The ongoing global microchip shortage has stressed automakers across the industry, and The Blue Oval has certainly felt the pressure too. The 2022 Ford Expedition has been subject to many constraints due to limited microchip supply, and has already had certain features withheld. As previously reported by Ford Authority, features such as second-row climate controls, Active Park Assist 2.0, along with auto stop/start have been constrained from the full-size SUV. According to Cars Direct, several of these technologies may have made their way back to the Expedition, although some examples had some of them excluded.
In a letter to dealers, Ford indicated that second-row climate control and second-row heated seats were not included in certain units of the Expedition that were built during the week of June 13th, 2022. However, the letter stated that units that were assembled the following week had both of the features included. It’s worth noting that second-row climate control is normally equipped as standard on the 2022 Ford Expedition, while second-row heated seats are typically optional on the Timberline trim, and standard on the Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trim levels. At the moment, it is unclear if these changes represent a permanent shift or a temporary change to Expedition production.
Of course, the 2022 Ford Expedition isn’t the only vehicle to have been negatively affected by the ongoing global microchip shortage. Just last month, Ford Authority reported that 53,000 Ford vehicles were awaiting chips before being sent to market, which included a host of units of the Ford Explorer, the Ford Super Duty, and the Ford F-150. Choosing which features to include and which ones to exclude on certain vehicles within the Ford lineup is a constant battle for the automaker as the chip shortage persists, although Ford CEO Jim Farley is expressing confidence that the ship shortage will soon ease, possibly before the 2023 calendar year.
We’ll have more on the 2022 Expedition soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Expedition news and 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comment
What is the future of the Lincoln Aviator?