I'm no longer willing to recommend the Mach-E or Ford

[Subdude]

Functionality of the car has moved steadily backwards since picking it up last November.

Phone as a Key NEVER works any longer. The dealership couldn't help - it looks like it's a Pixel 6a issue, but no one knows for sure.

I now carry the key fob all the time. On a couple of occations it has failed to unlock the car - I've had to enter the passcode on the door column.

I have to be sure NOT to carry the key fob when in the house as it sometimes triggers the rear hatch to open, scratching it on the garage door. Or, it sets off the car alarm, which sometimes can only be turned off by going into the garage and actually starting the car.

This morning I urgently needed to move the car out of the garage and didn't have the key fob on me. The keyboard wouldn't appear on the screen when I was prompted for the backup start code (which I have used successfully in the past).

About half the time when I make a phone call from the phone, in the car, the person on the other end can hear me but I can't hear them. I have to press the phone section of the car screen to get the phone controls to show up, then I have to press the bluetooth icon to get the option of bringing the call back to my phone's speaker. By which time the other person has often hung up.

About 1 out of 5 times I start the car it doesn't not successfully pair with the phone. To get maps / music, etc. I have to plug my phone in via USB cable - and, if it is already fully charged, that's not good for my phone battery.

The cruise control sometimes activates itself without me pushing the button on the steering wheel - and it will accelerate beyond the speed limit when it does that.

If cruise control is on, it will try to accelerate from 55 to 85 when it "sees" the 885 road sign, which happens several times a week. As noted in another thread, it will sometimes slam on the brakes when it sees an I-40 road sign.

I've spent countless hours on the phone with the nice people at the FordPass help line, but there is no help for most of these issues.

Ford also does its best to sweep any issues identified by the dealers under the rug. If my feedback to their survey is anything other than 5 stars on any question, the service writer and manager at the dealership are punished - so I just don't respond to the surveys rather than get an innocent Ford employee in trouble.

Don't get me wrong, I love driving the car, but am tired of the constant aggravation. Many of these problems didn't exist when I received the car. They have appeared, usually after software updates.

I'm no longer willing to spend hours / days on the phone with FordPass or going to the dealer given they have not been able to resolve any of the issues I've taken them. They just don't have the information. Some issues I've learned how to resolve on my own or through this forum as the FordPass and Dealer personnel simply don't have enough information.

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[GreaseMonkey]

Seems largely like a phone issue to me! Also, all stores have the stupid 5-star survey. I don’t think twice about filling it in the way I feel the service was (rarely a 5 star).

 

[Subdude]

Thanks, Rick.

If it were only the phone, I'd be quiet. However, the fob not working, backup start key not working, and the cruise control issues.

For me, it's been the accumulation of issues and the appearance that no one at Ford seems interested in resolving issues like these. You're probably right about the surveys . . .

 

[Jimrpa]

The cruise control activating and accelerating without any driver command/intervention sounds like a safety issue. This should definitely be reported and investigated if it’s occurring. Contact NHTSA if you’re not getting satisfaction from Ford. Be sure you have documentary evidence of it occurring.

 

[iam-s-Hon]

And I suppose drivers of other vehicles have occasional accidental fob presses, or their hands-free sometimes misrecognizes a sign, too. That was disconcerting the first few times it happened but now know to be aware of it, generally, and where it happens along my regular routes.

Job 1 here. While there have been some s/w bumps and OTA delays I enjoy the car, accepted being an early adopter, don't miss stopping for gas regularly and can still recommend the car. I've been fortunate to not have some of the 'lemon' issues others faced, like with the battery.

 

[Subdude]

The cruise control activating and accelerating without any driver command/intervention sounds like a safety issue. This should definitely be reported and investigated if it’s occurring. Contact NHTSA if you’re not getting satisfaction from Ford. Be sure you have documentary evidence of it occurring.

You're absolutely right about it being a safety issue. I can't figure out how to document it. First time or two it happened I thought I might have accidentally pressed the cruise control button, but then I became more aware / cautious about that button.

Yesterday, I was on a straight stretch of highway when it happened, and I was conscious my hands had been nowhere near the cruise button. It's happened about once a week over the past few weeks, so, short of having a camera trained on the wheel at all times, I can't figure out how to prove it's happening, nor have I figured out how to repllicate it. If anyone can suggest how to document it, I'd appreciate the input. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Thanks, Rick.

If it were only the phone, I'd be quiet. However, the fob not working, backup start key not working, and the cruise control issues.

For me, it's been the accumulation of issues and the appearance that no one at Ford seems interested in resolving issues like these. You're probably right about the surveys . . .

NP. I’m Steve, btw. Rick is the guy who yells at people for not reading the manual .

 

[jgcom]

You're absolutely right about it being a safety issue. I can't figure out how to document it. First time or two it happened I thought I might have accidentally pressed the cruise control button, but then I became more aware / cautious about that button.

The NHTSA doesn't require that you fully understand, document or reproduce a problem, though I'm sure they would prefer that. Most reports say something along the lines of "while I was doing this thing, this bad thing happened."
You can submit a report to the NHTSA here

 

[Subdude]

The NHTSA doesn't require that you fully understand, document or reproduce a problem, though I'm sure they would prefer that. Most reports say something along the lines of "while I was doing this thing, this bad thing happened."
You can submit a report to the NHTSA here

Many thanks! I submitted the report . . . I appreciate you sending the link!

 

[ThatGuyLando]

Welcome to the club, I'd recommend it if the high end version maxed out at $45k maybe $50k but at its current price, it's kinda nuts the amount of issues this has and Ford has done jack squat to fix it. If anything they've just stripped features like park assist and am radio and keep bumping up the price every year.

 

[DYohn]

Funny how some are reporting issues that my car has never seen in the two years I've owned it. Ah well, the joys of new models.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

There are issues with earlier phones. iPhone 10s are about as early as can consistently work if the forum is to be believed. Also Pixels have been an issue as well. A lot of the connection issues with the car for Android Auto or CarPlay are really phone or phone OS issues unfortunately.

Unintended acceleration: Go to your settings and make sure speed sign recognition is turned OFF, if you haven’t done so recently or since receiving an OTA update. The speed limit in the ipc will still show up with speed sign recognition off.

Trunk opening: that sucks and there’s a very long thread about it here. If the lift gate misses the door when the garage door is down (the liftgate can fully open) but hits the track, try limiting the liftgate height when open. The procedure is in the manual. If it’s hitting the door when it’s closed, the only solution is foam padding on the garage door.

No, you shouldn’t have to be doing all this stuff but there are solutions or stopgaps to reduce some of the risks you’ve been seeing. Sorry to read about the problems.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I'm really sorry your car is misbehaving so badly. Telling you my car is fine is of no service to you . I sincerely hope you get things resolved. If not, I hope you are able to find another BEV that gives you less grief.

The dealership didn't offer or suggest performing a factory reset of a type? All those thing are controlled electronically via modules. Have they hooked the car up and run a diagnostic?

 

[Alutacon]

Many thanks! I submitted the report . . . I appreciate you sending the link!

I am a trial lawyer by profession. I am not offering you legal advice. Were it me and I was going to keep driving the car I would send notice of the issue to Ford Motor Co. Warranty department, customer svc department and legal department by certified mail, return receipt requested.

If you are involved in a crash you don't want Ford wiggling out of responsibility.

 

[MacherAWD]

I would note that I have a pixel 6a, google made a move to LE Bluetooth in late 2022 early 2023 that has hosed PaaK. Mine had been virtually bullet proof before, and has been a headache since. It has been smooth the last few months but I am on the Beta 14 build. That said never had your other issues.

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