Things I hate about my MME (after a year and a half)

[nates]

I sometimes wonder if I am the only person who has had my cars AC set to 72 auto for the last 15 years without ever touching it again after the first time setting it.

I go between 68 and 72 Auto 1–and that’s pretty much it .

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[clowncargarage]

To add on to the visor gripe: Because they are so far from the windshield, they don't do a good job of holding a sun screen in place if you use one when you park. I always put mine in at work and the huge gap between the screen and the windshield make it less effective. Still worth doing, but it bothers me that it's not a tight fit.

Agree a vent setting would be nice. In previous cars, I would just turn it off and crack the sunroof, but since that's not an option in the Mach E, it would be a nice add on.

Add to the list lack of a power sunshade for the roof. Yes, it's well tinted and insulated, but it still gets hot in the summer. The ford snap in shade is inexpensive and works well, but it would be nice to be able to easily open and close it when I want it and not have to keep it snapped in all summer.

Most of the rest of the list seems highly user specific. I've never had issues with the instrument cluster or vent positioning. And rear cameras suck in the rain or just get dirty. The only only car I've ever driven that got it right was my VW GTI, which hid the camera under the emblem and only popped it out when you went into reverse. It's a great design.... until it breaks

 

[MonkeyNutz]

mini rant -

me too... I am puzzled by the number of people that fiddle with the thing. it is thermostat... I see reviewers constantly complain about all cars wanting buttons for HVAC so they can fiddle with it and and am puzzled by shops will set the thermostat to minimum temp when they give the car back after a tire rotation etc... people... it is a thermostat... stop it.

mini rant over -

If you live in a place with dynamic seasons and temperatures, you end up fiddling with it quite often... I wish I could set it and forget it, but unfortunately I've found my Lightning and now Mach-E are too biased towards outside temps. I mean, I get it's 46 degrees outside, but the high-altitude sun has my cabin heated to 85+, yes I want it blowing cold air, now I have to manually go turn off the heat that Auto mode is insisting I need because the Auto mode is stupid.

Auto on level 3 struggles with ramping up the fan as much as it should at times when it's really hot out. I mean like Arizona desert in July conditions at 122°F. That's a Max AC situation until it gets comfortable, then dial back the fan a notch or two and set your temp. Auto? Auto doesn't even know what to do in that situation, it runs the fan at like 4 or 5 even on Auto 3 and I roast to death before I get from home to the grocery store.

This isn't specifically a Ford issue, other cars we've owned with auto AC systems all seem to have most of the same quirks and limitations.

Oh, and why won't it let me set my preferred combo of vents while on auto?

...If I lived in SoCal the auto mode would probably be awesome.

 

[Fred Bombelyn]

Most of these are minor details, the one that bothers me the most is visibility, especially when merging to the left. Also the hardest vehicle I've ever had to parallel park.

 

[Blue highway]

If you live in a place with dynamic seasons and temperatures, you end up fiddling with it quite often... I wish I could set it and forget it, but unfortunately I've found my Lightning and now Mach-E are too biased towards outside temps. I mean, I get it's 46 degrees outside, but the high-altitude sun has my cabin heated to 85+, yes I want it blowing cold air, now I have to manually go turn off the heat that Auto mode is insisting I need because the Auto mode is stupid.

Auto on level 3 struggles with ramping up the fan as much as it should at times when it's really hot out. I mean like Arizona desert in July conditions at 122°F. That's a Max AC situation until it gets comfortable, then dial back the fan a notch or two and set your temp. Auto? Auto doesn't even know what to do in that situation, it runs the fan at like 4 or 5 even on Auto 3 and I roast to death before I get from home to the grocery store.

This isn't specifically a Ford issue, other cars we've owned with auto AC systems all seem to have most of the same quirks and limitations.

Oh, and why won't it let me set my preferred combo of vents while on auto?

...If I lived in SoCal the auto mode would probably be awesome.

well... 113 isn't 122... but it gets hot here too... still don't see the need to fiddle... give the system 60 seconds and it will set to max.

 

[Chuck]

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 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).

I've been working on designing some airflow redirectors (think reverse snorkel or submarine periscope) to 3D print, but I already know they're going to look and perform like shit compared to vents that weren't crap from the start.

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.

After 4 years all I can say is: DITTO.

 

[Neopifex]

My biggest complaint at this point is the sound system. I didn't really give it a good listen on the '24 we test drove. But it's terrible. I thought it would at least be on par or better than my Lightning, which is also not good, but no, it's worse. And our Bronco Sports have a better sounding system than the Mach-E. WTF, Ford? B&O should be embarrassed that they put their name on this.

The sound system in mine is fantastic. That's one of the things I love about my car, actually. Did you get the base system or the upgraded one with the subwoofer?

 

[MonkeyNutz]

well... 113 isn't 122... but it gets hot here too... still don't see the need to fiddle... give the system 60 seconds and it will set to max.

Can't comment on the Mach-E, just picked up our '25 the other day. Had my Lightning for over 2.5 year, it never ramps up to max AC levels when on Auto.

And my point still stands that you can't select and set desired output vent combos while keeping the system in Auto. Oh you want floor vents with defrost? Not available in auto. And it's still biased to outdoor temps, as in my example... It seems like all through March and April I have to go into the climate controls and turn off heat because it's just casually blowing warm/ hot air at me because the outside temp is low while the cabin is hot. It will be comfortable and I'm just driving along and 10 minutes into a drive and it just keeps pumping hot air and I finally have enough and have to go tell it to knock that off... Regular occurrence, outside temp mid 40's, cabin temp set to 68, cabin actual temp somewhere in mid/high 70s, dumbass system blowing hot air. None of these are situations where you just wait 60 seconds and it corrects itself.

Auto works great when I'm in places like WV. Auto is braindead 4 months out of the year in Colorado.

I'm glad it works for you in your mild PNW environment.

 

[Jimrpa]

mini rant -

me too... I am puzzled by the number of people that fiddle with the thing. it is a thermostat... I see reviewers constantly complain about all cars wanting buttons for HVAC so they can fiddle with it... and and am puzzled by shops that will set the thermostat to minimum temp when they give the car back after a tire rotation etc... people... it is a thermostat... stop it.

mini rant over -

A buddy of mine has a ranger with ATC and he NEVER uses it. He’s always futzing with both the fan and temperature controls. I’ve tried repeatedly to get him to just use the “Auto” mode. His response? “How is it supposed to know how I like the temperature? Can it read my mind or something?”

I have given up on these people who don’t use Auto.

 

[Jimrpa]

If you live in a place with dynamic seasons and temperatures, you end up fiddling with it quite often... I wish I could set it and forget it, but unfortunately I've found my Lightning and now Mach-E are too biased towards outside temps. I mean, I get it's 46 degrees outside, but the high-altitude sun has my cabin heated to 85+, yes I want it blowing cold air, now I have to manually go turn off the heat that Auto mode is insisting I need because the Auto mode is stupid.

Auto on level 3 struggles with ramping up the fan as much as it should at times when it's really hot out. I mean like Arizona desert in July conditions at 122°F. That's a Max AC situation until it gets comfortable, then dial back the fan a notch or two and set your temp. Auto? Auto doesn't even know what to do in that situation, it runs the fan at like 4 or 5 even on Auto 3 and I roast to death before I get from home to the grocery store.

This isn't specifically a Ford issue, other cars we've owned with auto AC systems all seem to have most of the same quirks and limitations.

Oh, and why won't it let me set my preferred combo of vents while on auto?

...If I lived in SoCal the auto mode would probably be awesome.

I don’t live in SoCal and it works fine for me. Note that there is a solar load sensor that is SUPPOSED to compensate for the exact issue you describe. Perhaps it is either broken or just doesn’t work well in your area?

 

[Neopifex]

The visor comment is valid.
The trunk can be opened ny pressing a button on the main screen of the vehicle display.
The flopping cargo cover got fixed with 2 pieces of 1/2" pvc.

Yes, they should have been included in the car, but they weren't.
So, find alternate and creative solutions or keep venting to no avail.

It shouldn't take multiple keypresses to perform a simple and frequently-used function, especially with the lag I experience with that screen. At the very least, they could have made it a persistent button at the top of the screen, perhaps next to the camera icon. Any UI designer worth their salt would agree.

It also shouldn't take a trip to home depot to make a standard part less shitty.

 

[Jimrpa]

It shouldn't take multiple keypresses to perform a simple and frequently-used function, especially with the lag I experience with that screen. At the very least, they could have made it a persistent button at the top of the screen, perhaps next to the camera icon. Any UI designer worth their salt would agree.

It also shouldn't take a trip to home depot to make a standard part less shitty.

To be honest, it sounds like the Mustang Mach-E actually isn’t the right car for you. Nothing wrong with that - people find something they really like at first then, after living with it for a while, they find a lot of things they don’t like that they either weren’t aware of or overlooked. I’d recommend using your Mustang Mach-E as a “learning experience”, and begin looking at, and test driving, other vehicles now, so that you can get a good idea what is in the market that you’ll like better when you choose to replace the vehicle. This forum is filled with people who moved on from the Mustang Mach-E to Kia’s, Hyundais, Cadillacs, Rivians, and more.

 

[Neopifex]

A buddy of mine has a ranger with ATC and he NEVER uses it. He’s always futzing with both the fan and temperature controls. I’ve tried repeatedly to get him to just use the “Auto” mode. His response? “How is it supposed to know how I like the temperature? Can it read my mind or something?”

I have given up on these people who don’t use Auto.

Believe it or not, there are people who don't like what Auto thinks is comfortable.

There are also people whose temperature preferences change over the course of the day.

It's great that Auto works so well for you. Really, it is!

But please stop assuming you know what's best for other people with different bodies and situations.

 

[Neopifex]

To be honest, it sounds like the Mustang Mach-E actually isn’t the right car for you. Nothing wrong with that - people find something they really like at first then, after living with it for a while, they find a lot of things they don’t like that they either weren’t aware of or overlooked. I’d recommend using your Mustang Mach-E as a “learning experience”, and begin looking at, and test driving, other vehicles now, so that you can get a good idea what is in the market that you’ll like better when you choose to replace the vehicle. This forum is filled with people who moved on from the Mustang Mach-E to Kia’s, Hyundais, Cadillacs, Rivians, and more.

Again, stop trying to tell people what they should like.

I enjoy my car and feel Ford needs to do better on the small details.

 

[ARK]

I'm surprised you don't like the visors, I find them better than most other vehicles because of the extender that Ford has built into them. They often block sun from off to the side where with other vehicles, I get full sunshine in my face because they do not have the extension capability.

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