Is Ford listening?

[Larryjb]

Dear Ford Canada/USA (if you follow these forums):

I love many things about Fords. I was leery of the Ecoboost, but nearly all issues seem to have been addressed and these engines seem to live long lives now as long as you get a RWD based platform that has the external water pump. I'd prefer the 4.6L V8, but that is no longer a deal breaker for me.

However, the following is a deal breaker for me. I know lots of people love toys and gadgets in cars. I get it. But, I know from talking to people around me that there are many who want more basic, or at least less technological integration in the vehicle. Touchscreens are at the top of my list. I absolutely hate them and will try to keep my current vehicles on the road as long as possible to avoid getting any vehicle that has a touch screen. From this thread that just started at the time of me writing this:

Touchscreen is black

2020 Explorer XLT purchased new in April. The touchscreen has intermittently not been coming on (stays black) when I start the vehicle. Has happened both with remote start from the key fob and pushing the start button in the vehicle. Seems like when it works, the screen lights up before the...

www.explorerforum.com

On the chance that the touchscreen goes, many functions become inaccessible. I couldn't imagine being unable to adjust climate controls or a radio just because of a touchscreen failure. On my older vehicles, if the HVAC controls fail to work, at least the radio still works, I can still turn on the heated seats, the rear defroster grid, and usually the HVAC defaults to the defogger mode.

I, too, love technology. As long as it is used effectively. I strongly believe that critical functions need to be controlled by physical buttons and knobs. I had the experience of having the seat heater on while driving a 2014 Explorer. When the heater started to get burning hot, I couldn't turn it off because the controls were on the touch screen and I had no place to pull over. This was actually dangerous.

My wife and father find many of the touchscreen functions non-intuitive and are unable to use the HVAC or radio controls effectively when incorporated into a touchscreen. They are perfectly fine and capable when these functions are controlled by physical buttons that are labelled for each purpose.

So please, Ford, at least have such an instrument panel be an option.

 

[peterk9]

Ford does not monitor the Forum. They used to have reps on Ford forums but they were all pulled about 3 years ago.

Peter

 

[allmyEXes]

Here is a FoMoCo suggestion link. I bet that they monitor it. Click here> Ford Motor Company

 

[Larryjb]

her is a FoMoCo suggestion link. I bet that they monitor it. Click here> Ford Motor Company

I had to laugh. My concern is hardly "innovation"! I'll give it a try though.

I am tired of modern vehicles getting overly techie. Curiously, the commercial lines have instrument panels that I would be happy with. Unfortunately, none of them are 4x4 SUV.

 

[peterk9]

I don't know about the 2014 but many of the 5th gen and 6th gen have physical buttons in addition to the touch screen controls. In most cases, the heated/cooled seats also have their own physical setting controls. I'm only 4th vehicle with a touch screen and have yet to have a failure. There are also voice commands that can be used. Touch screens are becoming more and more popular across all brands, not just Ford.

Peter

 

[Larryjb]

I don't know about the 2014 but many of the 5th gen and 6th gen have physical buttons in addition to the touch screen controls. In most cases, the heated/cooled seats also have their own physical setting controls. I'm only 4th vehicle with a touch screen and have yet to have a failure. There are also voice commands that can be used. Touch screens are becoming more and more popular across all brands, not just Ford.

Peter

I don't think the radio has its own buttons though. I even find the 06-10 Explorer HVAC awkward to use. I have to look to see which button I'm pressing. It's my wife's truck so I don't use it much, but if I were driving it all the time I could probably get used to it.

I hate voice commands as well. It's one more redundant thing to learn. Just give me the @#$! buttons!

The fact that touch screens are becoming more popular among all makes is very concerning to me. My father finds that touch screens don't always respond to his touch. This issue is not unheard of among the elderly. My wife gets frustrated and taps repeated at the screen when something doesn't work.

Actually, I don't mind the touchscreens themselves, but I wish their use was limited to things like programming what your remote does (make the unlock button unlock all doors or just drivers door, etc). Limit the need for the touch screen for things that you would never need to change while driving. One might say that the touch screen is useful for the backup camera monitor. I installed a rear view mirror with monitor in my Tahoe which is a brilliant idea. This way you wouldn't need that huge honkin' screen that pokes up from the dashboard in the Explorer that a lot of people have mocked. But I know some people love them, so I won't pass judgment. I just wish there were more physical buttons for HVAC and basic radio features etc.

I checked into the Ford Motor site and discovered that you have to sign up for an account with Ford. I know they don't want to be flooded with a billion suggestions, but I'm not about to sign up for this.

 

[allmyEXes]

@Larryjb Everything is getting overly techie. This summer I thought that when I purchased my brand new washing machine because it had knobs instead of push buttons that it was a simpler design like with a conventional timer etc. No it's digital too. When the board/brain goes out in it it will probably cost $300- to fix it. The Washer was only $400-.
Here is Ford Motor Company's phone number. They will listen. 1 (800) 392-3673. Everyone that needs to call.