobile tech just finished working on the second-row seat rattle in our Gravity. Here's what's going on:

There are four sliding metal covers (each with two telescoping layers) that slide back and forth over the four screw mechanisms when the seats are moved. The covers have a metal tab to which a zip tie is attached to hook the covers to the seats so that the seats will pull the covers back and forth as the seats move.

Here are the sliding metal plates in place:

View attachment 31816

And here are the plates pushed back, showing the tab through which the zip tie passes to hook the plates to the seat:

View attachment 31817

There are four such tracks in the second row, all of which are attached with zip ties. However, the mobile tech said the rattles they've been seeing thus far emanate only from the two inboard tracks.

None of our zip ties were broken. The issue seemed to be that they were not tensioned correctly to keep the plates from rattling. He has resolved the issue for now but had to use off-the-shelf zip ties and some plastic packing instead of the felt tape that should be used to keep the metal plates from rubbing against each other. He says the Service Center will install the proper parts when the car goes there on the 25th for the navigation system repair.

The edges of that hole in the tab for the zip ties is not filed smooth. My guess is that over time these zip ties will fail -- and the sooner the more the seats are moved.

I wrote about a similar problem (along with a few other concerns) a few weeks ago here:

Post in thread 'Gravity Bugs / Issues'
https://lucidowners.com/threads/gravity-bugs-issues.12738/post-285692

My service appointment is finally close (Monday 8 Sept.) and they’re telling me they’ll have to keep the car for 10-14 days due to their service backlog. The good news is i’ll be given a Lucid Air loaner car. Will be my first time driving an Air.

 

[bryway]

My trunk (yes, trunk) sounds like something is breaking/cracking when closing. But it opens and closes easily the first time, every time. Just sounds terrible.

Same here! It’s like a loud “clacking” sound upon unlatch and latch. Difficult to describe, but it’s loud and obnoxious. Incongruous with the otherwise luxurious experience.

 

[bryway]

New bug I noticed, though minor.

I change the ambient lighting (GGT) to any color, it stays that way. Then, when you lock car, come back later, lighting returns to regular white but in the vibes menu, it shows as the color is chosen before. If I switch to a different color and back, it changes correctly. Again, minor, but interesting.

Same! Why isn’t this setting persistent?!