SSM 50415: Hands-Free Liftgate Deleted from 2022 Mach-E built on/after Jan 3

[Bookworm214]

I generally don’t have trouble using the kick to open feature (but don’t use it all that often).

From what I have seen in terms of people trying and failing to trigger it, the biggest issue I see with technique is people exaggerating the kick. Just give it a small, quick kick, front and back, not side to side. Don’t reach too far trying to extend your foot, don’t linger waiting for it to activate before pulling your foot back, nice and quick.

Like if a soccer ball was in front of you and you wanted to kick it to a small kid 10 feet away directly ahead of you.

For me, this technique works well, especially if I kick in line with the left edge of the license plate.

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[J-orange]

Why wouldn’t that be the case? You don’t set the height with a kick.

I was thinking that they would have gotten rid of any power assist.

 

[generaltso]

I was thinking that they would have gotten rid of any power assist.

They didn't.

 

[xinlitik]

Would anyone be willing to join a social media call out to Ford to get some communication and compensation for these changes? Random technical bulletins are a really crap way to let paying customers know their upcoming order has been negatively altered. If these changes (loss of acoustic laminate, kick gate) are confirmed for already ordered vehicles, there should really be a price credit. A deposit was paid for a specific build, not for whatever Ford decides to glue together 6 months later.

The EV landscape is exploding. There are a ton of comparable options and screwing loyal customers is really not a great move.

 

[RickMachE]

Would anyone be willing to join a social media call out to Ford to get some communication and compensation for these changes? Random technical bulletins are a really crap way to let paying customers know their upcoming order has been negatively altered. If these changes (loss of acoustic laminate, kick gate) are confirmed for already ordered vehicles, there should really be a price credit. A deposit was paid for a specific build, not for whatever Ford decides to glue together 6 months later.

The EV landscape is exploding. There are a ton of comparable options and screwing loyal customers is really not a great move.

They haven't notified customers of anything...

 

[xinlitik]

They haven't notified customers of anything...

Exactly. Just chipping away at features under the table.

 

[yngwenli]

Would anyone be willing to join a social media call out to Ford to get some communication and compensation for these changes? Random technical bulletins are a really crap way to let paying customers know their upcoming order has been negatively altered. If these changes (loss of acoustic laminate, kick gate) are confirmed for already ordered vehicles, there should really be a price credit. A deposit was paid for a specific build, not for whatever Ford decides to glue together 6 months later.

The EV landscape is exploding. There are a ton of comparable options and screwing loyal customers is really not a great move.

The comparable options are all in the same boat. Like that article mentioned, no touch screen in BMWs, no 18 way adjustable seats on a Porsche, no USB slots in the back seat of a Tesla and it just has empty holes now...

The list goes on and on.

My only hope is that Ford lets people add it back later when chips are not scarce and not everyone will bother anyways, and some, don't even want the kick gate so it's not total $$ lost.

Some credit now would be nice, but I don't think any other automaker is doing this.

 

[Thunderanger]

Mine works pretty well if I’m using the FOB. If I’m using PAAK? Yeah it’s not opening. I use PAAK 95% of the time.

I still haven't figured out how to connect my PAAK. I've tried multiple times with my wife's phone and mine as well. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mylittlepony]

Me. I've got some scratched paint on the trunk lid because of that stupid kick to open thing going off unexpectedly and hitting the garage ceiling.

Same has happened to me. Also when I am washing/drying car at home and it opens. Also squeezing between back of car and tool cabinet. SMH. I have turned it off.

 

[xinlitik]

The comparable options are all in the same boat. Like that article mentioned, no touch screen in BMWs, no 18 way adjustable seats on a Porsche, no USB slots in the back seat of a Tesla and it just has empty holes now...

The list goes on and on.

My only hope is that Ford lets people add it back later when chips are not scarce and not everyone will bother anyways, and some, don't even want the kick gate so it's not total $$ lost.

Some credit now would be nice, but I don't think any other automaker is doing this.

bmw gave a $500 credit for the screen. Haven’t hear about the porsche seats. I understand parts are in short supply, but when the product gets worse it’s hard to see why the price should stay the same

 

[83girl]

It’s not an issue at all for me. I find kick to open about as reliable as many find PAAK. But i do understand the sentiment about it going AWOL,

It’s not the only thing that’s been changed either.

no kidding huh! PAAK and litigate have never worked reliably...Ford is probably acknowledging this by no longer including it!

 

[RWG]

All of my last 3 Ford Escapes had the hands free liftgate system, and so does my just delivered Mach E, which was built in December 2021.

My Opinion: While the feature seems nice/cool, it can be a major pain on my Escape. Why? Because if you have the lift gate open, and you are moving around cargo, shuffling your feet, etc. the sensors detect the motion and the gate drops, on your head, neck, or back. Yes it immediately goes back up if the downward travel is interrupted, but I consider that redundant, because if you move some more, it comes down again. So after it knocks you on the head, it goes back up, ready to do it again. Also, with a trailer hitch on the Escape, everytime I bend over to hook up a trailer, the liftgate will pop up, but now it will knock you in the forehead, or nose, or the side of your head, etc. It is a bit painful/annoying to get knocked in the head repeatedly. I should have someone video me as I get my head knocked, over and over in a 5 minute liftgate/cargo shuffle/trailer hook up session. It has to be humorous to watch an adult idiot get knocked in the head, over and over again . . . ( Maybe I could post it on Youtube and it would go viral ! . . .)

I asked my dealer if there was a shut off switch or maybe a digital setting were I could turn off the feature. The answer was no . . . . they said they could disconnect the wiring, for a price $, I declined. I am now just mindful of the issue, and move out of the way, quickly, when I hear the motorized struts activate.

Not sure why they pulled the feature from the Mach E, all of the theories posted are all valid. Time will tell. My wife is happy that her MMe still has it. The MMe is her car and it is destined to be a "short trip" grocery getter, so for her it is great but it's not so great on my Escape.

My suggestion to Ford is:

Since it is a nice selling point to many, they should consider changing the operational feature. i.e. maybe add a disconnect switch for those who don't want it. For those of use that use a vehicle with the hands free liftgate for commercial purposes, like I do, the feature can become annoying, not needed. For others, it is just fine and appreciated. Let the user decide but don't make it an add on accessory. Just make it adjustable.

 

[RickMachE]

All of my last 3 Ford Escapes had the hands free liftgate system, and so does my just delivered Mach E, which was built in December 2021.

My Opinion: While the feature seems nice/cool, it can be a major pain on my Escape. Why? Because if you have the lift gate open, and you are moving around cargo, shuffling your feet, etc. the sensors detect the motion and the gate drops, on your head, neck, or back. Yes it immediately goes back up if the downward travel is interrupted, but I consider that redundant, because if you move some more, it comes down again. So after it knocks you on the head, it goes back up, ready to do it again. Also, with a trailer hitch on the Escape, everytime I bend over to hook up a trailer, the liftgate will pop up, but now it will knock you in the forehead, or nose, or the side of your head, etc. It is a bit painful/annoying to get knocked in the head repeatedly. I should have someone video me as I get my head knocked, over and over in a 5 minute liftgate/cargo shuffle/trailer hook up session. It has to be humorous to watch an adult idiot get knocked in the head, over and over again . . . ( Maybe I could post it on Youtube and it would go viral ! . . .)

I asked my dealer if there was a shut off switch or maybe a digital setting were I could turn off the feature. The answer was no . . . . they said they could disconnect the wiring, for a price $, I declined. I am now just mindful of the issue, and move out of the way, quickly, when I hear the motorized struts activate.

Not sure why they pulled the feature from the Mach E, all of the theories posted are all valid. Time will tell. My wife is happy that her MMe still has it. The MMe is her car and it is destined to be a "short trip" grocery getter, so for her it is great but it's not so great on my Escape.

My suggestion to Ford is:

Since it is a nice selling point to many, they should consider changing the operational feature. i.e. maybe add a disconnect switch for those who don't want it. For those of use that use a vehicle with the hands free liftgate for commercial purposes, like I do, the feature can become annoying, not needed. For others, it is just fine and appreciated. Let the user decide but don't make it an add on accessory. Just make it adjustable.

Tip - hitting the button on the liftgate as it comes down will reverse it...

 

[generaltso]

My suggestion to Ford is:

Since it is a nice selling point to many, they should consider changing the operational feature. i.e. maybe add a disconnect switch for those who don't want it. For those of use that use a vehicle with the hands free liftgate for commercial purposes, like I do, the feature can become annoying, not needed. For others, it is just fine and appreciated. Let the user decide but don't make it an add on accessory. Just make it adjustable.

The MME does have a setting to disable it.

 

[Mach1E]

Would anyone be willing to join a social media call out to Ford to get some communication and compensation for these changes? Random technical bulletins are a really crap way to let paying customers know their upcoming order has been negatively altered. If these changes (loss of acoustic laminate, kick gate) are confirmed for already ordered vehicles, there should really be a price credit. A deposit was paid for a specific build, not for whatever Ford decides to glue together 6 months later.

The EV landscape is exploding. There are a ton of comparable options and screwing loyal customers is really not a great move.

I’m sure you can use it as an excuse to get your deposit back. Ford also already did the $750 credit.

And as far as the 2022 price goes, they only raised it 3%. Anything less than inflation (6% currently) is a gift.

Agreed it’s a crap communication though. They should at least email you changes if you have an order in.

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