Cruise Control sometimes bugs and manically accelerates car

[Mache_Nor]

I’m one of those people that does three clicks when starting the car; 2 to disable lane assist and 1 to put Cruise Control (CC) into ready so that next time I need it I can just use the handle to activate it.

However, every now and then and without rime or reason, if I do this the car will default to CC set to about 22 kmh and it will go full speed ahead until I frantically brake to stop it. It seems to complete ignore the fact that no speed limit has been set and that car is standing still at the time of activation. This seems to happen in all drive mods, 1 pedal driving as well as driver profile.

This is a huge safety concern, but when I spoke with my national Ford provider on phone (Norway) they did not seem one bit of interested in trying to figure out what was happening, same for dealer when it was in for the second HVBJB change. Ultimately they said “don’t activate it until you need it”. While that is a point too, my main problem is that it’s not consistent. Why does it sometimes accelerate like a lunatic on the parking lot while 99% of the time it’s only put in ready mode (as it should)? Do more people experience this?

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[RickMachE]

Can't speak to Norway, but here are some points in the US that may be applicable, or not.

1) People routinely hit by accident the button on the steering wheel to kick in cruise control, blame the car, then realize they did it.

2) We have sign recognition, which also uses a database. Sign can be misread, a sign for another road that happens to be adjacent to your road can be read, or the car can access a speed in the database, which may be incorrect.

3) We have a setting for + miles over a speed limit. Sees sign for 60mph, setting is +20, "car uncontrollably zooms to 80mph". Owner never reviewed all their settings or read the manual.

Hope some or all of this helps.

 

[Mache_Nor]

Is pointing out a security issue due to inconsistent behavior / fault of the vehicle wrong? Activating the ability to use cruise control later (like clicking the cruise control button on a Nissan leaf) should not propel / launch the car from parking position. And if so, it should not happen only from time to time (happend about 3 times for me over the course of two years).

 

[Jimrpa]

I’m one of those people that does three clicks when starting the car; 2 to disable lane assist and 1 to put Cruise Control (CC) into ready so that next time I need it I can just use the handle to activate it.

However, every now and then and without rime or reason, if I do this the car will default to CC set to about 22 kmh and it will go full speed ahead until I frantically brake to stop it. It seems to complete ignore the fact that no speed limit has been set and that car is standing still at the time of activation. This seems to happen in all drive mods, 1 pedal driving as well as driver profile.

This is a huge safety concern, but when I spoke with my national Ford provider on phone (Norway) they did not seem one bit of interested in trying to figure out what was happening, same for dealer when it was in for the second HVBJB change. Ultimately they said “don’t activate it until you need it”. While that is a point too, my main problem is that it’s not consistent. Why does it sometimes accelerate like a lunatic on the parking lot while 99% of the time it’s only put in ready mode (as it should)? Do more people experience this?

I’m curious - what “handle” activates cruise control?

 

[Mache_Nor]

Button above the LIM button. Clicking that crates this situation from time to time.

 

[Tampamike]

Is pointing out a security issue due to inconsistent behavior / fault of the vehicle wrong? Other cars have been recalled for issues with uncontrolled acceleration, but according to this forum it’s a feature and user error. Activating the ability to use cruise control later (like clicking the cruise control button on a Nissan leaf) should not propel / launch the car from parking position. And if so, it should not happen only from time to time (happend about 3 times for me over the course of two years).

I haven’t ever heard of anyone starting the car with “three clicks” or anyone turning on cruise control at startup just to be ready. I would definitely estimate that second behavior to the 1% range on the bell curve.

Me, personally, I don’t regularly drive with lane assist on. I know plenty of people do. I also don’t ever use cruise control unless I’m on the highway for an extended period, so I’ve never seen what you describe. I’m not sure why CC would need to be at the ready, from start-up, at a moment’s notice with one click. It feels like a situation where one tries to trick-fu** the system and gets unintended consequences.

The fact that you’re technique is likely rare and that the odd result is also rare with it, I would change my technique. I have no explanation as to why it happens, only a guess. It could be location dependent and somehow linked to the map database of known speeds at that location.

All just opinion, but hey, you asked. Hope you don’t hit something. Be safe.

 

[Mache_Nor]

To help prevent further confusion I’ll write a shorter and more precise description:

1) See image. When car has been started I click the bottom right button to disable lane assist. In Europe you have to do this every time you start car as its default is on.
2) Click once on the top left button, to later use CC. This is the same as any other car out there like Golf’s, Leaf’s etc ., the speed of the Cc you set with the “set -+” when ready.
3) Car goes without any other inputs full throttle by itself.

Context:
1) Car is set in auto hold position and icon is still on when this happens
2) Happened about 3 times over the course or 2 years and 100 000 km. Seems somewhat related to remote start.

 

[macchiaz-o]

2) Click once on the top left button, to later use CC. This is the same as any other car out there like Golf’s, Leaf’s etc ., the speed of the Cc you set with the “set -+” when ready.

This is not the same on every car.

On Hondas, I have to turn the cruise control system on or off with one button, and use separate buttons to set or change or cancel a cruising speed.

On the Mach-E, when the on/off button is enabling the system, it is ALSO setting the cruising speed. Therefore, on this vehicle, there is no benefit or time savings to turn on the cruise control system prior to need.

 

[Auto Motive]

I’m one of those people that does three clicks when starting the car; 2 to disable lane assist and 1 to put Cruise Control (CC) into ready so that next time I need it I can just use the handle to activate it.

However, every now and then and without rime or reason, if I do this the car will default to CC set to about 22 kmh and it will go full speed ahead until I frantically brake to stop it. It seems to complete ignore the fact that no speed limit has been set and that car is standing still at the time of activation. This seems to happen in all drive mods, 1 pedal driving as well as driver profile.

This is a huge safety concern, but when I spoke with my national Ford provider on phone (Norway) they did not seem one bit of interested in trying to figure out what was happening, same for dealer when it was in for the second HVBJB change. Ultimately they said “don’t activate it until you need it”. While that is a point too, my main problem is that it’s not consistent. Why does it sometimes accelerate like a lunatic on the parking lot while 99% of the time it’s only put in ready mode (as it should)? Do more people experience this?

I activate. It at stand still screen notice says cannot activate at this speed.

 

[Mach-Lee]

To help prevent further confusion I’ll write a shorter and more precise description:

1) See image. When car has been started I click the bottom right button to disable lane assist. In Europe you have to do this every time you start car as its default is on.
2) Click once on the top left button, to later use CC. This is the same as any other car out there like Golf’s, Leaf’s etc ., the speed of the Cc you set with the “set -+” when ready.
3) Car goes without any other inputs full throttle by itself.

Context:
1) Car is set in auto hold position and icon is still on when this happens
2) Happened about 3 times over the course or 2 years and 100 000 km. Seems somewhat related to remote start.

In the USA we don't have the LIM button (which I assume is speed limiter?), can you explain how that functions differently than the cruise control button above?

Cruise control won't engage below 15 MPH on my car, so I don't see how that could happen? You can't get it to move the car from a stop unless it was previously set (and you have to press the center button). Pressing the left side button will never make it go from a stop.

 

[Mache_Nor]

In the USA we don't have the LIM button (which I assume is speed limiter?), can you explain how that functions differently than the cruise control button above?

Cruise control won't engage below 15 MPH on my car, so I don't see how that could happen? You can't get it to move the car from a stop unless it was previously set (and you have to press the center button). Pressing the left side button will never make it go from a stop.

Exactly! It should not be possible, yet somehow the car speeds up by itself when standing still and in auto - hold mode. It has only happened about three times over the course of two years, but it is really dangerous, hence why I try to figure out if more has experienced this.

The LIM function is basically limiting the max speed, but no CC or such. Useful when sensor is blocked or on a country road. To pass the limiter you have to push the pedal pretty far down, hence it’s hard to accidentally pass the speed limit.

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