New Lawsuit Might Force Ford To Change Mustang Mach-E Door Handles

[generaltso]

Everybody’s home has the rock through the window back up entry.

As does the Mach-E.

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[azerik]

Exactly

 

[azerik]

One must always carry underpants gnomes. They’re great for getting through those kind of bars.

 

[DaddyDeuce]

One must always carry underpants gnomes. They’re great for getting through those kind of bars.

1. Carry underpants gnomes
2. ???
3. Profit

 

[azerik]

Exactly!

 

[Mach1E]

That already exists in the form of capacitors in the doors. The fact that it can’t be unlocked is a security decision, not because of lack of power.

True, but it also doesn’t solve the problem.

And the capacitor doesn’t last forever. How do you open the door of one of these by the time they make it to the junkyard or when it’s being worked on after a collision?

There should be a way to get in and out of the car when it has zero power. It’s fine in all normal functioning situations….. but those aren’t the only times you need the doors opened.

 

[Sikkun]

Yes, I agree, a mechanical key would be a partial solution, but as I stated above, many people use Paak and leave their FOB/key at home. This wouldn't work for someone coming out to their car from work or shopping and the 12v battery is dead. I don't think telling people, from now on bring your keys "just in case" is practical. That's just not going to happen. An alternate emergency power supply to power the driver-side door when it was locked prior to the battery dying needs to be found. I'm just spit-balling an idea. Guess we'll have to wait and see what they end up coming up with.

After people have been carrying keys for nearly 100 years, now, if you are so super concerned (mostly only if you have a small child), of the small chance of your 12v dying with your car locked and a small child inside…..carrying a key is an impossible hurdle?

 

[redgrandam]

I doubt this will go anywhere. Anyone can file a lawsuit…. Tesla has done this for years now and haven’t been forced to change anything. Not sure why Ford should be held to a different standard.

I know they updated software to keep the 12V at a higher threshold. I’d be interested to know if this has resulted in less people being locked out.

 

[ChasingCoral]

That already exists in the form of capacitors in the doors. The fact that it can’t be unlocked is a security decision, not because of lack of power.

I can see the problem of the opposite situation. Ford could end up being sued because a child was abducted from a car when a thief enabled the capacitors and opened the doors.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Lawsuit is very unlikely to prevail. I’ll guarantee that Ford has both better lawyers and deeper pockets than either the plaintiffs or the law firm. It has a long ways to go before it’s even certified let alone go to trial.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Means an adult is in the car.

Chronologically anyway.

 

[Ford_orr]

After people have been carrying keys for nearly 100 years, now, if you are so super concerned (mostly only if you have a small child), of the small chance of your 12v dying with your car locked and a small child inside…..carrying a key is an impossible hurdle?

Yes, correct. Newspapers have been around for hundreds of years too, when's the last time you bought one of those? Maybe we should get rid of this internet thing for our news consumption.

Modern society is moving towards a physical keyless/digital world - not more physical keys. Pretty soon you'll be able to get into your vehicle with a thumbprint or retinal scan. Or maybe you'll be able to get in usuing your voice through voice recognition software that recognizes your unique voice signature. Who knows, maybe even one day you can get a biochip implanted that not only let's you get into your vehicle, but into your house, work, mass transit, sporting events, etc. If Ford ever reverted back to only physical key/FOB entry into their vehicles because of this dead 12v battery issue, they'd be the laughing stock of the automotive world.

And if you are so worried about your small child getting locked in a vehicle due to a dead battery, why are you buying a Mustang Mach E with keyless entry to begin with? Buy a 2005 Toyota Camry instead.

 

[Jimrpa]

There’s an article in today’s (?) WSJ about technology in cars. According to the article, a lot of people are unhappy with electronically operated door “handles”. They cited a VW owner in Montreal who had to climb into his car through the hatch because the car’s electronic door “handles” didn’t work below 15F. ?‍

Ultimately, I see this as a no-win for auto makers. They’re trying to improve the user experience and reliability, and in the process, new failure modes are being found.

 

[AlpaChino]

Having recently leased an EV9, I was really impressed to learn about the manual locks hidden in the retracting door handles. I'd love to see Ford adopt this approach, or perhaps a pop-out panel on the a-pillar that would expose a keyhole.

 

[Sikkun]

If Ford ever reverted back to only physical key/FOB entry into their vehicles because of this dead 12v battery issue, they'd be the laughing stock of the automotive world.

No, they would be like majority of the automotive world. And looking at forums like this majority of customers would prefer that.

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