Inadvertent cruise control at slow speeds while turning

[hackworth]

I think I've seen mention of this before, but it is extremely concerning how easy it is to engage the cruise control, particularly at relatively slow speeds while turning. It's an issue of where the button is located and how little pressure is needed to engage it. The danger is significantly exacerbated when using one-pedal driving because when take your foot off the pedal and expect the car to slow/stop, it instead continues forward until you hit the brakes. I have been in turning situations a few times where the cruise control gets activated without my knowledge, and instead of slowing into the turn the car almost seems to lurch forward. It's an accident waiting to happen.

It seems like a simple solution would be to require a longer press to engage the cruise control and not a single quick tap. I'm really worried I'm going to end up hitting someone.

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[Ford Motor Company]

I think I've seen mention of this before, but it is extremely concerning how easy it is to engage the cruise control, particularly at relatively slow speeds while turning. It's an issue of where the button is located and how little pressure is needed to engage it. The danger is significantly exacerbated when using one-pedal driving because when take your foot off the pedal and expect the car to slow/stop, it instead continues forward until you hit the brakes. I have been in turning situations a few times where the cruise control gets activated without my knowledge, and instead of slowing into the turn the car almost seems to lurch forward. It's an accident waiting to happen.

It seems like a simple solution would be to require a longer press to engage the cruise control and not a single quick tap. I'm really worried I'm going to end up hitting someone.

Hello, I would like to see if I can assist you with your cruise control concerns. Could you please send us a message with your VIN and mileage?

 

[generaltso]

Hello, I would like to see if I can assist you with your cruise control concerns. Could you please send us a message with your VIN and mileage?

You forgot to ask for their dealership info.

 

[AliRafiee]

Seems like a malfunction on the interface between the seat and the steering wheel

 

[Maquis]

I’ve experienced unintended acceleration in a parking lot, but I couldn’t recreate it. Pressing the button at low speeds popped up a message about “Speed too low to activate adaptive cruise” or some such wording.
The only way this should even be possible would be if you had been using cruise before hand (I wasn’t) and pressing “Resume”. Even then, I think there’s supposed to be a minimum.

 

[hackworth]

Seems like a malfunction on the interface between the seat and the steering wheel

Very funny! I'm sure it'll be even funnier to you when someone is seriously injured or dies as a result of this design flaw!

 

[Maquis]

Very funny! I'm sure it'll be even funnier to you when someone is seriously injured or dies as a result of this design flaw!

There is a flaw, but I don’t believe it’s as simple as what you think it is. See post 5.

 

[hackworth]

I’ve experienced unintended acceleration in a parking lot, but I couldn’t recreate it. Pressing the button at low speeds popped up a message about “Speed too low to activate adaptive cruise” or some such wording.
The only way this should even be possible would be if you had been using cruise before hand (I wasn’t) and pressing “Resume”. Even then, I think there’s supposed to be a minimum.

I just recreated it intentionally on the drive to work this morning. I was approaching a stop sign at an empty intersection, slowed to about 13 mph, then gripped the steering wheel such that the edge of my palm pressed the button. The car initiated cruise control at 15 mph and began to accelerate.
This is some strange cheerleading culture that seems adamant in convincing me this issue is not real. It's dangerous.

 

[Maquis]

I just recreated it intentionally on the drive to work this morning. I was approaching a stop sign at an empty intersection, slowed to about 13 mph, then gripped the steering wheel such that the edge of my palm pressed the button. The car initiated cruise control at 15 mph and began to accelerate.
This is some strange cheerleading culture that seems adamant in convincing me this issue is not real. It's dangerous.

How is accelerating from 13 to 15 dangerous?

Don't get me wrong, there is a serious issue here, but it’s not as simple as inadvertently pressing a button. Below 10, it won’t engage. In my case, it accelerated as soon as I shifted to D after backing out of a parking space. I was barely moving.

 

[hackworth]

How is accelerating from 13 to 15 dangerous?

Are you serious? Are you just trolling me for some reason? It's dangerous when the driver is expecting the car to slow down and stop using one pedal driving.

Imagine the car is decelerating at a stop sign. A mother is pushing a newborn baby at the crosswalk. The car is slowing down, and then suddenly it is no longer slowing down, it is speeding up towards the pedestrians. The driver is surprised by this because it was not the driver's intent. The driver isn't thinking about cruise control. The safety of everyone involved depends on the driver's speed in reacting to the car's unexpected behavior and applying the brakes.

Yeah no, seems totally fine. Sorry I brought it up. Thanks for educating me. You're very helpful.

 

[dbsb3233]

I absolutely love the 1-touch cruise control in our Mach-E, and now hate the 2-step method Ford uses in other vehicles (like our Bronco Sport).

But I can see how the placement could lead to accidental touch when turning the wheel. Everyone grips the wheel differently.

One solution would be to deactivate the ON function while the wheel is turned more than a few degrees.

Or just a simple double-press. I'd be ok with that.

 

[Sikkun]

I am trying to figure out how you death grip the side of the wheel while also make a turn.

Don’t most people go hand over hand at that point? My hands are no where near the buttons while turning.

 

[dbsb3233]

I am trying to figure out how you death grip the side of the wheel while also make a turn.

Don’t most people go hand over hand at that point? My hands are no where near the buttons while turning.

If one grips the wheel just above the button cluster, it can be easy for the heel of the thumb to press in and hit the button as you turn the wheel.

I haven't done it in the Mach-E, but our Bronco Sport has a similar steering wheel and my right hand heel activates the MENU button when turning sometimes.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I have inadvertently activated cruise control while turning, but it's never been in a dangerous situation--yet.

However, a couple of days ago I was driving home and engaged cruise control on my gravel road. I usually set it at 20 mph because otherwise I drive too fast. I was at 19 mph. The warning popped up saying Adaptive Cruise Control would not activate because the speed was too low (or whatever--it was similar to Marquis' comment above).

I believe, but cannot confirm, that a recent OTA has changed the behavior of cruise control at low speeds.

 

[hackworth]

I believe, but cannot confirm, that a recent OTA has changed the behavior of cruise control at low speeds.

This would help tremendously. I haven't seen an OTA come through in many months, so perhaps I'm just behind. Thanks.

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