Sync 3 Memory Issue
I'm still unclear about the Cyanlabs product. Can a 2020 vehicle running Sync 3.4 safely use the Syn 3 Updater from Cyanlabs to reload whatever the safe version of Sync 3.4.22xxx is? It seems to be geared to get earlier models to Sync 3.4, not update an existing 3.4. The MY20 Protection feature is a part I'm getting confused with too. Seems like an option to protect from loading anything on a MY20 vehicle.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2022
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I have filed my complaint with the NHTSA pointing out malfunctioning Sync 3 systems. Backup camera screen view while driving in a forward direction and reocurring pop-up screens which require driver interaction are two primary concerns. Loss of handsfree phone and navigation functionality are secondary concerns. I believe an investigation by the NHTSA is justified.
Ford issued the software update that broke my Sync 3 system. Ford has stated that no software update is currently available to fix it. Replacing the APIM will fix the Sync 3 system. Vehicles under warranty are eligible for a no-charge APIM replacement. Vehicles out of warranty are subject to +$1000 Ford repair charge. I believe Ford is responsible to repair all Sync 3 systems that they broke. These repairs should be made regardless of warranty.
If so inclined, your complaint can be submitted to the NHTSA here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index
Ford issued the software update that broke my Sync 3 system. Ford has stated that no software update is currently available to fix it. Replacing the APIM will fix the Sync 3 system. Vehicles under warranty are eligible for a no-charge APIM replacement. Vehicles out of warranty are subject to +$1000 Ford repair charge. I believe Ford is responsible to repair all Sync 3 systems that they broke. These repairs should be made regardless of warranty.
If so inclined, your complaint can be submitted to the NHTSA here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index
I filed a complaint with the NHSTA administration yesterday. This morning I called the offices of Senators Angus King and Susan Collins (Maine) and they are going to see if they can help us. Collins sits on the appropriations committee and may be able to ask some questions about whether NHTSA can do anything about investigating.
Collins' office just called me back. They are going to reach out to contact at NHTSA on my behalf and see if they can get some more visibility on the issue within the agency.
If I get any more updates I will share here.
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Joined: Jun 2023
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I have filed my claim with BBB Auto Line this morning pointing out malfunctioning Sync 3 systems. This department of the agency handles automotive warranty disputes and is referenced in Ford's warranty terms and conditions. If so inclined, your claim can be submitted here: https://bbbprograms.org/programs/all...s/bbb-autoline
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Joined: Jun 2023
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Confirmed this information with Ford. Software updates are not warranted. Software updates will continue to be sent over the air (OTA) after the vehicle warranty expires.
If the vehicle is in warranty, damage to Sync 3 as a result of the update is covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.
If the vehicle is out of warranty, damage to Sync 3 system as a result of the update is not under warranty.
In my case it appears the faulty update was automatically installed while the vehicle was in warranty, however, the problems didn't surface until after the warranty expired!
If the vehicle is in warranty, damage to Sync 3 as a result of the update is covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.
If the vehicle is out of warranty, damage to Sync 3 system as a result of the update is not under warranty.
In my case it appears the faulty update was automatically installed while the vehicle was in warranty, however, the problems didn't surface until after the warranty expired!
Confirmed this information with Ford. Software updates are not warranted. Software updates will continue to be sent over the air (OTA) after the vehicle warranty expires.
If the vehicle is in warranty, damage to Sync 3 as a result of the update is covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.
If the vehicle is out of warranty, damage to Sync 3 system as a result of the update is not under warranty.
In my case it appears the faulty update was automatically installed while the vehicle was in warranty, however, the problems didn't surface until after the warranty expired!
If the vehicle is in warranty, damage to Sync 3 as a result of the update is covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.
If the vehicle is out of warranty, damage to Sync 3 system as a result of the update is not under warranty.
In my case it appears the faulty update was automatically installed while the vehicle was in warranty, however, the problems didn't surface until after the warranty expired!
As with anything else that has software these days, turn off auto-updates and let others be the guinea pig, then update after others have used it for a while and post changes/issues, etc.
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Joined: Aug 2022
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After speaking with customer service at Ford again today and getting stuck in the circular logic of "I have to pay for Ford to diagnose the issue that they caused by pushing out a bugged firmware update", I decided to contact Ford's executive in charge of Customer Service, Jim Azzouz via email. Here's his profile from Ford:
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...im-azzouz.html
Here's Jim's email address - jazzouz@ford.com -I suggested others take my email below as a template and modify it to also raise the issue with the Executive team
Hi Jim. About 3 or 4 weeks ago the Sync 3 system in my 2019 F-150 was updated OTA to firmware 22251 which apparently has a bug in it that cripples the system by filling up the memory leading which then causes unintended safety issues. Apparently there is an update coming "soon" according to the customer relationship team but no ETA is being provided. Another solution is to replace the APIM module but that would be at my expense despite explaining to your team that Ford reached into my vehicle and broke it without my consent. Total cost to me could be $1,000+ if I go that route with no commitment from Ford on compensating me despite Ford confirming that you caused the issue with the 22251 update.
Here's a link to a forum where the community is discussing the issue and also sharing potentially dangerous "jailbreak solutions":
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/sync-...38739/index35/
For those of us who don't want to jailbreak our trucks, your customer service team is incredibly frustrating demonstrating a lack of critical thinking on who is responsible by your team leading to an all around abysmal situation. At this point I am working with the offices of Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King to elevate this issue and I've filed a complaint with the NHSTA, ODI #xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd like assistance from the executive team at Ford or at the very least governmental relations contact info I can pass along to Senators Collins and King who will be following up on my behalf if a resolution or ETA to a resolution isn't shared "soon".
I included my Ford Case number in the subject line of the email.
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...im-azzouz.html
Here's Jim's email address - jazzouz@ford.com -I suggested others take my email below as a template and modify it to also raise the issue with the Executive team
Hi Jim. About 3 or 4 weeks ago the Sync 3 system in my 2019 F-150 was updated OTA to firmware 22251 which apparently has a bug in it that cripples the system by filling up the memory leading which then causes unintended safety issues. Apparently there is an update coming "soon" according to the customer relationship team but no ETA is being provided. Another solution is to replace the APIM module but that would be at my expense despite explaining to your team that Ford reached into my vehicle and broke it without my consent. Total cost to me could be $1,000+ if I go that route with no commitment from Ford on compensating me despite Ford confirming that you caused the issue with the 22251 update.
Here's a link to a forum where the community is discussing the issue and also sharing potentially dangerous "jailbreak solutions":
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/sync-...38739/index35/
For those of us who don't want to jailbreak our trucks, your customer service team is incredibly frustrating demonstrating a lack of critical thinking on who is responsible by your team leading to an all around abysmal situation. At this point I am working with the offices of Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King to elevate this issue and I've filed a complaint with the NHSTA, ODI #xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd like assistance from the executive team at Ford or at the very least governmental relations contact info I can pass along to Senators Collins and King who will be following up on my behalf if a resolution or ETA to a resolution isn't shared "soon".
I included my Ford Case number in the subject line of the email.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 3
After speaking with customer service at Ford again today and getting stuck in the circular logic of "I have to pay for Ford to diagnose the issue that they caused by pushing out a bugged firmware update", I decided to contact Ford's executive in charge of Customer Service, Jim Azzouz via email. Here's his profile from Ford:
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...im-azzouz.html
Here's Jim's email address - jazzouz@ford.com -I suggested others take my email below as a template and modify it to also raise the issue with the Executive team
Hi Jim. About 3 or 4 weeks ago the Sync 3 system in my 2019 F-150 was updated OTA to firmware 22251 which apparently has a bug in it that cripples the system by filling up the memory leading which then causes unintended safety issues. Apparently there is an update coming "soon" according to the customer relationship team but no ETA is being provided. Another solution is to replace the APIM module but that would be at my expense despite explaining to your team that Ford reached into my vehicle and broke it without my consent. Total cost to me could be $1,000+ if I go that route with no commitment from Ford on compensating me despite Ford confirming that you caused the issue with the 22251 update.
Here's a link to a forum where the community is discussing the issue and also sharing potentially dangerous "jailbreak solutions":
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/sync-...38739/index35/
For those of us who don't want to jailbreak our trucks, your customer service team is incredibly frustrating demonstrating a lack of critical thinking on who is responsible by your team leading to an all around abysmal situation. At this point I am working with the offices of Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King to elevate this issue and I've filed a complaint with the NHSTA, ODI #xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd like assistance from the executive team at Ford or at the very least governmental relations contact info I can pass along to Senators Collins and King who will be following up on my behalf if a resolution or ETA to a resolution isn't shared "soon".
I included my Ford Case number in the subject line of the email.
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...im-azzouz.html
Here's Jim's email address - jazzouz@ford.com -I suggested others take my email below as a template and modify it to also raise the issue with the Executive team
Hi Jim. About 3 or 4 weeks ago the Sync 3 system in my 2019 F-150 was updated OTA to firmware 22251 which apparently has a bug in it that cripples the system by filling up the memory leading which then causes unintended safety issues. Apparently there is an update coming "soon" according to the customer relationship team but no ETA is being provided. Another solution is to replace the APIM module but that would be at my expense despite explaining to your team that Ford reached into my vehicle and broke it without my consent. Total cost to me could be $1,000+ if I go that route with no commitment from Ford on compensating me despite Ford confirming that you caused the issue with the 22251 update.
Here's a link to a forum where the community is discussing the issue and also sharing potentially dangerous "jailbreak solutions":
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/sync-...38739/index35/
For those of us who don't want to jailbreak our trucks, your customer service team is incredibly frustrating demonstrating a lack of critical thinking on who is responsible by your team leading to an all around abysmal situation. At this point I am working with the offices of Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King to elevate this issue and I've filed a complaint with the NHSTA, ODI #xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd like assistance from the executive team at Ford or at the very least governmental relations contact info I can pass along to Senators Collins and King who will be following up on my behalf if a resolution or ETA to a resolution isn't shared "soon".
I included my Ford Case number in the subject line of the email.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
When you say slow, how slow is it? On my truck, Sync stared getting sluggish (taking a second or two to respond), but a Master Reset slapped it back into shape.
On my wife's Fusion, Sync started getting REAL slow (taking about 10s to respond). Master Reset did not fix it, but an APIM replacement (out of warranty) did fix it.
On my wife's Fusion, Sync started getting REAL slow (taking about 10s to respond). Master Reset did not fix it, but an APIM replacement (out of warranty) did fix it.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 3
My dealer quoted $1002.00 plus tax. After immediately taking my objection to the Service Manager, a "financial assistance case" was opened thereby reducing the quoted expense to $375.00.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 3
I feel that's fairly standard practice, I'm not surprised. On the other side of the coin, if Ford stopped issuing updates as soon as your warranty expired, you'd have people here complaining that they no longer get updates. Can't please everyone.
As with anything else that has software these days, turn off auto-updates and let others be the guinea pig, then update after others have used it for a while and post changes/issues, etc.
As with anything else that has software these days, turn off auto-updates and let others be the guinea pig, then update after others have used it for a while and post changes/issues, etc.
Bottom line for me is quite simple. If a company develops and distributes a product for retail consumer use, they should stand behind that product with a warranty. If Ford doesn't have enough confidence in their software updates to warrant them, then they shouldn't be distributed.
You certainly must agree that there are many Ford owners that have little understanding of updates or how they are to be turned on or off. I don't believe they should be used as guinea pigs, at their own expense and safety, to benefit Ford's software developers. Just plain unethical.