netizenX

[my updates are added to the original post] Finally settled on a 2011 Edge AWD Limited with 20" wheels as a gift to the wife after her sedan's warranty ended. This is my first Ford. I loaded up the Edge keeping with the smaller engine in the Limited hoping that fuel economy would be better than the Sport model and saved a few grand over a similarly equipped MKX. With the winter weather here in the mid-west I'm hoping that the AWD proves itself over rear wheel drive. Pros: Great dealer experience Non-technical wife thinks that the phone pairing is a snap Seat heaters are fast and hot (that doesn't sound right) Wife likes a glass ceiling that she can remove, er, open POI list contained wife's favorite restaurants Cruise control collision detection works; it slows the vehicle down to the forward vehicle in the same lane (don't ask) No key required, the wife just keeps the fob in her purse Three different ways to control the MyFord system: control screen, steering wheel controls, and voice command Great handling in the snow So far the wife is happy (so I'm happy) Cons: Ford cargo cover is a joke No wiper area heating element in the glass. These are big wipers and snow catchers in the Mid-West, ice builds up where the wipers sit on the glass, which is just below the interior dash and defrost outlet. Basically, the defrost warms the windshield and the water runs down to the wipers where it freezes. This really needs to be addressed in future models. Touch control is not "instant" like the iPhone or iPad, you need to pause for a second on each screen button. Occasional lag when switching control screens TMI, as the wife puts it. I suspect that a majority of the older generation, or less technically inclined, may be intimidated by all of the computerized controls, e.g. where's the knob? The fuse box is in an idiotic location. The fuse box cover is located directly (snugly) underneath a cable and it is too easy to drop a fuse behind the interior trim, where you won't get it back without removing the trim. This is a crazy poor design and how it got accepted is beyond me. And while I shouldn't have to access the fuse panel regularly...this leads to my next point. Is there no way to restart the computer without yanking the fuse #29? (effectively power-cycling the system) Considering the problems that Microsoft has with its operating systems, which often require a system restart or power cycle to fix system lockups, this certainly was an oversight or short sightedness if it was considered unnecessary One last note, I hope that the MyFord system never fails, it controls almost everything. I'll update after a month or when I reach the first recommended oil change at 3K miles. [update on December 25, 2011] Yesterday, the Sync system main screen went black. Suck. This happened as I was entering a NAV destination in the driveway as we were preparing for a trip across State to visit for the holiday. I tried restarting the vehicle to no avail; all the settings were gone and I freaked out considering how much control of the systems depend on the MyFord Sync. I called the dealer just after noon and almost everyone had left early for holiday. A quick call to the dealer gets a response that they have yet to have a customer with any Sync problems. I would discover that this seems unlikely considering the volume of people reporting MyFord and MyLincoln Sync problems online. I asked the dealer if there was a way to restart the computer and no one there new what to do, I was told to call back Monday to schedule a service. I had to get on the road and discovered online (using my phone) that fuse 29 is the one that provides power to the Sync system. The Sync restarted after yanking fuse 29, but now I am unable to change any settings and the computer restarts every time I start the vehicle. All the settings are all stuck on what I assume is the defaults: heat at 75, no seat heaters, music on FM 87.5, no NAV, phone pairing, etc. I got a good laugh from the family IT folks. After more research this morning I discovered that the Sync v2 update may be what is needed to fix the problem, but even that update causes new problems. It appears that Ford's Sync Team quality control is seriously lacking. Why not have the dealer's beta test updates on new cars on their lots, not the customers? And so, to blow off some steam, here's an old joke about Microsoft and cars: For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a past Computer Technology Show, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If the automotive manufacturers had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon." In response to Bill's comments, one large car manufacturer issued a press release stating: If they had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics: 1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day. 2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car. 3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this. 4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine. 5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads. 6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light. 7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying. 8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna. 9. Every time a new car was introduced, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again, because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car. 10. Oh yeah, and last but not least . . . you'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off! It sounds eerily familiar. More updates as the situation develops. [update December 27, 2010] The MyFord system eventually "came back alive" as I was driving back from our visit, but with non-working features. Each time the car starts I get a different set of problems with the MyFord Touch system, sometimes its the navigation, or the rear camera, or phone pairing, or something else. I scheduled a service visit with the dealer for a time this week when they will have a loaner. [update December 28, 2010] The Edge was left with the dealer's service department this morning. Got a late afternoon call and the tech hasn't been able to get a download from Ford's website. The Edge stays with them another day. [update December 30, 2010] Picked up my Edge last night from service and sat in the dealer parking lot for 30 minutes running through the features. I wanted to make sure that this thing is fixed. The touch screen response is delayed. I could actually see the screen slowly changing between panels. Some other issues, while not safety related, are indicative of quality control problems: 1. The ambient lighting blue and green colors are reversed. Please, how could this be missed? 2. The default background picture is that of the Lincoln logo, which can't be deleted. However, the sync boot up screen displays a Ford logo. 3. The touch screen was very slow, often non-responsive requiring multiple touches to activate a function. Before, I performed a touch-and-pause, but now it sometimes takes two or three touches. 4. The four quadrant colors have changed slightly, the red is burgundy, the yellow is more green-gold, and the blue is a deep blue. Whatever the shade of color, they don't match the colors on the dash LCD screen like they did before the update. I walked back into the service department and told the service representative that I consider the fix only a workaround, not a fix; and to make note of that in my file. Ford was informed of the problem and time clock started when I called to report the problem the first time, on December 24th and that I expect to drive a vehicle with all of the features that I purchased. I understand that the problem wasn't caused by the dealership, but they need to pressure Ford for a fix. The service representative called me back today and reported that the tech probably selected an incorrect update option and that I needed to return my vehicle to have the update reloaded. He said that Ford has changed the colors in the latest update. I think that it's related to the incorrect update option or even MyFord Touch quality control problems. The vehicle is scheduled for service again next week. [December 31, 2010] Discovered this morning that the remote control and heater temperature controls stopped working. [January 08, 2010] After that last computer update (Gen V2 1.1.1) all of the controls that I've used are working so far. However, the main screen quadrant colors don't match the dash LCS screens, they still appear with the Lincoln color scheme, and the main voice command volume cannot be adjusted. I expect another update will be released to correct these problems. A recent snow storm gave me and the better half an opportunity to check handling and this AWD vehicle handles soooo much better in the snow than the old rear wheel drive sedan. The remote start is now working consistently, as well as the Navigation. Manually entering the destination is still painful compared to my iPhone app, but the voice command is where this entire system shines. Because system voice volume is still broken it scared the bejesus out of the better half when it first came on. I hope Ford & Microsoft continue to enhance the voice command, it really is the way of the future and it's "almost' like being captain of the Enterprise. Oops, that's my geek side slipping out. I took an hour long drive with the better half to another city for lunch today and fuel economy averaged 20.5 mpg on the highway running on cruise at 71 mph. I hope this improves as the vehicle gets some additional miles on it. The vehicle has 1500 miles now and it was about 17F outside (but sunny!) during the drive, so I'm hoping that warmer weather and some more miles will improve to the advertised highway MPG. The better half has admitted to liking the big glass ceiling (that can be opened), the AWD, auto-rear door, and remote start. I still need to get Ford to fix the voice command volume control. I'll have the better half and myself run the vehicle for another week and report back. [May 30, 2011] Been busy with work and didn't want to dwell on the SYNC problems. Down with the negativity if you know what I mean. Basically, it's become a crap shoot on what will fail to work with the SYNC MyFord Touch system every time I get into the car. Yes, the car starts and drives, but the user's "infotainment" control system is unreliable. So much so that I'm actually considering another vehicle; although definitely not a Ford. There are still three Fords in my driveway and this will be the last. I didn't step off the bus yesterday with turnip greens hanging from my pockets. My experience with signs of failure in a company include quality and customer service. When you make your product cheap and unreliable, the customers will find an even cheaper unreliable product, and without good customer service you don't have customers for very long. I spent a lot of hard earned money on my vehicles and with the Edge I feel screwed. I'm going to bring back my Edge to the dealer one more time and expect it to be fixed. When put to my dealer that way, I was told to wait. I can read the sign. I hope that any one else considering a Ford with the Mywhatever Touch system seriously considers the problems reported in forums across the internet before spending money on this technology. -- There are many things that I like about the Ford Edge, but I need to experience all of the features that I purchased working properly for a few weeks in order to provide an good assessment. Right now, it sure is disappointing to feel like a beta tester on a $40K product. I sure hope that these SYNC issues get fixed soon.