Still No Pet Mode?!

[ridgebackpilot]

This week, Tesla released an OTA update that enables drivers to activate both Dog Mode and Sentry Mode simultaneously. Our MMEs still have neither feature!

For those who've never owned a Tesla, Dog Mode keeps the climate control system active at the current set interior temperature and puts a notice on the main screen that shows the temperature and reassures passersby that pets are just fine. Sentry Mode senses when anyone approaches the vehicle and records video of their actions on the 360-degree cameras.

Our Mach-Es have the ability to do all of the above. Ford just hasn't enabled these features yet. They patented "Pet Mode" years ago but still haven't rolled it out. Many other EVs have a similar feature, including Rivian. What gives, @Ford Motor Company ? Why the long delay to get what many owners would use nearly every day?

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[TheSleepyDad]

While fun features are nice we have a stop/start button so we don't need a special mode. Just get out of the car without turning it off.

Park your car, don't turn off the car, open Sketch and write "THE A/C IS ON MY DOG IS FINE" if you want, get out of the car, lock it, and walk away. Of course the fans are so loud when the air is going on a hot day that passersby wouldn't even question whether or not the A/C is on.

 

[ridgebackpilot]

While fun features are nice we have a stop/start button so we don't need a special mode. Just get out of the car without turning it off.

Park your car, don't turn off the car, open Sketch and write "THE A/C IS ON MY DOG IS FINE" if you want, get out of the car, lock it, and walk away. Of course the fans are so loud when the air is going on a hot day that passersby wouldn't even question whether or not the A/C is on.

Workarounds like this are fine, but the point is we shouldn't need one! That's why many other EV manufacturers include a Pet Mode feature.

And presumably you have to disable auto-shutdown, too, lest the vehicle shut off while you're away?

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

Pet Mode and Sentry Mode were never promised. A frunk button was. Many of us still don’t have that either.

 

[Logal727]

This week, Tesla released an OTA update that enables drivers to activate both Dog Mode and Sentry Mode simultaneously. Our MMEs still have neither feature!

For those who've never owned a Tesla, Dog Mode keeps the climate control system active at the current set interior temperature and puts a notice on the main screen that shows the temperature and reassures passersby that pets are just fine. Sentry Mode senses when anyone approaches the vehicle and records video of their actions on the 360-degree cameras.

Our Mach-Es have the ability to do all of the above. Ford just hasn't enabled these features yet. They patented "Pet Mode" years ago but still haven't rolled it out. Many other EVs have a similar feature, including Rivian. What gives, @Ford Motor Company ? Why the long delay to get what many owners would use nearly every day?

My dog loves YouTube so at least we got that

 

[ridgebackpilot]

Pet Mode and Sentry Mode were never promised. A frunk button was. Many of us still don’t have that either.

Yep, Teslas have a frunk button, too.

At this point, between these deficiencies and the increasing difficulty of finding working DC fast charging while on the road, I'm seriously considering trading-in one of my MMEs on another Tesla! My wife is fed up with EA chargers that don't work, and the inability to easily leave our dogs in the vehicle while shopping...problems she never had when she drove our Tesla Model 3.

 

[TheSleepyDad]

Workarounds like this are fine, but the point is we shouldn't need one! That's why many other EV manufacturers include a Pet Mode feature.

And presumably you have to disable auto-shutdown, too, lest the vehicle shut off while you're away?

I totally agree and love getting more features. My point is more so that Pet Mode was a need for Tesla and RIvian because as soon as you get out of the car and walk away the car turns itself off so they needed a way to keep it running. That's not an issue for us, as long as I don't turn the car off it could run all day without me in it.

 

[ridgebackpilot]

I totally agree and love getting more features. My point is more so that Pet Mode was a need for Tesla and RIvian because as soon as you get out of the car and walk away the car turns itself off so they needed a way to keep it running. That's not an issue for us, as long as I don't turn the car off it could run all day without me in it.

I believe you also have to disable auto-shutdown mode, which normally turns the car off after a half-hour or so?

 

[GuliblGuy]

Workarounds like this are fine, but the point is we shouldn't need one! That's why many other EV manufacturers include a Pet Mode feature.

And presumably you have to disable auto-shutdown, too, lest the vehicle shut off while you're away?

Yes it's a shame we haven't gotten it yet. I did a write up about how to do it here
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-i-make-a-makeshift-diy-dog-mode.18963/

 

[JohnnyForensic]

To be fair, when I see posts like this similar to “BUT TESLA HAS IT,” I personally think it’s worth remembering that Tesla has been doing electric vehicles for more than a decade and has had plenty of time to tweak the software and add features. Ford is still trying to find its footing and to be honest, as bad as the OTAs are sometimes (cough—BlueCruise—cough), I think Ford has actually done a pretty fantastic job out of the gate with the first car in their lineup to do so. OTAs are not an easy thing to do, especially for something with as many different life-critical modules and components as a car has.

Do I want more out of Ford? Yes. Have I been satisfied with my OTAs and new features thus far? No. Do I understand and still think they’ve made a pretty damned good showing? Absolutely.

 

[Jimrpa]

“Sentry mode” as people currently envision it is impossible with the current camera setup. You can confirm this for yourself.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

“Sentry mode” as people currently envision it is impossible with the current camera setup. You can confirm this for yourself.

Well, maybe you can do the forensics on people’s shoes and lower pant cuffs?

 

[ridgebackpilot]

To be fair, when I see posts like this similar to “BUT TESLA HAS IT,” I personally think it’s worth remembering that Tesla has been doing electric vehicles for more than a decade and has had plenty of time to tweak the software and add features.

We all know that Tesla's strengths are its tech and their build quality is weak. Ford is the opposite.

But that's no excuse. Tesla needs to step up its game in build quality control. And Ford needs to step up its game in on-board technology and the Ford app.

Implementing Pet Mode sooner than later (along with the Frunk Button and other promised conveniences) would go a long way towards sending the right message to existing owners.

 

[pr0t0c0l_dr01d]

I also really want to be able to control the rate of charge. That’s a software feature that would make my life so much easier.

 

[generaltso]

We all know that Tesla's strengths are its tech and their build quality is weak. Ford is the opposite.

But that's no excuse. Tesla needs to step up its game in build quality control. And Ford needs to step up its game in on-board technology and the Ford app.

Implementing Pet Mode sooner than later (along with the Frunk Button and other promised conveniences) would go a long way towards sending the right message to existing owners.

Tesla added Dog Mode in 2019, which was 7 years after they started selling the Model S. If we use the same timeline for Ford, we should see Pet Mode in the MME in 2028.

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