I put the Mach-E in reverse and it went forward. The Mach-E Wouldn't Reverse

[bbachrac]

Can you clarify a few things? So the car was detecting an obstacle, which is why it wouldn't reverse? Did you move the obstacle behind the car? Maybe a cat was back there or something? When you said it was going forward, was it just moving a couple inches to avoid the obstacle behind?

Also are you aware if you were getting rear or front obstacle beeps? A lot of people aren't aware they're different sounds, the front beeps are higher pitch.

When people say the car is moving forward, I'm not sure if that just means it's rocking a tiny amount while the car is trying to hold a position, or if it's actually wanting to move forwards multiple feet in distance.

I did not realize this thread was still active nor how many owners had experienced the problem I recounted.
In the original occurrence which I reported, the vehicle was on level ground and it was definitively trying to power forward while the shifter was in reverse.

I have not had another occurrence, but I am now more careful when parking about the what is behind the car.

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[phil]

I did not realize this thread was still active nor how many owners had experienced the problem I recounted.
In the original occurrence which I reported, the vehicle was on level ground and it was definitively trying to power forward while the shifter was in reverse.

I have not had another occurrence, but I am now more careful when parking about the what is behind the car.

For me too, it was the car moving a foot or two before I could slam on the brake. Definitely wheels turning under power, not just the car rocking a few inches.

It's been 14 months now since they 'flashed' the GSM software for me and I have had no recurrence of the problem in that time.

BTW, I always enjoyed your music. Especially Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head.

 

[thekat03]

Can you clarify a few things? So the car was detecting an obstacle, which is why it wouldn't reverse? Did you move the obstacle behind the car? Maybe a cat was back there or something? When you said it was going forward, was it just moving a couple inches to avoid the obstacle behind?

Also are you aware if you were getting rear or front obstacle beeps? A lot of people aren't aware they're different sounds, the front beeps are higher pitch.

When people say the car is moving forward, I'm not sure if that just means it's rocking a tiny amount while the car is trying to hold a position, or if it's actually wanting to move forwards multiple feet in distance.

I was pulled in nose first in a parking spot. I wanted to reverse out of it, and it wouldn't because it was behaving like I put it in drive. There was no obstacle behind me. I was in a flat parking lot. It detected the car parked in front of me, and showed the car on the 360 cam, even though it also showed the reverse cam as if I put it in reverse. I looked down and confirmed the shift knob indicated reverse, not drive. I lightly pressed on the accelerator and the car went forward slightly, changing the proximity warninga from orange to red, and the car in front was visibly closer. It was only a couple inches, but it moved, and it wasn't a lift off the brake and the car rolled move. When I had it sitting in park for a while, and then was able to successfully put it in reverse, it didn't try to warn me about the obstacle in front of me anymore, so I felt safe cautiously backing up, and confirmed that it finally went into reverse.

 

[DeusEx]

I have a 2023.5 premium that seems to exhibit an issue like this quite frequently.

This has happened with opd mode enabled when using both engaged and unbridled modes and I think I can recreate fairly consistently on multiple driveways I have to reverse down a decline.

I start backing up. When I reach the driveway apron, on a slight decline, and partially release the gas to brake, the car sometimes jerks forward. If I press the gas while it jerks forward, the car moves forward and will continue to do so until I release the gas pedal to do a full stop. Most times after a full stop my car then remember that I'm in reverse.

I frequently reverse like this to check for oncoming cars so it's very unnerving when this happens. The last time this happened I nearly hit my father in law's parked car in the driveway.

The reverse camera was clearly on, but the car kept creeping forward when I pressed the gas pedal. This happened even after I took my foot fully off the gas. The only way I could get my car to reverse again was to go in park and then shift back to reverse again.

If I reverse without ever lifting my foot off the gas to slow down, the car will reverse without issue. This only ever happens to me when I'm on declining on the apron.

Anyone feeling adventurous to confirm if this happens to them too? Any ideas on a fix? I know I have updates to perform on my car but not sure if it's for the module previously mentioned.

 

[Mach1E]

I believe what people are saying, I just wish they would pull out their phone and take a video when it happens so it would be easier to diagnose.

FWIW, the 360 camera also turns on when you get close to something in drive as well, so that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in reverse.

 

[thekat03]

I believe what people are saying, I just wish they would pull out their phone and take a video when it happens so it would be easier to diagnose.

FWIW, the 360 camera also turns on when you get close to something in drive as well, so that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in reverse.

Too bad that when it happened, I was more concerned about not hitting the parked car in front of me, how long it would be until I could leave, and if I would have time to run an errand (I didn't). By the time I read the suggestion earlier in this thread to record a video, my car fixed itself. Who knows if it will happen again or not. I hope not.

 

[CarlSagan82]

You sure?

I blame fordpass 5.0

 

[phil]

I believe what people are saying, I just wish they would pull out their phone and take a video when it happens so it would be easier to diagnose.

FWIW, the 360 camera also turns on when you get close to something in drive as well, so that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in reverse.

I almost had it this morning!

The drive error happened to me again, for the first time in 14 months. Remembering your advice, I whipped out my phone and videoed:
1. Shifter dial, with "R" lit up
2. My foot on the accelerator pedal
3. the car moving three feet forward AND uphill from a dead stop (on the driveway backing out of my home garage).
4. the car lurching suddenly into reverse while I did nothing other than keep my foot very lightly pressing on the accelerator. This was new - in prior instances, I shifted to "P" and back to "R" and got into the correct gear without the lurch. Perhaps after all it's not the shifting that corrects the system, but rather taking enough time for the car to think about it and figure out it's going the wrong way.

Unfortunately, I have a brand new phone and must have pressed the wrong button, because no video saved. User error with my phone, I'm sure. But I will go to my grave certain that the Mach-E going in the wrong direction was not user error - the car made a mistake. Again - this makes three times for me, about once a year.

It's a darn shame I did not get the video, but at least I learned something - Ford's "re-flashing the GSM software" did not fix this problem. With or without video, I still think there is nothing to be done, other than always be careful backing out of my garage. I have zero confidence that my dealer or manufacturer would be able to identify, let alone fix, the issue.

 

[Mach1E]

I almost had it this morning!

The drive error happened to me again, for the first time in 14 months. Remembering your advice, I whipped out my phone and videoed:
1. Shifter dial, with "R" lit up
2. My foot on the accelerator pedal
3. the car moving three feet forward AND uphill from a dead stop (on the driveway backing out of my home garage).
4. the car lurching suddenly into reverse while I did nothing other than keep my foot very lightly pressing on the accelerator. This was new - in prior instances, I shifted to "P" and back to "R" and got into the correct gear without the lurch. Perhaps after all it's not the shifting that corrects the system, but rather taking enough time for the car to think about it and figure out it's going the wrong way.

Unfortunately, I have a brand new phone and must have pressed the wrong button, because no video saved. User error with my phone, I'm sure. But I will go to my grave certain that the Mach-E going in the wrong direction was not user error - the car made a mistake. Again - this makes three times for me, about once a year.

It's a darn shame I did not get the video, but at least I learned something - Ford's "re-flashing the GSM software" did not fix this problem. With or without video, I still think there is nothing to be done, other than always be careful backing out of my garage. I have zero confidence that my dealer or manufacturer would be able to identify, let alone fix, the issue.

It’s fine.

Just like all the big foot and UFO videos, it would be all grainy anyways. ?

I’m wondering if it’s something with the dial vs something else going on.

Were you in 1PD as well?

I wonder if it’s one of the reasons the dials on 2023+ models don’t “free spin” anymore and just click into P R N D.

 

[phil]

It’s fine.

Just like all the big foot and UFO videos, it would be all grainy anyways. ?

I’m wondering if it’s something with the dial vs something else going on.

Were you in 1PD as well?

I wonder if it’s one of the reasons the dials on 2023+ models don’t “free spin” anymore and just click into P R N D.

Yes, I always use one pedal.

Based on this morning's experience, I don't see how it could be the dial. When I started the car in my garage, I dialed "R", and never touched the dial again throughout the events described above. I reversed to the driveway, stopped and waited (remaining in "R") while my wife entered the car, moved wrongly forward (three times - twice to be sure I still had R properly selected and again after I grabbed my phone), and then continued backing down my driveway after the car lurched back into reverse. The dial was not really a factor - "R" was selected and lit and unchanged throughout.

It's a brand new Pixel 8 Pro. The video would have been crystal clear!

 

[Monke]

Yes, I always use one pedal.

Based on this morning's experience, I don't see how it could be the dial. When I started the car in my garage, I dialed "R", and never touched the dial again throughout the events described above. I reversed to the driveway, stopped and waited (remaining in "R") while my wife entered the car, moved wrongly forward (three times - twice to be sure I still had R properly selected and again after I grabbed my phone), and then continued backing down my driveway after the car lurched back into reverse. The dial was not really a factor - "R" was selected and lit and unchanged throughout.

It's a brand new Pixel 8 Pro. The video would have been crystal clear!

I think we need one camera on the forehead, one on the right elbow pointing to the knob and one on the right knee pointing to the pedals. All three should be synced.

My MME jerked forward after a complete stop. It also jerked backward after a complete stop. Adaptive cruise slammed on the brake without any car in front of me. For the jerking problems, dealerships said there was no error codes stored so they could not do anything. Very convenient.

If my MME jerk forward for 3 feet like yours, it will take a wall down. Of course, there would be no error code stored in the module.

 

[milepost1]

Your childlike faith in the power of video is very touching.

"The technician was unable to reproduce the issue. Case closed."

"But what about my video?"

"Yes, we all enjoyed your nice video. The technician was unable to reproduce the issue. Case closed."

If I have a video and recieved response can't reproduce, I would start up chain to Farley, news outlets, FB, forum, and then lawyer. Especially on a safety issue.

 

[dcohen]

To any/all here, if this happens again to you, *please, please, please* get a video! This is a pretty serious issue and at least as far as we can tell, Ford is not even looking to address or acknowledge it. Typical large company behavior since no error codes show up (which is in and of itself an indicator that the software for some of their electronics doesn't have adequate logging).

 

[Phantom E]

My wife reports this happened to her last week. 2023 GT, gear selector in "R", reverse alarm operating, OPD, level parking space. Fortunately she wasn't pulled up tight to the vehicle in front of her. Only did it once but still unnerving.

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