Negative YouTube reviews of cars have earned a certain reputation over the years. Some are so brutal they’re blamed, rightly or not, for helping to sink entire automakers, like the high-profile case of Fisker about a year ago. This time, though, a critical video sparked something different. A public takedown led not to fallout, but to potential fixes, and not just for one frustrated owner.

Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained leased a Lucid Air, ended up having issues with it, and has now been in direct contact with the brand. The result is going to benefit countless Lucid owners in the future.

A Critical Eye Meets a Willing Ear

When Jason Fenske published a blunt video detailing his disappointment with a newly leased Lucid Air Touring, it wasn’t a rage-bait takedown or a viral stunt. It was a long, technical breakdown of how a mechanically brilliant EV was being kneecapped by frustrating software, clumsy UX decisions, and some puzzling hardware quirks.

Read: Lucid Promised Luxury But All This Owner Got Was Regret And Nightmares

Rather than simply ignoring it and continuing on with its plans, the EV maker reached out. According to Fenske, what followed was a constructive discussion with engineers and even the SVP of engineering, Imad Dlala.

Evidently, the team at Lucid provided insider details and previews of upcoming changes. That’s where this story really takes its biggest turn. Lucid owners have a lot to look forward to if Fenske’s information proves reliable.

Lucid Plots a UX Overhaul

The biggest news is software. Lucid confirmed it’s actively improving phone-as-key reliability, door handle behavior, mirror positioning in reverse, percentage-versus-miles range inconsistencies, and Tesla Supercharger Plug & Charge support.

More significantly, a full UX 3.0 overhaul is planned for early fall 2026, bringing multitasking, faster profile switching, improved CarPlay stability, better voice commands, and a more intuitive interface. Owners with newer hardware, or those willing to pay to upgrade, will get access.

Lucid also confirmed vehicle-to-home power capability is coming in the first half of 2026, promising up to 17 kW peak output without requiring a separate home inverter, an area where Lucid’s hardware advantages could genuinely shine.

Fenske estimates that his Lucid could power his home for four days if they lost power, and that’s without changing any of the behavior his family is accustomed to.

Not All Feedback Gets a Reply

At the same time, he remains cautious, and rightly so. Promises aren’t fixes, and the Lucid Air still struggles with daily usability today. But admitting problems, engaging with informed criticism, and outlining concrete changes is more than many automakers manage.

In addition, this isn’t how most customers get treated. Fenske runs Engineering Explained, has a massive audience, and speaks the same technical language as Lucid’s engineering team. That context matters. Still, what Lucid outlined is meaningful. Especially for current and future owners.

Screenshot Jason Fenske

Despite a sharp drop in EV demand across much of the U.S. market, Lucid managed to chart its strongest quarter yet. Following the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate the $7,500 federal EV tax credit at the end of September, most automakers saw EV sales falter during the final stretch of 2025. Lucid, however, went in the opposite direction and closed the year with a notable uptick.

The company reported that it built 8,412 vehicles in Q4 2025, marking a 116 percent jump over the previous quarter. Deliveries also climbed to 5,345, up 31 percent. For Lucid, it wasn’t just an improvement, it was the best-performing quarter of the entire year.

Read: No Tax Credit? No Worries, Lucid Has A $7,500 Gravity Discount

The start of 2025 looked far less promising. In the first quarter, Lucid produced only 2,121 vehicles and delivered 3,109. The second quarter showed progress, with 3,863 vehicles built and 3,309 delivered. By Q3, production edged slightly to 3,891, and deliveries rose to 4,078.

Lucid’s full-year production and sales figures were also strong. It produced 18,378 vehicles in 2025, a 104 percent increase over the year before. Deliveries reached 15,841, representing a 55 percent year-over-year gain.

Helping Lucid boost its production and sales throughout the latter part of 2025 was the arrival of the all-electric Gravity SUV .While the company has yet to disclose how many units of the Gravity were produced, sold, or delivered, its presence clearly contributed to the quarter’s growth. Just how much is still unclear.

Lucid’s Own Credit

One likely reason Lucid avoided the sales slump seen elsewhere is its Advantage Credit program. Designed to soften the blow of the lost federal incentive, Lucid introduced a $7,500 credit of its own, applicable to new Gravity orders.

It was first set to expire at the end of December but has now been extended through January 18. While not a permanent fix, it offers a near-term solution for buyers left in the lurch after the tax credit rollback.

Doctors and health influencers are always telling us that drinking tons of water is the secret to clearer skin, sharper minds, strain-free poops and longer lives. But if there’s one group that absolutely should not stay hydrated, it’s modern electric vehicles, because a few drops could leave them with a massive medical bill.

Just ask Reddit user u/raging_onyx who leased a Lucid Air and saw his Thanksgiving week turn into a $15,000 lesson in why electric cars and water should never meet.

What Happened?

The disaster started with a perfectly innocent trip to a grocery store to refill a water container. But a pothole encountered on the way back tipped that container over, causing a catalog of faults that eventually rendered the vehicle completely immobile.

Also: $4,900 For A Taillight? Lucid’s Ridiculous Lease Charges Are Scaring Off Buyers

Within seconds of the spill happening the dash lit up like Times Square, the EV jumped into limp mode, regen braking tapped out, and the driver got a warning to pull over. When he found a local residential area to stop and tried to reboot the system, the Air wouldn’t shift out of Park.

A Very Expensive Lesson

Lucid customer support, in an impressive display of holiday cheer, suggested two things: call insurance, and brace for the possibility the car was totaled. Happy Thanksgiving!

Also: Insurance Offered $1,700 For This R1T Mishap, Rivian Wanted A Fortune

There was more bad news when the first tow truck driver arrived and said he couldn’t move the sedan, since the Air wouldn’t shift into neutral. Fortunately, by the next day, neutral was found and a second truck was able to tow the stranded car.

Finally, the EV reached a service center, where the advisor initially estimated the repair at under $1,000. Bearable, right? This turned out to be off by roughly the price of a used Corolla.

The real number, the rep later confirmed, was about $15,000, and it wouldn’t be covered by warranty, because the spill was technically the driver’s fault.

More: A $2 Water Bottle Just Cost This Hyundai Driver Nearly $12,000

As of the Reddit post, the driver was still waiting to find out whether his insurance would step in to cover the costs. You’d think the answer would be yes, but that’s not always how these things always play out.

Just last month, we reported on a similar incident involving a Hyundai Ioniq 5. A small water spill in the rear footwell damaged the car’s wiring, and neither the manufacturer nor the insurance company was willing to cover the $11,882 repair bill.

Source: Reddit

It seems Lucid just can’t stop tripping over its own shoelaces when it comes to end-of-lease charges. What began as a few isolated complaints has grown into a steady chorus of frustration, as more customers share stories online about the surprisingly steep bills arriving when their leases wrap up.

Read: Lucid Wants Thousands In Lease Charges For Scratches And A Missing Key Fob

The latest example might be the most egregious we’ve seen so far, and cases like this are already pushing some customers to abandon plans for leasing a Lucid altogether.

Mounting Lease Complaints

As we’ve seen in several recent instances, the first charge this customer faced was for a front bumper replacement. According to the inspector’s report, when the Air was returned, 10 small rock chips, a one-inch crack, and a one-inch scratch were deemed enough to justify replacing the entire bumper. The bill came in at $2,400.

However, this isn’t the most ridiculous charge. The owner notes that the right taillight had a small hairline crack along a glue line. They mentioned that the crack isn’t noticeable unless you zoom in, and that it’s so small it doesn’t even allow for any water ingress. Despite this, they’ve been charged $4,900 for a replacement.

The lessee was also billed $100 for minor damage to the left taillight, which seems inconsistent given the note that the entire unit would be replaced, something that can’t reasonably be done for that amount. Completing the tally was a $200 repair for a seven-inch scrape on the left front wheel.

The automaker’s leasing division, Lucid Financial Services, partners with Bank of America, which is believed to contract independent inspection firms to evaluate vehicles when leases conclude.

The Backlash Builds

Stories like this are taking a toll on Lucid’s image. On Reddit, one user said they had planned to switch from a Rivian to a Lucid when their current lease ended but changed their mind after seeing how these charges were handled. They added that they’d only reconsider “if Lucid get their act together.”

Another commenter said they canceled their Gravity order “100% because of” the excessive end-of-lease fees.

What Lucid Has To Say

It appears Lucid is aware of growing customer discontent. In an email recently sent to a leasing customer and shared to Carscoops, the car manufacturer acknowledged the issues and clarified what end-of-lease charges are appropriate:

“At Lucid Motors, we strive to deliver an exceptional experience at every stage of ownership, including the conclusion of your lease. We understand that some customers have encountered concerns or confusion during the lease-return process, and we want to acknowledge those experiences directly,” the letter reads.

“We sincerely apologize for any frustration or inconvenience you may have experienced. Your feedback has made it clear that, in some cases, our communication, inspection, and billing processes did not meet the standards of transparency and fairness that we hold ourselves to.

“Lucid is currently reviewing all recent lease-end charges to ensure they are accurate, appropriate, and consistent with our published policies. We are also working closely with our finance and inspection partners to improve clarity in inspection reports, final billing, and the overall return experience.

“In addition to these measures, please note that underbody plate scratches and any scratches smaller than 3.5 inches on the body of the vehicle are not subject to charges. We have also eliminated charges for wheel scrapes that are less than 3.5 inches, and reduced charges for wheel scrapes between 3.5 inches and 12 inches to $200. Additionally, there will be no charges for any interior stain that is less than 3.5 inches.

“If you believe that a charge you received may be inaccurate or would like to request a review, please contact Lucid Financial Services at 1-833-423-0369.

“Thank you for being part of the Lucid community and for giving us the opportunity to make this right. Your trust and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us.”

While Lucid’s acknowledgment and policy adjustments suggest an attempt to regain trust, the lasting effect will likely depend on whether future lease customers see tangible change rather than another round of apologies.