Thanks for the response. I've seen general griping about Sync, but nothing this specific. Sometimes the screen isn't responding to input at all, so a reset isn't possible. I've considered pulling the fuse for a few minutes. Guess I'll keep fiddling with it. I could go to the dealer, but unless it's misbehaving at the moment, they won't be much use.
I tend to disagree with the suggestion the online SYNC3 negativity is mostly hearsay and innuendo, and not specific enough.
Many of us who use other OEM systems have been very clear and specific.
SYNC3 is poorly executed and as it fades into End Of Life it's worse not better than the first gen.
SPECIFICALLY
Speed of any manual manipulation of the screen is clunky, unresponsive and miscalculated. i.e. I want to change SiriusXM channel, I touch another station button, the screen freezes, the audio changes to the new station but for the next 15-30 seconds the screen shows the previous station.
Over The Air updating is a mess, some people have successful downloads, others don't, feedback to the user is poorly communicated. You can start an OTA update and it will randomly stop without telling you, or Battery Saver Protection mode might kick in and shut it down.
The 2020/21 Model Year has a 10" screen but the poorly designed software takes the image from the Rear View Camera and shrinks it into a 1/4 screen image as opposed to entire or half the screen image to assist in viewing.
Updates and owner notification of updates is a cluster, no other OEM has their software released early on a 3rd party website before being released officially to the owners.
Integration with FordPass is the other weak link to SYNC3, poor connectivity poor reliability.
No migration path for owners of a new model Explorer to transition from SYNC3 to SYNC4, yes the owners would need to purchase a new APIM and pay for labour but many would so why not keep your customers happy?
I can go on and on if required.
When you have the opportunity to use GM MyLink and Stellantis/FCA U-Connect you will be so much more critical of SYNC3
Many of us thought after Fords "My Ford Touch" nightmare they would make SYNC3 so good it would be #1 in the market, but they went the other way.
After spending the last week in a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe I am seriously rethinking my next vehicle purchase.