scorpio1155

On Good Friday of this year I took delivery of a beautiful 2017 F150 Lariat Sport. Almost right away I started noticing that the Intelligent Access and Keyless Start features were "flakey" at times. Sometimes I cannot lock or unlock the door even when using the buttons on the fob. Usually when the issue arises with the Intelligent Access, the Keyless Start malfunctions as well. Unfortunately, the place where things malfunction most frequently is at work.


I work for a college and there are a lot of WiFi access points throughout the campus. I have read the references to the systems being "jammed" in the manual. The dealership has been phenomenal in trying to solve the problem. They loaned me a brand-new Ford Edge for over a week while they worked with the Ford "hotline" to find a solution. Interestingly enough, Intelligent Access on the Edge worked flawlessly 100 percent of the time in the exact environment where the F150 fails. I even wore the same clothes and had the exact same keys attached to the Edge's fob. Additionally, other manufacture's keyless entry and start systems work flawlessly where the F150 fails.


Today the dealership drove a similarly equipped F150 to my place of employment and it failed there as well. To me, these symptom indicate that there is a design flaw in the 2017 F150's Intelligent Access and Keyless Start systems. It would be one thing if other Fords and other makes vehicles were experiencing issues, but it is only the 2017 F150 with problems.


As mentioned, the dealership has been on Ford's hotline to find a solution. The service manager told me that there are numerous reports on the hotline of other 2017 F150 owners going through the same issues.


At the suggestion of the dealership I called Ford's customer care hotline today to start a "ticket" on the issue. I was told that I should hear something within 24-hours. Meanwhile, I'd like to ask if others on the forum have experienced similar issues with their 2017 (or other years) F150's. I love my Ford very much, but at this point I am extremely frustrated by this issue and the issue has really taken the joy out of new vehicle ownership.


Thank you!


Steve

chickenwire

Sounds like you're on the best path possible and I agree it must be something with the F150's system specifically. As soon as I saw your subject line I thought "My '17 Explorer has never acted up in any way, shape, or form!"

Please be sure to post the results so the rest of the community knows what was found and/or what resolved it.

scorpio1155

Today I received a call from the Customer Support Manager assigned to my case. I wasn't impressed when right away I could tell she was calling from a noisy call center. The CSR was very polite and almost seemed sympathetic. I was essentially told that I was out of luck since the engineers said there was nothing they could do. She offered me something like a free oil change or something. Honestly, the noise in the background was so loud that I didn't catch all of the details. I told her that I was not interested in anything other than a remedy to the problem. She repeated time and again that the engineers said there was nothing they could do.


Before I come across as sounding unreasonable, I would like to remind folks that every other Ford and other manufacturer's vehicles Intelligent Access (keyless entry/keyless start) systems perform flawlessly in the same exact parking lot. Amazingly, even the 2017 Ford Edge the dealership loaned me worked perfectly for over 1-week while the dealership was working with the Ford gurus on the "hotline" and the engineer assigned to our area. The one exception to all of this is that a nearly identical 2017 F150 exhibits the exact same issue as mine does. While two is not a great statistical sample, I can say that every 2017 F150 I know of will fail where every other Ford and others will work without A-Okay. The only other current generation F150 that I know of is a coworkers 2015 F150.... You guessed it... works like a champ! The dealership informed me that the hotline is full of unresolved complaints about the 2017 F150 with issues identical to mine.


Up to now I have tried to be understanding and I still have the highest praise for the dealership, but I am becoming disillusioned with Ford when I am basically told there is nothing that can be done.


I am planning to think this over for the weekend and then... and it breaks my heart to say this, I may be forced to resort to starting the return process - even if I have to invoke the Lemon Law.


I don't want something back from Ford and I really don't want another vehicle! All I want is for my $65K truck to work like other vehicles. I don't think that is being unreasonable.


Please reply with helpful opinions on what you folks would do under the same circumstances.


And thanks to all of you. Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday and please don't lose sight of the meaning behind it!


Steve

RangoWA

Well that's an attention getting rig for sure. I am a pre-wi-fi truck owner and don't even know what intelligent access means. If it's wi-fi unlock and start I'd be worried someone would hack my truck. But it sounds like the college environment with all the wi-fi going on is causing the issue, maybe a frequency thing? If so I can understand why Ford doesn't want to address it if it's a hardware problem, that would be expensive times God knows how many units. Perhaps it can be solved with a software update like many computer problems today?

scorpio1155

Actually, Intelligent Access is just what Ford calls their keyless entry and keyless start system. It really has nothing to do with WiFi. As I understand, it is much more closely related to RFID systems such as the antitheft systems used for inventory control like the system at Walmart that will beep and then you will be frisked if you exit the building with an item that was not properly "deactivated" at the checkout.


Here is how some of the other manufacturers are marketing their keyless systems:


Acura: Keyless Access System
Audi: Advanced Key
BMW: Comfort Access
Cadillac: Adaptive Remote Start and Keyless Access
Dodge: Keyless Enter-N-Go
General Motors: Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS)
Honda: Smart Entry System
Hyundai: Proximity Key

acdii

Well it is RFID based, but should not be affected by 2.4Ghz. It usually runs on the Mhz frequencies.

There are transceivers in the front doors, the console (or dash center depending on model), and the tailgate for remote tailgate fobs. When you touch the door handle, the transceivers send out a pulse that the RFID chip receives and if the code matches the chip, the fob responds and the doors unlock.

So from what you describe, apparently either the FOB is not seeing the pulse, or the Transceiver is not hearing the reply. On the inside cover is an FCC ID along with another ID. I wonder if they have a different code. I have three different sets of these fobs from 2013 to 2016 and both ID's have the same sequences at the beginning of the codes.

I found this neat site to look up FCC ID codes. https://fccid.io/ It will tell you the operating frequency of the device and who makes it.

I think this is a spare from a 2013 Flex that was totaled in 2014.

https://fccid.io/M3N5WY8609

scorpio1155

This will be my last post on the matter until/unless Ford comes up with a resolution to the "keyless" Intelligent Access issues I am experiencing. I am disappointed to report that the dealership has exhausted all repair options that are available through Ford. They told me that they would support me if I choose to return the vehicle (under the Lemon Law) or give me very aggressive pricing on a 2018 when they are available (assuming that Ford has the issue resolved for the 2018 model year).


This experience with Ford has forever tarnished my opinion of Ford in general and completely ruined the excitement and joy of new vehicle ownership.


In the unlikely event that Ford comes up with a successful repair for my problem, I will certainly let everyone know. Thank you.

dlbb

did you try turning off the wifi?
i would be pissed too if i couldn't lock or unlock my truck.
from my understanding ford corporate sucks, but you seam to have an excellent dealer.
don't take that to mean ford doesn't stand behind their trucks. it just means it is a hassle to resolve some issues.

RangoWA

Sounds like a frequency issue. I didn't get if it's happening off campus or just on the campus. Seems like the keyless computer could be swapped out from a different model but maybe they are too 'intelligent' these days?

johnday in BFE

iTrader: (1)

If you like the truck as much as you say, just keep it, and chuckle to yourself each time you try to unlock it to leave the campus.
That is, I'm taking it that's the only place it happens.
Another damn first world problem, I just hate those.

I'm really trying NOT to be a smartass, but geez.

BTW, that is a nice looking truck.