Neopifex
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- John
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2024
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 98
- Location
- Concord, CA, USA
- Vehicles
- 2023 Mach-E Premium (Cyber Orange)
- Occupation
- Web Nerd
- Thread starter
- #1
This is a list of gripes I have about my 2023 Mach-E Premium. It is meant as an "I'd love fixes or improvements to these things in future models" list for anyone who cares (like maybe the engineers at @Ford Motor Company).
Many people have already discussed these issues here at length, so I'm just posting to get it off my chest rather than start anything. Feel free to join in on the gripe-fest if you want, though!
The Visors
I hate the visors. They don't rotate forward far enough, so at maximum rotation they're often too low for me to use comfortably. If the mounts were lower or the visors were positioned closer to the windshield, maybe the roof liner wouldn't get in the way. All my previous cars had visors that would rotate all the way to the windshield for those times where you want just a little visor action, not have half my view blocked by a lousy chunk of plastic.
The garage door opener on the visor has poor range. My partner's Toyota bZ4x can open the garage from a block away, while I have to be practically in my driveway to get mine to work.
The Steering Wheel & Cluster Screen
The lack of a play/pause button (or even mute!) on the steering wheel media controls is just effing stupid. It seems like such a no-brainer, but it's not there. My partner's Toyota BZ4x also lacks this basic functionality, so maybe it's not just a Ford problem?
As for the cluster screen, I'll just echo everyone's gripes about the positioning of information on the cluster, especially speed. I really don't understand Ford's thought process on this layout.
It's also not easy to position the steering wheel comfortably while maintaining an unimpeded view of the instrument cluster. Basically, I think Ford could have done a better job with the whole driver's side of the dashboard.
The Console/Infotainment Screen
Climate controls never should have been integrated into the center touch screen. I hate having to change anything while driving. It's far too distracting, and is downright dangerous!
(Note: I know carmakers seem to be trending back to having physical buttons and knobs for things in future models (partly due to EU regulations), but I don't know if that includes Ford.)
The climate controls are just terrible in general. It doesn't maintain settings like recirculation and vent choice, auto mode is a pain to turn off, and (again) I loathe having to change anything while driving. Also, why can't there just be a "vent only" setting? I just want fresh air and not have to deal with the car trying to turn on the A/C because I set the temperature to LO. I don't want to have to think about temperature to get fresh air!
Ford Assistant is laggy, unusable garbage. I wish they hadn't even bothered.
Also, I wish I could uninstall Alexa.
Honestly, I just hate having to use a touch screen for everything. I need to be able to quickly and reliably find controls without looking, which requires tactile feedback. I knew what I was getting into when I bought it, but I didn't think I'd still hate it after a year and a half.
And don't get me started on how laggy the console screen can be! Sometimes I'll press a button and it takes multiple seconds to react, while in the meantime I'll have tapped something else and then it suddenly tries to do everything at once (thus doing everything wrong). Lose the stupid screen animations, Ford, and optimize the software better for the hardware! This is the control panel for a two-ton death machine, not a tablet for someone lounging on their couch; Don't make me wait for a fancy fucking screen animation so I can redirect the airflow while I'm barreling down the freeway!
Speaking of which...
The Air Vents
The dashboard air vents are too low! They blow directly on my hands most of the time, which is about as effective at cooling me as gently waving a feather two feet away from my face. When the A/C is on, my knuckles end up frozen and stiff.
(This is a gripe I have with many automakers. They always care more about style than functionality.)
The Headlight Knob & Adjacent Buttons (vs My Knee)
I'm not a particularly tall guy, but my knee still gets in the way of seeing the headlight knob area. If I'm not sure what headlight mode is selected or want to change it, I have to either twist my leg out of the way or wait til I can stop. Another stupid and dangerous design choice.
Also, why the fuck isn't there an Open Liftgate button around this area? Do they expect everyone to keep their key fob in the center tray or something? It stays in my pocket, so opening the tailgate while seated is a major production!
Instead, they give us a redundant MAX defrost button in a difficult-to-see area (which I guess echoes having a fogged up windshield?), interior light brightness adjustment buttons even though this can be done in the console settings, and a Traction Control button that is even MORE difficult to see than the others, but no way to open the liftgate while seated with your keys in your pocket.
The Back End
The cargo cover flaps around like a nerd in a Darth Vader cape on Halloween when more than one window is open. I saw someone here 3D printed some tubes to put on the cover's attachment strings, and I'll give them a try, but we all agree it's stupid to have to do that, right? Right, @Ford Motor Company ?
There's no easy way to replace the cargo cover with a retractable cover without drilling holes in the interior panels.
I could've sworn Ford sold their own retractable cover for the Mach-E, but now I'm not seeing it anywhere. Did I dream it up? They could have sold us an overpriced retractable cover, but I guess they didn't feel like ripping us off for that one. Thanks, I guess?
The reverse camera is almost useless when it gets wet. My previous car was from before car cameras were a thing (2001 Saturn) so maybe this is common on modern cars, but you'd think it'd be a safety concern. Maybe have it recessed a little more, or give its mounting hole a little lip above it to redirect water away. Even a hydrophobic coating would help.
The Frunk
I actually never use the frunk, but I'm a little disappointed that Ford didn't make anything to utilize those two FITS attachment points from the Maverick. That's more accessory money you could've made, Ford!
Other Things
Isn't there a function that is supposed to turn down the audio volume when you come off the freeway? I turned it on once, but it never worked.
The car produces really bad Helmholtz Resonance, aka that low-frequency wind throb that gives me a headache, when one window is down. Never had this problem with past cars and I kinda hate having to roll down a second window when opening one.
The interior accent lights don't want to save my color settings. They always go back to blue.
In Conclusion
Despite how it sounds, I do enjoy my car. There are just a lot of things that could be better that I thought I'd be okay with eventually, but that hasn't been the case.
Do better, Ford. Please.
Many people have already discussed these issues here at length, so I'm just posting to get it off my chest rather than start anything. Feel free to join in on the gripe-fest if you want, though!
The Visors
I hate the visors. They don't rotate forward far enough, so at maximum rotation they're often too low for me to use comfortably. If the mounts were lower or the visors were positioned closer to the windshield, maybe the roof liner wouldn't get in the way. All my previous cars had visors that would rotate all the way to the windshield for those times where you want just a little visor action, not have half my view blocked by a lousy chunk of plastic.
The garage door opener on the visor has poor range. My partner's Toyota bZ4x can open the garage from a block away, while I have to be practically in my driveway to get mine to work.
The Steering Wheel & Cluster Screen
The lack of a play/pause button (or even mute!) on the steering wheel media controls is just effing stupid. It seems like such a no-brainer, but it's not there. My partner's Toyota BZ4x also lacks this basic functionality, so maybe it's not just a Ford problem?
As for the cluster screen, I'll just echo everyone's gripes about the positioning of information on the cluster, especially speed. I really don't understand Ford's thought process on this layout.
It's also not easy to position the steering wheel comfortably while maintaining an unimpeded view of the instrument cluster. Basically, I think Ford could have done a better job with the whole driver's side of the dashboard.
The Console/Infotainment Screen
Climate controls never should have been integrated into the center touch screen. I hate having to change anything while driving. It's far too distracting, and is downright dangerous!
(Note: I know carmakers seem to be trending back to having physical buttons and knobs for things in future models (partly due to EU regulations), but I don't know if that includes Ford.)
The climate controls are just terrible in general. It doesn't maintain settings like recirculation and vent choice, auto mode is a pain to turn off, and (again) I loathe having to change anything while driving. Also, why can't there just be a "vent only" setting? I just want fresh air and not have to deal with the car trying to turn on the A/C because I set the temperature to LO. I don't want to have to think about temperature to get fresh air!
Ford Assistant is laggy, unusable garbage. I wish they hadn't even bothered.
Also, I wish I could uninstall Alexa.
Honestly, I just hate having to use a touch screen for everything. I need to be able to quickly and reliably find controls without looking, which requires tactile feedback. I knew what I was getting into when I bought it, but I didn't think I'd still hate it after a year and a half.
And don't get me started on how laggy the console screen can be! Sometimes I'll press a button and it takes multiple seconds to react, while in the meantime I'll have tapped something else and then it suddenly tries to do everything at once (thus doing everything wrong). Lose the stupid screen animations, Ford, and optimize the software better for the hardware! This is the control panel for a two-ton death machine, not a tablet for someone lounging on their couch; Don't make me wait for a fancy fucking screen animation so I can redirect the airflow while I'm barreling down the freeway!
Speaking of which...
The Air Vents
The dashboard air vents are too low! They blow directly on my hands most of the time, which is about as effective at cooling me as gently waving a feather two feet away from my face. When the A/C is on, my knuckles end up frozen and stiff.
(This is a gripe I have with many automakers. They always care more about style than functionality.)
- The leftmost air vent is significantly weaker than the other three and almost not worth using if you're a normal person who usually sits in the middle of the seat.
- Additionally, the air vents' directional vanes are terrible at horizontal airflow adjustment. I have the left vent set to full right but air still flows almost straight out (parallel with the door).
The Headlight Knob & Adjacent Buttons (vs My Knee)
I'm not a particularly tall guy, but my knee still gets in the way of seeing the headlight knob area. If I'm not sure what headlight mode is selected or want to change it, I have to either twist my leg out of the way or wait til I can stop. Another stupid and dangerous design choice.
Also, why the fuck isn't there an Open Liftgate button around this area? Do they expect everyone to keep their key fob in the center tray or something? It stays in my pocket, so opening the tailgate while seated is a major production!
Instead, they give us a redundant MAX defrost button in a difficult-to-see area (which I guess echoes having a fogged up windshield?), interior light brightness adjustment buttons even though this can be done in the console settings, and a Traction Control button that is even MORE difficult to see than the others, but no way to open the liftgate while seated with your keys in your pocket.
The Back End
The cargo cover flaps around like a nerd in a Darth Vader cape on Halloween when more than one window is open. I saw someone here 3D printed some tubes to put on the cover's attachment strings, and I'll give them a try, but we all agree it's stupid to have to do that, right? Right, @Ford Motor Company ?
There's no easy way to replace the cargo cover with a retractable cover without drilling holes in the interior panels.
I could've sworn Ford sold their own retractable cover for the Mach-E, but now I'm not seeing it anywhere. Did I dream it up? They could have sold us an overpriced retractable cover, but I guess they didn't feel like ripping us off for that one. Thanks, I guess?
The reverse camera is almost useless when it gets wet. My previous car was from before car cameras were a thing (2001 Saturn) so maybe this is common on modern cars, but you'd think it'd be a safety concern. Maybe have it recessed a little more, or give its mounting hole a little lip above it to redirect water away. Even a hydrophobic coating would help.
The Frunk
I actually never use the frunk, but I'm a little disappointed that Ford didn't make anything to utilize those two FITS attachment points from the Maverick. That's more accessory money you could've made, Ford!
Other Things
Isn't there a function that is supposed to turn down the audio volume when you come off the freeway? I turned it on once, but it never worked.
The car produces really bad Helmholtz Resonance, aka that low-frequency wind throb that gives me a headache, when one window is down. Never had this problem with past cars and I kinda hate having to roll down a second window when opening one.
The interior accent lights don't want to save my color settings. They always go back to blue.
In Conclusion
Despite how it sounds, I do enjoy my car. There are just a lot of things that could be better that I thought I'd be okay with eventually, but that hasn't been the case.
Do better, Ford. Please.
Sponsored
