Why is PAAK so bad?!?

[NorthlandPhil]

Ford did a great job on many aspects of the MachE. Some things I’m sure have been a bit experimental. PaaK works well for some, fails badly for others, and for some just good enough to keep you trying. I’d bet Ford knows exactly what the issues are and how to fix them, or if they are or are not worth fixing. I believe Ford can and will do better on next generation EVs. That makes me an optimist.

I don’t know what I said that makes me cynical, but maybe that’s just because I’m truly cynical. You suggested I have an option that I don’t really have. My options are to carry a fob or to be patient and press a button as many times as it takes, and/or pull out my phone and fiddle with it. The whole point of PaaK is convenience. In my experience, as a convenience, it’s a failure.

OTOH, as an experiment, I assume Ford has learned some things and will improve. But I gotta say, Ford suggesting I do all those things with my phone to make a “convenience” feature work conveniently, is, well, hilarious, I guess, if it weren’t frustrating and insulting.

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[Maquis]

I have now abandoned PAAK.
Headed out this morning and stopped for my wife to run an errand. She gets out of the car (I’m the driver with my phone in my pocket, she’s not carrying a fob). The car double-honks as if I’ve gotten out with my phone while the car is running. IPC says “No key detected.” She gets back in the car and I can’t shift into D. Restart the car - no good, not prompted for backup code. Restart Ford app, no good. Restart phone, no good. Retrieved my fob from Faraday bag and continued on our way.

 

[auiotour]

Was speaking with a Hyundai owner who raved about never having their “Phone-as-a-key (PAAK) fail. I literally have to make sure the Ford App is active and often have to launch the app and press unlock to get into my 2024 MME4X.

He shared that can add his Hyundai Key to his Apple Wallet. That makes it work every time.

is that an option for the Ford App? Can’t find if it is.

Using it right now connected to two different OnePlus 15s and an iPhone 16. Haven't had an issue since we bought the car 6 months ago.

Works amazing, probably utilize it 12-18 times a day during the week and 8-10 on weekends for my MME.

Have a 2025

 

[Maquis]

Using it right now connected to two different OnePlus 15s and an iPhone 16. Haven't had an issue since we bought the car 6 months ago.

Works amazing, probably utilize it 12-18 times a day during the week and 8-10 on weekends for my MME.

Have a 2025

The inconsistent experiences reported on this forum is truly baffling. Mine used to work like yours…until it didn’t!

 

[auiotour]

The inconsistent experiences reported on this forum is truly baffling. Mine used to work like yours…until it didn’t!

Honestly it's probably because of the aggressive battery optimization of newer versions of iOS and android. Killing the apps constantly. I have mine allowed to run all the time with no optimization.

 

[cooltatts]

Honestly it's probably because of the aggressive battery optimization of newer versions of iOS and android. Killing the apps constantly. I have mine allowed to run all the time with no optimization.

Not sure how you’d set that in iOS.

 

[fkyct]

Lightning and iPhone 16+ here. Similar PaaK sensors.

My phone was giving me issues with the truck. When I approached the Welcome Lights somtimes came on and sometimes not. I had unreliable grab the door handle to unlock the truck. The FOB worked perfectly and was sensed 100% of the time.

Mobile service came to the house. After a while I walked around the truck and when I got to the driver side headlight the welcome lights lit up and the power running boards extended. It seems that the Antenna that senses the Phone in the driver door handle was intermittent. When I approached the passenger side the truck woke up 100% of the time. But when approached the driver side it was unreliable. They replaced the door handle and it’s been 100% reliable since.

 

[cooltatts]

From what everyone is sharing I wish the fob was in a case I could buy for my phone or a puck I could stick on with MagSafe.

 

[auiotour]

Thought you could disable it all, I don't believe they had a per app setting like Android

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