Remote Start Heated Seats

[ISTGradFromPSU]

Hello, I called to schedule an appointment for this and the dealer is threatening to charge me for them to even look at it. When I had them look at it over a year ago while under warranty. Is this a recall fix do you know?

I just want to make sure I understand, are you are saying you tried to have them fix this while the car was under warrenty, but nothing could be done about it at that time? If so, I would make the argument that you tried to have this fixed while under warranty, but a fix wasn't available until after your warranty expired. If they are a decent dealership they should honor that since the firmware was only released this past January.

 

[jhu8]

I just want to make sure I understand, are you are saying you tried to have them fix this while the car was under warrenty, but nothing could be done about it at that time? If so, I would make the argument that you tried to have this fixed while under warranty, but a fix wasn't available until after your warranty expired. If they are a decent dealership they should honor that since the firmware was only released this past January.

Yeah, that's exactly correct. I found my receipt from that visit that specifically explains the issue. I'm going to bring that in as further evidence. Only problem is, it's not a decent dealership. They're terrible to deal with. But I'm hopeful that they do it given that I have a receipt explaining it. And they even typed up on the receipt saying that no fix is available at this time.

 

[ISTGradFromPSU]

Yeah, that's exactly correct. I found my receipt from that visit that specifically explains the issue. I'm going to bring that in as further evidence. Only problem is, it's not a decent dealership. They're terrible to deal with. But I'm hopeful that they do it given that I have a receipt explaining it. And they even typed up on the receipt saying that no fix is available at this time.

Yeah I have always been told as long as it is documented while under warranty, the fix will be done free of charge since they couldn't / wouldn't fix it at that time. Good luck! I will say it is nice to not have to worry about turning the seat off then back on every morning when it's cold.

 

[jhu8]

Yeah I have always been told as long as it is documented while under warranty, the fix will be done free of charge since they couldn't / wouldn't fix it at that time. Good luck! I will say it is nice to not have to worry about turning the seat off then back on every morning when it's cold.

Thanks! Yeah it makes total since that they would honor the fix since I had it examined while under warranty. Any other recommendations for getting them to acknowledge that there is a fix? When I was telling the guy over the phone that there was an update he seemed clueless. Now I know that he's just the receptionist / secretary but still. I have the number that was posted further up in this forum that hopefully can help. But again when I told the gentleman over the phone about that number, he didn't even want it.

 

[ISTGradFromPSU]

Thanks! Yeah it makes total since that they would honor the fix since I had it examined while under warranty. Any other recommendations for getting them to acknowledge that there is a fix? When I was telling the guy over the phone that there was an update he seemed clueless. Now I know that he's just the receptionist / secretary but still. I have the number that was posted further up in this forum that hopefully can help. But again when I told the gentleman over the phone about that number, he didn't even want it.

The only thing I would recommend is bringing up the SSM number.. it should have it documented in it the fix. That was what my guy told me when I asked what to tell people on this forum. Again it involved reprogramming the seat module with a new firmware.

It appears the SSM report was updated with the fix: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10170919-0001.pdf

 

[jhu8]

The only thing I would recommend is bringing up the SSM number.. it should have it documented in it the fix. That was what my guy told me when I asked what to tell people on this forum. Again it involved reprogramming the seat module with a new firmware.

It appears the SSM report was updated with the fix: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10170919-0001.pdf

Thanks! I just dropped my car off at the dealer. Hopefully they don't give me a hard time.

Edit: Everything fixed here, no issues.

 

[ISTGradFromPSU]

Thanks! I just dropped my car off at the dealer. Hopefully they don't give me a hard time.

Edit: Everything fixed here, no issues.

That's awesome! Glad they didn't charge you for it either

 

[Sunflower2nd]

Thought i would throw this out there. There is a known issue with the 2016-2019 model year Explorers with integrated heated seats and remote start. I can only speak that it affects the limited trim and up with the heated and ventilated seats. I have my remote start climate settings set to "auto"

Basically here is what happens:
1). Remote start the vehicle
2). The heated seats will turn on
3). Get in the vehicle, put the foot on the brake and press the start button
4). Heated seats button is still illuminated with 3 dots (meaning it is on and set to high)

At this point this where the problem is.. you think the heated seats are on but if you listen under the seat they are not (in these models they are basically a glorified hair drier). If you turn the seat off by pressing the heated seats button 3 times (medium > low > off) and then back on again you hear the fan kick on under the seat.

Funny thing is the cooled (ventilated seats) feature does not elude the same behavior (it stays on after you start the vehicle).

I took my car in 4 times for this issue. Ford Tech Support wanted to test different things but finally stated it is a firmware issue and it is up to Ford if they want to fix it (there is an SSM generated for this issue)..

The dealer also tested a 2018 Sport model owned by one of the service reps and his too did the same thing.

Again I realize we are in July and i shouldn't be worrying about heated seats but wanted to get a discussion going.

Oh my gosh!!!!! The run around I am getting over this SSM you mentioned, my vehicle does EXACTLY what the SSM mentions and because my VIN is not registered to this SSM..... trust me, the dealerships don't want to talk to me about it all! I actually sent a letter into FORD about this and they don't even acknowledge I sent it and it had to be by physical mail, (the FORD Customer service agent directed me to do that). I will admit, if AFTER a remote start I shut my vehicle OFF manually and re-start it MANUALLY, the seats work perfectly. Just in case anyone doesn't know, the SSM actually says this is due to a Remote start event. If I don't remote start, my seats work as they should. I am so glad to see I am not alone on this one and I don't think FORD will do anything about it, just the way it is in today's world I guess, they acknowledge a genuine issue, create a fix, but if your VIN isn't registered for it...... improperly functioning seat it is! THANK YOU for posting this!!!

 

[peterk9]

Oh my gosh!!!!! The run around I am getting over this SSM you mentioned, my vehicle does EXACTLY what the SSM mentions and because my VIN is not registered to this SSM..... trust me, the dealerships don't want to talk to me about it all! ..............................................................

Welcome to the Forum.
If the vehicle VIN is not on the list then the dealer will not be reimbursed for any work done related to the SSM.
FYI, on the last 2 Aviators I've had, the heated seat symbols (3 dashes in my case) do not light up until after I press the Start/Stop button after a remote start. The remote climate control IS set to "Auto". The string wheel does warm up.

Peter

 

[ISTGradFromPSU]

Yeah that's the issue.. after you press the start/stop button.. the 3 dashes light up but you don't hear the fan under the seat... so it doesn't work. You have to turn the heated seat off then back on again to get them to work.

According to the SSM the fix is:

SSM 48431 - 2016-2019 Explorer - Heated Seat Lower Cushion Inoperative After Remote Start
Some 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit a heated front seat that does not operate properly after turning the ignition on after a remote start event. The seat back heats properly while the lower seat cushion does not. To correct the concern, reprogram the driver seat module (DSM) using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part 14C708 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.

It's a firmware issue that was programmed into the cars from the factory. The fact they would charge the customer to have it fixed is crazy since it was the Ford programmers' fault in the first place.