Front Camera Fault & Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Errors

[TheSteelRider]

What I find strange is, after about 1 1/2 years of us having a Mach E, this camera issue is cropping up. A couple of folks report getting it replaced and not fixing the issue, and now a couple folks who have had software updates not fix the issue.

Why has this only just now cropped up on our cars?

I have to believe that the actual camera hardware is a dime-a-dozen and is the same exact hardware in many, many other vehicles. So, I tend to be less inclined to believe it is the camera hardware. Couple that with the apparently sudden onset of these issues suspiciously within a short time that BlueCruise software was OTA'd to our cars and I tend to suspect it's software. That said, the TSB seems to not fix it based on the admittedly limited data.

@SnBGC could me being a random anonymous internetizen convince you to push Ford to fix it, regardless of warranty status? It just really bothers me there is such an early life failure and I really want to hold Ford accountable if for no other reason than to help the next-generation of EVs succeed.

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[Mach-Lee]

Made it one whole week.
The errors are now back. Both error messages appeared last night on the way home and this morning during my commute.

Could be hardware. Could be software. Not sure. Either way, my warranty has long expired so I'll just have to live with it I guess.

Thoughts:

1. Inside of windshield camera sees through could be getting dirty
2. Connection to camera going bad
3. Camera itself is going bad

Electronics do have a finite lifespan until the components go out of tolerance. Heat accelerates that decline. Capacitors could be going out of spec, etc. I've had a dashcam I've replaced the battery and capacitors a couple times because they keep failing every couple years. The windshield of a hot car is a tough environment for electronics.

 

[MachEnation]

Just had my MME in the shop for a few days--then out for one day--then back in again for a couple days because the fix didn't take. What originally caused it was a "failed" update, which was due to a bad module. They replaced that, but it still didn't take and 20 minutes from home the FC/Pre-C error came right back.

On my second shop visit, Ford engineering had them "rebuild" (from a software perspective) the instrument cluster. So far/so good.

But hey, at least I had an F-150 Lightning Pro as a loaner for almost a week and a half--what a treat that was.

EDIT: Just a day later and the &*$(! fault came back. SEEMS to be connected to bumpy roads, oddly enough. Dealer will be looking into it, hopefully just a loose connection...

 

[SnBGC]

What I find strange is, after about 1 1/2 years of us having a Mach E, this camera issue is cropping up. A couple of folks report getting it replaced and not fixing the issue, and now a couple folks who have had software updates not fix the issue.

Why has this only just now cropped up on our cars?

I have to believe that the actual camera hardware is a dime-a-dozen and is the same exact hardware in many, many other vehicles. So, I tend to be less inclined to believe it is the camera hardware. Couple that with the apparently sudden onset of these issues suspiciously within a short time that BlueCruise software was OTA'd to our cars and I tend to suspect it's software. That said, the TSB seems to not fix it based on the admittedly limited data.

@SnBGC could me being a random anonymous internetizen convince you to push Ford to fix it, regardless of warranty status? It just really bothers me there is such an early life failure and I really want to hold Ford accountable if for no other reason than to help the next-generation of EVs succeed.

Unfortunately, Ford Motor Company doesn't factor into the equation. The dealer (or some other agent) would have to make the repairs and I would be required to pay for it. Ford has met it's obligation which is to keep the car in working order for 36,000 miles. After that, I am on my own. It is what I agreed to after all.

Now if any part of the EV powertrain has a failure then I am covered until 100k miles. Just barely at 47,500 miles now so I have a long way to go still.

The failure does appear to be heat related. I am not so sure I will chalk this one up to faulty software. The software on this car is horrible....but in this case it might just be a worn out component. I think I used cruise control more in this car than ALL my previous vehicles combined. Adaptive Cruise is awesome. LkA/LC not so much...

 

[SnBGC]

Thoughts:

1. Inside of windshield camera sees through could be getting dirty
2. Connection to camera going bad
3. Camera itself is going bad

Electronics do have a finite lifespan until the components go out of tolerance. Heat accelerates that decline. Capacitors could be going out of spec, etc. I've had a dashcam I've replaced the battery and capacitors a couple times because they keep failing every couple years. The windshield of a hot car is a tough environment for electronics.

Very well could be hardware. It does get pretty darn hot out here and I do have a lot of miles with that system in operation. I am sure it gets hot when it is running. This is my first vehicle with these sorts of driver aids so I don't have any sort of baseline to reference. Maybe this is expected life of these things based on the environment and usage pattern?

Oh well, I got a good 18 months of use. Now it's back to driving the good old fashioned way. Maybe when it cools down it will work more often and fault out less? If I am lucky, the symptom will come and go with the hot weather.

Hmm....maybe this is why BlueCruise sucks so bad in my car? If that camera isn't tip top then BC won't work reliably either.

 

[TheSteelRider]

Just got ours back.

Summary:

• The IPMA had stored codes (I also had provided pictures of the fault messages just in case, but good to know the codes were stored)
• The IPMB (Image Processing Module B) located in the rear trunk area of the vehicle tested bad and was replaced
• They realigned the front camera, and road-tested

Interestingly, they indicated there were NO TSBs for this condition. I spent about 30 minutes after pickup driving on a nearby interstate with BlueCruise, and it worked flawlessly. I will definitely keep this thread up to date if that changes. Invoice below for the curious

 

[SnBGC]

Just got ours back.

Summary:

• The IPMA had stored codes (I also had provided pictures of the fault messages just in case, but good to know the codes were stored)
• The IPMB (Image Processing M.. B..) located in the rear trunk area of the vehicle tested bad and was replaced
• They realigned the front camera, and road-tested

Interestingly, they indicated there were NO TSBs for this condition. I spent about 30 minutes after pickup driving on a nearby interstate with BlueCruise, and it worked flawlessly. I will definitely keep this thread up to date if that changes. Invoice below for the curious

Maybe someone with access to PTS can look and see what the warranty cost was back to Ford? That would give me an idea what it would cost me to fix my car. (Assuming the fault doesn't also return after a week or two....)

 

[Neil4Real]

Maybe someone with access to PTS can look and see what the warranty cost was back to Ford? That would give me an idea what it would cost me to fix my car. (Assuming the fault doesn't also return after a week or two....)

I'm just curious, with how much you drive and being such an early adopter, why didn't you opt for the extended bumper to bumper? it isn't too pricey with how much these things cost just to have a camera or headlight replaced.

 

[SnBGC]

I'm just curious, with how much you drive and being such an early adopter, why didn't you opt for the extended bumper to bumper? it isn't too pricey with how much these things cost just to have a camera or headlight replaced.

Good question.
It has been my experience that extended warranties are a waste of money. There are too many loopholes and ways for the them to deny coverage. It's not worth the hassle and expense.

I've probably purchased over 100 Ford trucks (at least 5 of them for personal use) and two electric cars (C-Max Energi and Focus Electric). Those electric vehicles have been just as reliable as the trucks so I had every reason to believe the Mach-E would follow that path.

I don't really feel like an early adopter any longer. This is my 5th electric vehicle made by Ford (we had 2 electric Transit vans several years ago as well). By now they should have a pretty good handle on the BEV thing. People think the MME is Ford's first rodeo but it isn't really. They have been doing this for a long time already (about 10 years).

I have a LOT of experience with Ford products. Perhaps more than any other person on this forum. I think the Mach-E is by far the most glitchy vehicle that I have ever driven. They ALL appear to be glitchy in some way or another. When I first got my car and would connect to the scan tool, there were dozens of codes thrown. That is true for EVERY SINGLE Mach-E that I have scanned (about half dozen so far....). I have NEVER seen a vehicle throw as many codes as these cars do. It has improved though.....I only get about 3-5 codes now. Someday I hope to get a clean scan but not holding my breath. Really no excuse for such poor software. Again, Ford has been doing software for decades and they have been very good at it. Something changed with this car.

 

[TheSteelRider]

Just got ours back.

Summary:

• The IPMA had stored codes (I also had provided pictures of the fault messages just in case, but good to know the codes were stored)
• The IPMB (Image Processing Module B) located in the rear trunk area of the vehicle tested bad and was replaced
• They realigned the front camera, and road-tested

Interestingly, they indicated there were NO TSBs for this condition. I spent about 30 minutes after pickup driving on a nearby interstate with BlueCruise, and it worked flawlessly. I will definitely keep this thread up to date if that changes. Invoice below for the curious

Well, that did not last long. Look what popped up this morning.

 

[SnBGC]

Well, that did not last long. Look what popped up this morning.

Bummer.
I've seen these errors 3 times today so far myself.

 

[Bongjovi]

Well, I hit my limit today and initiated a lemon law claim for my vehicle as a result of this issue.

My vehicle has been in the possession of the service department at my local dealer for 35 consecutive days. Despite replacing the module more than once, and escalations with Ford engineers the problem is not any closer to being resolved from when I dropped it off.

The last update I received was on Monday and that the issue was again being escalated at Ford and they hoped to have a software update within a few days.

At this point, I just need to move this to an overall solution.

 

[SnBGC]

Well, I hit my limit today and initiated a lemon law claim for my vehicle as a result of this issue.

My vehicle has been in the possession of the service department at my local dealer for 35 consecutive days. Despite replacing the module more than once, and escalations with Ford engineers the problem is not any closer to being resolved from when I dropped it off.

The last update I received was on Monday and that the issue was again being escalated at Ford and they hoped to have a software update within a few days.

At this point, I just need to move this to an overall solution.

Multiple hardware replacements and still the issue remains? Maybe it is a software problem after all. ?

 

[Bongjovi]

Multiple hardware replacements and still the issue remains? Maybe it is a software problem after all. ?

My theroy has been that the software updates that are being pushed through are not compatible with certain components of hardware in the vehicle.

I fear there are only more issues to come as additional software is pushed thru.

 

[TheSteelRider]

Multiple hardware replacements and still the issue remains? Maybe it is a software problem after all. ?

I knew you'd come around to my way of thinking eventually ?

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