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

[woody]

I use the fob exclusively. It's been consistent, but the receiver in the car is both weak and spotty. As long as I'm standing in the right spot, it's dependable. But it doesn't take much to block the signal. Like for instance, standing at the driver door to open it (or especially the rear door) with the fob in my right pocket and my body angled where that pocket is 180 degrees opposite the driver door hinges (where the driver-side receiver is located inside the door). My body is blocking the signal that way and it won't work. But if I just rotate my body a little to clear the signal line between the fob and the receiver, it works fine.

Same way with the rear liftgate. The fob needs to be more near the centerline of the liftgate. If it's in a pocket that's closer to a corner, it won't work.

Odd.
I only use the FOB, in my pocket. Have not ever had a problem w/ it. It always works.

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[dbsb3233]

Odd.
I only use the FOB, in my pocket. Have not ever had a problem w/ it. It always works.

Lots of people have the same problem I described, but yeah, could have been a bad batch of antennas or something on the earliest ones? Who knows. Some problems seem to affect some build dates but not others. Mine's an FE so a very early build.

 

[Bayviews88]

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 . . .

Hey, I’m sorry to hear you have had so many issues with your MME. I had a similar challenge with my first (MY 21) MME and the Front Camera alignment issue that made Blue Cruise intermittently inoperable (covered by several threads elsewhere on the forum), which resulted in using the CA Lemon Law and an attorney to get Ford to buy back my MachE. I purchased a second one (MY22) and it’s been 99% better, I only have rare sync issues with CarPlay and my iPhone 13, and PAAK has been fine except for that last FordPass update. For first generation technology these teething issues are expected, but it seems like you have compound issues with your MachE. Ford definitely needed to do a better job of training salespeople and customers on using all the futures and reporting errors for resolution.

There are a lot of good suggestions for in this thread about changing settings to resolve some of the issues with crisis control.You mentioned you spoke with the FordPass team, but have you also contacts the Ford EV Customer Service line (+1 (800) 392-3673)? They were helpful to coordinate dealer related, get me a loaner and even comped an extended warranty for the MY 21. Contacting this team and building a case could bring similar benefits but YMMV.

Otherwise, if you still aren’t happy I would suggest pursuing a buyback. If you are in a consumer friendly state like California, the state lemon law and court process is much faster and more certain than going through a Ford-directed buyout. Using the Ford process has worked well for some, has been a nightmare for others (see other threads on this forum). At least in California, once you invoke the state lemon law process through the court system, Ford is required to follow strict guidelines and will (almost always) settle out of court and pay your attorney fees.

 

[Tawna]

You do know the speed control is a setting you can turn off..

 

[deni1460]

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.


There must be a problem with your phone or internet service. I travel for work, I never have a problem with anything! The only complaint I have Electrify America chargers not working or low kw.

 

[deni1460]

I travel a lot for work, I don’t have any issue with my 21 Mache phone key. Sounds like a phone issue.

 

[mkhuffman]

I want to second, third or forth the other posts about the phone being the cause of most PaaK issues.

I was using PaaK on my Samsung Note 9 and it worked fairly well until it didn't. I am not sure what changed, but it completely stopped working. Rather than mess with it, I just started carrying a fob which works great.

I installed PaaK on my new Samsung S23 Ultra and it works just as well as the fob. So now my fob is back in its hiding place, wrapped in foil.

BTW - other car brands that employ PaaK also have issues similar to the MME. It is a hard technology to get right. At least with my current phone, Ford got it right.

 

[4sallypat]

I want to second, third or forth the other posts about the phone being the cause of most PaaK issues.

I was using PaaK on my Samsung Note 9 and it worked fairly well until it didn't. I am not sure what changed, but it completely stopped working. Rather than mess with it, I just started carrying a fob which works great.

I installed PaaK on my new Samsung S23 Ultra and it works just as well as the fob. So now my fob is back in its hiding place, wrapped in foil.

BTW - other car brands that employ PaaK also have issues similar to the MME. It is a hard technology to get right. At least with my current phone, Ford got it right.

Agree - my iPhone 14 Pro Max are perfect and works consistently.

But my wife's iPhone X (10) is not very good - sometimes a good day, other times no bueno....

Choose your phone wisely is the moral of this story....

 

[phil]

Agree - my iPhone 14 Pro Max are perfect and works consistently.

But my wife's iPhone X (10) is not very good - sometimes a good day, other times no bueno....

Choose your phone wisely is the moral of this story....

My iPhone X works great, every time. We live in an age of moral ambiguity...

 

[dbsb3233]

Agree - my iPhone 14 Pro Max are perfect and works consistently.

But my wife's iPhone X (10) is not very good - sometimes a good day, other times no bueno....

Choose your phone wisely is the moral of this story....

Or just carry a fob.

I've been saying for 2 years that I think the issue usually has more to do with the phone than the car. Cell phone bluetooth - while better than it used to be - can still be flaky and inconsistent. And varies a lot by phone. Phones can also freeze up, or run out of power in one day. Just some of the reasons I don't rely on PAAK for getting into and starting my car. Even though sometimes I have to rotate my body a little to not block the signal, fobs work dependably. And the battery only runs out maybe once every 3 years.

 

[DYohn]

FYI, in all my 50+ years of driving I have never used cruise control of any sort on any of my cars while in town. Cruise is for constant speed on the highway, in my opinion, when I don't care to be bothered with holding the car at a steady speed. When I'm in stop and go and variable conditions in town I intend to drive the car. Yes, the MME has near level-2 self-driving under certain conditions, and when I'm on a road trip that comes in handy. But in town? Nope. But hey, that's just me and I'm old.

 

[Msnwcpa]

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.

Which batch was your car made?

Android auto is a known issue. Cruise turning on is a scary thing and a huge safety issue. Toyota was hauled to courts for a stupid driver mat issue.

 

[Msnwcpa]

Agree - my iPhone 14 Pro Max are perfect and works consistently.

But my wife's iPhone X (10) is not very good - sometimes a good day, other times no bueno....

Choose your phone wisely is the moral of this story....

True, works well with iphones 11, 13 pros. Doesn't work with Samsung S21 android 13.

 

[4sallypat]

FYI, in all my 50+ years of driving I have never used cruise control of any sort on any of my cars while in town. Cruise is for constant speed on the highway, in my opinion, when I don't care to be bothered with holding the car at a steady speed. When I'm in stop and go and variable conditions in town I intend to drive the car. Yes, the MME has near level-2 self-driving under certain conditions, and when I'm on a road trip that comes in handy. But in town? Nope. But hey, that's just me and I'm old.

Similar here - 45 years driving since age 14 and rarely used cruise control over the years.

But my new MME has BlueCruise v1.2 that has really got my attention!

BC 1.2 is amazing - doesn't "ping pong" within the freeway lanes, very gradual side shift for vehicles & trucks next to you, slows on curves and will do an automatic lane change - all without hands or feet !

Gotta love this technology!

 

[ThatGuyLando]

Lots of people have the same problem I described, but yeah, could have been a bad batch of antennas or something on the earliest ones? Who knows. Some problems seem to affect some build dates but not others. Mine's an FE so a very early build.

I have a 22 CR1 built after the whole HVJB fix, so it shouldn't be considered an early build. The key fobs range is pretty pathetic and sometimes the doors don't open automatically with the key fob in my pocket, I constantly have to take it out and press the unlock button. Sometimes it works fine though.

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