Rotary shifter confusion going into R from D

[RMoore]

I recall reading several criticisms of the MME rotary shifter previously and I think I also read instances of people turning the knob the wrong way when trying to shift from D to R and moving forward instead of backward. This has happened to me a few times over the past few months while making a quick K turn. Fortunately I've realized it with enough time to hit the brakes and move the dial to R but I've had a few close calls and it makes me nervous. I think my brain is just used to turning the knob clockwise from P to R and maybe that's why when I'm stopped after the first part of the K turn, and in a rush to complete it, my brain is momentarily confused and thinks I'm going from P to R so I rotate clockwise instead of counter clockwise.

I've never had a car with a rotary shifter like this and in many (>40) years of driving cars with more typical shifters (either automatic or manuals transmissions) I've never had this issue. I do realize that in those other cars I also have to change the direction when shifting to D to R compared to going from P to R, but maybe there's something about rotation that my brain interprets differently from linear motion.

Is anyone aware whether this is more common with rotary compared to linear shifters? Would a potential solution be to make it so that a clockwise turn from D shifts the car into N? I wouldn't think that would be hard for Ford to program but maybe there's a down side that I'm not anticipating.

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[Jimrpa]

I understand and sympathize. It’s a matter of building new muscle memory. Once you’ve got it locked in that, when in park, it doesn’t matter how far clockwise you spin the shifter, just spin it several clicks, and you’re either going forward or nowhere ? Spin it ONE click and you’re going backward. Similarly, if you’re driving, just spin many clicks counterclockwise and you’re not going anywhere. You’ll quickly train yourself to spin two clicks counterclockwise from drive to get to reverse after being frustrated by going into park a few times.
After a while, you’ll have the muscle memory and stop thinking about it.

 

[generaltso]

If you’re nervous about it, glance down at the shift knob or at the instrument cluster before releasing the brake. Both will show you what gear you’re in.

 

[ten8bike]

If you can see behind you on the big screen in the center console, you're in reverse.

 

[dbsb3233]

After almost 2 years with this car, I'm still new making that mistake going from D to R. I think it's because I go clockwise 99% of the time to put it in R (coming from P). So if I'm doing something like a U-turn in a narrow street that requires going back and forth, it requires turning counterclockwise to get to R (from D).

Screws me up every time.

 

[Parasmoney]

I keep putting the car in park from drive. Need to train my self to go from D to R.

 

[BostonPete]

Try coming from a Mazda CX-5 where the Rotary Control in the same exact location is your Infotainment Control including Volume. Even now almost a year later I will go to turn the volume down.

I've also gone in to park vs reverse way to many times.

 

[MME Farmer]

I recall reading several criticisms of the MME rotary shifter previously and I think I also read instances of people turning the knob the wrong way when trying to shift from D to R and moving forward instead of backward. This has happened to me a few times over the past few months while making a quick K turn. Fortunately I've realized it with enough time to hit the brakes and move the dial to R but I've had a few close calls and it makes me nervous. I think my brain is just used to turning the knob clockwise from P to R and maybe that's why when I'm stopped after the first part of the K turn, and in a rush to complete it, my brain is momentarily confused and thinks I'm going from P to R so I rotate clockwise instead of counter clockwise.

I've never had a car with a rotary shifter like this and in many (>40) years of driving cars with more typical shifters (either automatic or manuals transmissions) I've never had this issue. I do realize that in those other cars I also have to change the direction when shifting to D to R compared to going from P to R, but maybe there's something about rotation that my brain interprets differently from linear motion.

Is anyone aware whether this is more common with rotary compared to linear shifters? Would a potential solution be to make it so that a clockwise turn from D shifts the car into N? I wouldn't think that would be hard for Ford to program but maybe there's a down side that I'm not anticipating.

Like others my only problem was 2 clicks instead of 3 going from D to R. Have to concentrate and then it's fine

 

[HuntingPudel]

Meh, ask anyone and they’ll tell you I hate the rotary shifter. I prefer a shifter that will not allow shifting past D into N from any lower gear or from N to R without a brief reset to ensure deliberate action. Being able to throw it straight from D to P is stupid. Ford really messed up with this shifter. ??

 

[mattbostonmache]

Rotary shifters are a mistake and shouldn't be permitted on cars (IMHO ). I have no strong feelings ?. It's unsafe. It's the one thing I like least about the Mach E (besides the lack of CCS charging locations and numbers of stalls, but that's another conversation).

You shouldn't have to focus or think about shifting. It should be intuitive.

I've had my MME for 9 months (and I'm selling it next week — I just bought a Model Y). Shifting from park is fine 100% of the time. Parking or 3-point turns require rapid actions and quick shifting. Not a time when you can mentally think do I need to twist right or left and how many clicks.

It was fine with automatic cars with shifters because they had positions where the gears were located.

Return to center or push buttons is the safe and intuitive design. My new Tesla is always up is reverse; down is drive. The VW and BMW shifter have a great setup where you twist forward to drive forward (D) and you twist back to drive backward (R). The Ioniq5/EV6/GV60 have a great return-to-center rotary shifter where you twist one way for drive and the other way for reverse.

 

[mattbostonmache]

While I'm ranting, but button in the center should have been Park.

And neutral doesn't need to be on the shifter. The only time it's needed is for automated car washes. That can be a menu option for car wash mode.

Matt's ideal MME shifter (return to center): left to reverse, right to drive, button to park. Done. Simple. Idiot proof.

Better yet, ditch the rotary control — push forward for driving forward; pull back for reversing backward; push in or push button for park.

 

[mattbostonmache]

This shifter is not exclusive to the MME. Other Fords have. Apparently, a few other manufacturers have this stupid shifter.

"TOP GEAR: Change Our Mind #10: rotary gear selectors are dumb"
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/change-our-mind-10-rotary-gear-selectors-are-dumb

 

[hybrid2bev]

Our Explorer ST has the same shifter. Except it won’t free spin past drive like the MME. Since it’s the same thing in both vehicles I don’t ever have any issues or confusion with using the rotary shifter.

 

[RMoore]

Parking or 3-point turns require rapid actions and quick shifting. Not a time when you can mentally think do I need to twist right or left and how many clicks.

Exactly. The suggestions from @generaltso and @RickMachE above are of course sensible but challenging to implement when cars are waiting for you to make a quick K turn. Of course I don’t really have a choice but to try to get myself to do something like that since I imagine Ford isn’t going to implement any of the above suggested redesigns, clever though they may be.

 

[srogers]

I like the shifter. It frees up space in the console and it follows the shift pattern of most gear selectors (Park, R, N, D).

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