2022 Mach-E Causing Dashcam GPS Interference Near Rearview Mirror? Comparison with 2025

[RonOinAZ]

I've been trying to figure out why the GPS on my Rove R3 dash cam almost never acquires a lock in my 2022 Mach-E Premium AWD. The dash cam is mounted just below the rearview mirror. I replaced the GPS mount with an official Rove replacement last year, but it made no difference. Recently I installed the "GPS Test" app on my Pixel 10 phone and did some experiments.

With the car OFF, GPS signals are strong and the phone can see numerous satellites. As soon as I turn the 2022 Mach-E ON, GPS signal strength drops dramatically, especially near the rearview mirror/camera housing. The closer I move the phone to that housing, the worse the signals get. The effect is noticeable even when standing outside the vehicle near the windshield. Inside the cabin, GPS performance is much worse.

For comparison, I performed the exact same tests on my 2025 Mach-E Premium RWD and could not reproduce the problem at all. GPS signals remain strong with the vehicle ON or OFF.

This has me wondering whether some component in or around the mirror/camera housing on my 2022 is generating RF interference that affects GPS reception. Has anyone else tested for this or experienced poor GPS reception from aftermarket devices mounted near the mirror? Also curious whether anyone knows of hardware or shielding changes Ford may have made between the 2022 and 2025 model years that could explain the difference.

edit: emphasis added

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[NY_Cade69]

2025+ no longer has interior motion sensors

 

[Mr. Toejam]

On my 2022, I have GPS lock issues.

I tried one of those USB plug in HUD. They need GPS lock to function. It only works if I roll down the windows and put it outside.

i also noticed that when using Google Maps, the map starts spinning and is pointing in the wrong direction until I start moving. I don’t have the same issue with Apple Maps or Waze. Not sure why that is.

My 2022 has the IR blocking glass and I also have every bit of glass covered with Xpel ceramic tint. My guess is that the combination is enough to weaken the GPS signal to the point where it doesn’t get sufficient lock.

 

[ReverendPete]

This is most likely from the IRR coating on the windshield, which is known to cause issues with cell and satellite signals. The area right around the rearview mirror, where it has black dots, is where it allows more signal through. So it might be worth trying to position your Rove in a place closer to the area where it allows the signals through.

I think when you use maps from your phone (on CarPlay, etc.), it actually uses the car's GPS signal, instead of having your phone receive the GPS. I'm not sure that there's any way to pass the signal from the car's GPS antenna to an aftermarket device, though.

 

[RonOinAZ]

2025+ no longer has interior motion sensors

That's an interesting difference but my understanding is that the motion sensors are active only when the car is Off. In my case, the RF noise from the housing behind the mirror is present only when the car is On. So, when the car is Off and the motion sensors are active, the excessive RF noise isn't present and the GPS signals are strong.

 

[Mr. Toejam]

This is most likely from the IRR coating on the windshield, which is known to cause issues with cell and satellite signals. The area right around the rearview mirror, where it has black dots, is where it allows more signal through. So it might be worth trying to position your Rove in a place closer to the area where it allows the signals through.

I think when you use maps from your phone (on CarPlay, etc.), it actually uses the car's GPS signal, instead of having your phone receive the GPS. I'm not sure that there's any way to pass the signal from the car's GPS antenna to an aftermarket device, though.

Another member here tested one of those GPS HUD units and he got sketchy results until he placed it up near the rear view mirror. He does not have IRR glass, but he does have Xpel Ceramic tint and I think he also has the windshield protection film. He sent the HUD to me and I couldn't lock on, even near the mirror.

Doing a search of the interwebs, it's about 50/50 on where the GPS info comes from with no comment from Ford. I think Apple said some place that the info should come from the vehicle. I would have thought that too, but the Ford Navigation is pretty rock solid. Apple Maps, Waze and Google Maps are progressively worse in that order. It is so bad, that in stop an go traffic, I don't use Waze or Google because the Maps start rotating when I stop.

Now, I would put it past Ford and CarPlay not talking to each other properly. Besides, Ford would rather us use their navigation and pay for their service. And...click...I just turned off "Conspiracy Mode".

Hey OP, GPS receivers inside the car are a hit or miss.

 

[RonOinAZ]

Hey OP, GPS receivers inside the car are a hit or miss.

I was hoping to find out if anybody knew why there appears to be RF noise coming from the housing above the mirror in my 2022 Mach-E but not in my 2025 Mach-E. Using a GPS test app, I found that GPS signal strength drops significantly when I move the phone near that housing on the 2022, both inside and outside the vehicle, while the 2025 shows no similar behavior. Because the effect is present outside the vehicle as well, it doesn't appear that the IRR windshield alone explains the poor GPS reception. The IRR glass may certainly reduce satellite signal strength inside the cabin, but it doesn't seem to be the only factor affecting why my dashcam struggles to maintain a GPS lock.

 

[Mr. Toejam]

I was hoping to find out if anybody knew why there appears to be RF noise coming from the housing above the mirror in my 2022 Mach-E but not in my 2025 Mach-E. Using a GPS test app, I found that GPS signal strength drops significantly when I move the phone near that housing on the 2022, both inside and outside the vehicle, while the 2025 shows no similar behavior. Because the effect is present outside the vehicle as well, it doesn't appear that the IRR windshield alone explains the poor GPS reception. The IRR glass may certainly reduce satellite signal strength inside the cabin, but it doesn't seem to be the only factor affecting why my dashcam struggles to maintain a GPS lock.

That I do not know. Could be Ford switched to a different camera and it is noisier.

Do you have a USB power module tapped into the wiring in the Rear View mirror housing? That could also be noisier than older models. I put in the Dongar brand unit to power my Dashcam and it was kinda pricey, but I am seeing multiple options now for about $25. Pretty easy for those to generate a lot of noise. If you have one, unplug it and run power from one of the USB ports to see if this improves things.

And even though your don't have motion sensors, the review mirror does have electronics in it that could be radiating noise.

 

[RonOinAZ]

That I do not know. Could be Ford switched to a different camera and it is noisier.

Do you have a USB power module tapped into the wiring in the Rear View mirror housing? That could also be noisier than older models. I can't remember the model I put in, but I am seeing multiple options now for about $25. Pretty easy for those to generate a lot of noise. If you have one, unplug it and run power from one of the USB ports to see if this improves things.

And even though your don't have motion sensors, the review mirror does have electronics in it that could be radiating noise.

Power to the dashcam is routed from the fuse box through the A-pillar and headliner trim into and then out of the housing above the rearview mirror. Both driving and parked modes are supported. The rear-facing camera wiring also routes through the housing. The installation was done by a Ford dealership.

Also, when the car is On the RF noise is present whether or not power is connected to the dashcam.

 

[NY_Cade69]

That I do not know. Could be Ford switched to a different camera and it is noisier.

Do you have a USB power module tapped into the wiring in the Rear View mirror housing? That could also be noisier than older models. I put in the Dongar brand unit to power my Dashcam and it was kinda pricey, but I am seeing multiple options now for about $25. Pretty easy for those to generate a lot of noise. If you have one, unplug it and run power from one of the USB ports to see if this improves things.

And even though your don't have motion sensors, the review mirror does have electronics in it that could be radiating noise.

Dude, OP is saying GPS is WORSE in the 2022...

 

[Mr. Toejam]

Dude, OP is saying GPS is WORSE in the 2022...

Sorry, got turned around on some of that. Either I should have eaten lunch or I just had a pre-Senior Moment.

I did bring up the USB module because my Dongar is out putting less power than it used to and now my rear camera doesn't power up 100% of the time. A failing unit could be causing the noise problems. But, since you have it hard wired, that isn't the issue.

But again, maybe some of the electronics up in that area are starting to fail and that is where the noise is coming from.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I decided to take a look at this. The area to the right of the rear mirror has only a small amount of interference in the GPS L1 band. My eTrex has no trouble getting a GPS lock there. GLONASS had a lot more trouble, but they are weaker satellites. The shaded area is where you want to have the GPS antenna attached on an IRR windshield.

Right side windshield:

Scanning around, I could only detect significant interference near the IPMA front camera coax connection, which makes sense since that is a signal cable. The area is located above the rear mirror very close to the interior temperature sensor. The interference was very localized, within only about a foot. However, I'd image there could be much more signal leakage and interference on a vehicle where the IPMA coax connection was not fully seated or if the coax cable was damaged. As some of you know, the IPMA front camera coax cable and connection is delicate and is frequently damaged by windshield replacement technicians.

IPMA coax connection:

I also confirmed the IPMA interference is directly tied to the ignition status, the camera is active in ON and ACC modes but the signal cuts as soon as the ignition is turned OFF.

So if you are seeing a huge GPS interference and you're ruled out every single aftermarket item on the car (including disconnecting dashcam power supplies, which can be a significant source of interference), I would say double check your front camera coax cable connection, or have the coax cable replaced if it's damaged (which can also cause ADAS faults).

 

[RonOinAZ]

@Mach-Lee
Thank you very much for doing that. Did you happen to notice any difference in the number of satellites or signal strengths between when the car was On & Off?

I'm going to remove the housing and see what's going on happening inside. The dashcam is the only aftermarket product in the car and the one I have, the Rove R3, supposedly has a fairly weak GPS-only receiver. I did replace its mounting base, which contains the GPS receiver, with a new one purchased directly from Rove last year but it made no difference. Rove customer service says that the dashcam may have reached the end of its useful life after three years, which doesn't say much for their product. Hopefully, I'll find something obvious by looking. Thanks again!

 

[Mr. Toejam]

Talk about a brain fart. After Lee posted, I remembered that that my Dashcam had GPS. I have a no-name unit and it is mounted right where Lee was measuring.
Mine is 5.5 years old and this is what it can grab. It is facing north, but there is no objects to block the signal. It also took 30-40 seconds to acquire Keep in mind this is mounted on the ceramic tint and there is a cheap screen protector on the tint and the antenna is mounted to the screen protector I did this so I could easily remove it when this thing died

Then I went searching for a mini-usb cable (that took a while) and powered up with a power bank and the car off. Picked up 3 more satellites but overall the signals are still weak.

So there is interference, but you should get something. Or better satellites came into range.

 

[Mr. Toejam]

I just typed in the lat and long and it didn't put me in my driveway. It put me just outside of Suzhou, China. it is missing the "-" on the longitude.

I guess if I get a speeding ticket, I could always say, "It wasn't me. I was in china andI have a video and GPS data to prove it."

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