rperez817 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Anyone who's experienced MyFordTouch knows it's a disaster of epic proportions. According to court documents for an upcoming trial scheduled for next April involving a MyFordTouch class action lawsuit, Ford executives and engineers acknowledged that verbally and otherwise! Infotainment system flaws riled top Ford execs (Detroit News, October 7, 2016) "Ford Motor Co.’s MyFord Touch and SYNC infotainment system was so flawed when first introduced that it left Executive Chairman Bill Ford stuck by the side of the road in an unfamiliar area and appears to have caused current CEO Mark Fields to break his touchscreen in frustration." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 My SYNC experience: I use only the button to change to Satellite (and 4 or 5 presets) and the button to turn on bluetooth. That's it. Trying to use voice commands is like holding a conversation with a blind and deaf 4-year-old anteater. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 That's not a secret - especially for those that were around for the MFT launch in the 2011 Edge in October 2010. It was painfully obvious that the software was seriously flawed and there simply was no way to get it fixed quickly. The developer was not microsoft - it was B Square (former MS employees) and they totally screwed the pooch. Ford's problem was they had no backup plan for the 2011 Edge launch so they had to launch and hope they could stabilize it quickly. Unfortunately it took about 18 months to get it somewhat stable and another 6-12 months to get it really stable. Since the 3.8 update ours was almost flawless in 3 different vehicles. No more crashes, frequent reboots, fuse pulling, etc. Occasionally it wouldn't understand "USB" voice command but that's about it. Sync 3 is much much much better though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcartwright99 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 This is one of the disadvantages of being a first mover. While Sync voice (the original system) was a developed partnership with Microsoft (correct me if I am wrong), and worked reasonably well. It put Ford out there as leading in car tech. MyFord Touch was garbage for the first year or two on the market. It basically erased any good press that the original Sync system had. It was clear that Ford partnered with the wrong developer with B Square. I am not sure who made that call at Ford but to hedge your bets with such a small shop that would be in all of you products with no contingency plan was sheer idiocy. I would have loved to have heard that sales pitch from B Square. I bet that sales guy has several houses all over the world based on that one sale. While this was going on other manufactures seemed to learn from Ford's mistake.The QNX platform seems to be the winner. I had 2012 Edge that had a few black screen but overall (other than being slow to respond) wasn't too bad. I know a lot of folks that had problems with it. Would have loved to have seen Fields rage out at the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) MyFord Touch was rolled out to many vehicles well before it was "fixed", they had a pretty relentless rollout schedule. Ultimately those Ford executives who are complaining about the system are the ones who are responsible for letting it happen. Although slow and limited, MyFord Touch now is fairly reliable. Really the biggest problem with the interface for me is the touch screen which is prone to extreme glare with very unreliable touch response...pretty sure this is why people put their fist through the screen because the touch screen is so unresponsive. I do believe the entire system is dangerous and distracting simply because it was designed so poorly and requires allot of attention to work with, but no longer because it's fundamentally broken. They could probably have scrapped MyFord Touch and kept the Clarion system if they hadn't located so many of the hardware features to the touchscreen. I'm actually surprised it took this long for a Class Action Lawsuit to hit the courts, although I do believe some disgruntled Ford customers were able to get their cars repurchased under the lemon law because the problem was unsolvable for years. My 2011 MKX hit the dealership 10 times because of MyLincoln Touch, my 2013 only twice, and none for my '16. Ultimately I think Ford has fixed the problem and has extended the warranty coverage for the hardware probably to prevent this from getting out of hand in the courts. Edited October 7, 2016 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blwnsmoke Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 It wasn't just software, there were MANY bad APIMS that failed and needed replacement. Since 3.6.2, it had become very stable with the next 2 versions being even better. I've had zero issues with my 15 f350 platinum and no issues with my 11 Explorer since the updates. Just another lawsuit where the lawyers get rich and the people who join get peanuts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 In fact I remember several people getting bad apims replaced with more bad ones. That just made the situation worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 In fact I remember several people getting bad apims replaced with more bad ones. That just made the situation worse. that's bad luck if I've ever heard of it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) This should serve as a strong lesson to Ford to not outsource critical components, they had to wear this like a shit nappy for years and try to placate all those Ford buyers. The most surprising thing to me is that no one that we know about was fired over this. someone signed of on this awful system without proper evaluation of how it operates... Edited October 7, 2016 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) Not disagreeing that my touch was total crap when rolled out. However, if you sue Ford, why not sue BMW for i-drive or Mercedes for command. Just Google i-drive problems and same thing. Screen freezes, reboots, etc... Edited October 7, 2016 by fordtech1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02MustangGT Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Sue Microsoft and every other software developer in the world. These lawsuits are ridiculous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Sue Microsoft and every other software developer in the world. These lawsuits are ridiculous.I find it interesting that almost all these ridiculous law suits start in California. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 that's bad luck if I've ever heard of it.... More like crappy hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 More like crappy hardware. Well yeah, that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Like most audio equipment, they are "refurbished". Try and get a good Alternator from Ford lately. I think all they do to the cores is an aerosol overhaul. Spray it and rebox it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Are you really surprised they started in California? There is much case law out of the 9th Circuit that has set many bad precedents. It is a travesty what comes out of such a beautiful state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 The good part is that Ford is now off that system...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 The good part is that Ford is now off that system...... Why bring up a lawsuit after the system is mostly big free and works as intended? If Ford didn't get the system to its current state then i could understand. People don't make any sense to me. Really it's a damn radio. The wheels didn't fall off. No one died because of my touch. BMW started I-drive in 2001 and still had complaints in 2014 of black screens and freezing. Where is that law suit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtech1 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) I'm not giving Ford a pass on how awful MyFord touch was in 2011. I was trying to make that thing work when customers were loosing their minds and pissed off. I spent countless hours talking to hotline and trying to get programming to take. Hell I should sue for the lost wages. However, there is one thing that people who bring up these law suits don't realize. Shit happens, no one died. It's just a damn piece of electronics. Ford did extend the warranty, they did finally fix the issues. I don't think that in its current state mytouch has any effect on resale value. Edited October 8, 2016 by fordtech1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 They could probably have scrapped MyFord Touch and kept the Clarion system if they hadn't located so many of the hardware features to the touchscreen. What the hell are you talking about? The only thing that doesn't have a manual button that can be only controlled MFT is the heated/cooled seats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Sue Microsoft and every other software developer in the world. These lawsuits are ridiculous. Lawsuits are the American lottery these days, but only really the lawyers make money. We have too many lawyers out there (try getting a job as one these days) and the ones that are actually employed are trying to make $$$, so that's why we have now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) What the hell are you talking about? The only thing that doesn't have a manual button that can be only controlled MFT is the heated/cooled seats Heated/Cooled Seats, steering wheel heater, ambient lighting controls, and many other integrated systems never developed for the Clarion system like the door keypad controls and all the environmental controls which were never integrated into the previous system (many of which do NOT have buttons in MFT/MLT like the vent configurations). So feel free to do your research on this, you know....like owning each generation of a system. Edited October 8, 2016 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Heated/Cooled Seats, steering wheel heater, ambient lighting controls, and many other integrated systems never developed for the Clarion system like the door keypad controls and all the environmental controls which were never integrated into the previous system (many of which do NOT have buttons in MFT/MLT like the vent configurations). So feel free to do your research on this, you know....like owning each generation of a system. Yet again, other Ford products have had all those options with manual buttons/dial before MFT. I remember the bitching and griping about all the buttons on dashes about 10 years ago and now we have the cry to add those buttons to the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 That's not a secret - especially for those that were around for the MFT launch in the 2011 Edge in October 2010. It was painfully obvious that the software was seriously flawed and there simply was no way to get it fixed quickly. The developer was not microsoft - it was B Square (former MS employees) and they totally screwed the pooch. MyFord Touch was rolled out to many vehicles well before it was "fixed", they had a pretty relentless rollout schedule. Ultimately those Ford executives who are complaining about the system are the ones who are responsible for letting it happen. Yes, the software was poor, but everyone is missing what I feel is the real key issue. Total lack of support for the customer AFTER THE SALE ! The salesperson was responsible for the training (Ha ! Even if they knew how it worked, training could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, if the customer was will to sit through it !) Service would not help because nothing was actually wrong with system (in most cases) so they could not charge warranty against it. Yes, management screwed up by not recognizing what a paradigm shift they had imposed on the customer with no after sales hand holing. Now special 800-number. No web site. No tech company would release such a radically different product without having a good support infrastructure. Worse, Ford ignored this for many, MANY months ! Mid-level managers did their imitation of ostriches (maybe if I ignore it it will go away) and upper level managers did not take it serious until the JD Powers results started showing up (FYI - this changed the way bonuses were handed out), Ford middle/upper level management still is clueless of "technology" ! With the dozens of different electronic modules on "the bus", most development vehicles are driving around with non-"production intent" software in multiple modules. To the best of my knowledge, they do not have a rigorous "system testing methodology". If the last pre-production builds roll of the line and all system seem to function at the "consumer" level, everyone get a green light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Felt Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Just had my first problem with the new f-150 sync nav system--The one when the volume doesn't work for any of the functions. I was lucky enough to have 1500 miles before having the issue, in reading other forums, folks have had same problem with as little as 20 miles on theirs. I've had plenty of nav systems in plenty of Fords, and have come to the conclusion that they are only toys not to be relied upon too heavily. Maybe the company ought to give their customers free map upgrades for life since we are testing their nav. systems for them on our dollar. Anyway, I carry a smartphone to navigate when I drive a Ford with the nav. system, and it has never let me down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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