Haz Posted June 21 Report Share Posted June 21 (edited) On June 20, 2025, Ford provided the following information to dealership Service personnel via an Alert issued on the Professional Technician System (PTS) website... Some 2021-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 4 may not be able to perform an update to the accessory protocol interface module (APIM). This may be due to the software in the APIM. Ford Engineering has de-activated the ability to update these SYNC 4 APIM modules and as applicable, the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) will not present an update for the APIM module. Some existing directed repairs may be impacted, check OASIS before attempting any specific TSB repairs and landing pages before attempting any specific FSA repairs. For any vehicles repairs requiring a software update that includes an APIM update in the programming sequence, if the 5-digit product code for the APIM software is equal to or lower than 23187, do not attempt to update affected modules at this time. To determine the 5-digit product code for the APIM software on the vehicle, while the vehicle center display screen is powered up with ignition in run or accessory, go to General Settings > Select About SYNC. Find the 5-digit code, example “ SYNC 4, Software Version: 23187_PRODUCT”. This post will be updated when Ford offers fuller clarity, or, when a remedy is provided by Ford Engineering. Edited Thursday at 02:53 PM by Haz 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wubster100 Posted June 21 Report Share Posted June 21 Is this the same issue as TSB-22-2404 that has been discontinued? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haz Posted Monday at 10:15 AM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 10:15 AM (edited) While providing no additional information, Ford has elevated its earlier PTS Alert notification to a Special Service Message, a level of communication which is submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), which eventually posts such messages to its website. The broadly-described population of potentially affected vehicles, and the indication that this will-not-update condition is the direct result of Ford Engineering de-activating the vehicles' APIMs from performing normal updates, are especially noteworthy -- as is Ford urgency in preceding the SSM with its PTS Alert. This post will be updated when additional information and/or actions are announced by Ford. SSM 53966 - 2021-2025 Various Vehicles - SYNC4 - General System Performance And Stability - Programming No Longer Available Some 2021-2025 Ford/ Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC4 may not be able to perform an update to the accessory protocol interface module (APIM). This may be due to the software in the APIM. Ford Engineering has de-activated the ability to update these SYNC4 APIM modules as applicable, and the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) will not present an update for the APIM module. Some existing directed repairs may be impacted, check Professional Technician System (PTS) before attempting any specific technical service bulletin (TSB)/special service message (SSM) and check field service action (FSA) landing pages before attempting any FSA repairs. For any vehicle repairs requiring a software update that includes an APIM update in the programming sequence, if the 5-digit product code for the APIM software is equal to or lower than 23187, do not attempt to update affected modules at this time. To determine the 5-digit product code for the APIM software on the vehicle, while the vehicle center display screen is powered up with ignition in run or accessory, go to Settings > General > About SYNC. Find the 5-digit code (example: “SYNC 4, Software Version: 23187_PRODUCT”). If further support is required, follow normal internal dealer escalation process. Edited Monday at 10:45 AM by Haz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunky Posted Monday at 12:03 PM Report Share Posted Monday at 12:03 PM Does this mean that the APIM has to be replaced? I know the APIM cannot be replaced under warranty without approval from Ford as a way of managing warranty cost? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haz Posted Monday at 12:21 PM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 12:21 PM @Bunky: It is presently unclear what Ford Engineering's remedy will be. The most recent listing of Components Requiring a Repair Validation Code (RVC), and the various authorities involved, is available here... Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STBEAST Posted Tuesday at 01:53 AM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 01:53 AM Sorry for being ignorant, but what does this mean in journeyman's terms. What would the reason be for ford to do this? I have a 2024 model, so I am curious to what is going on with Ford. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wubster100 Posted Tuesday at 02:34 AM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 02:34 AM Ford has disabled software updates for the computer in your infotainment system called the APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module). This is basically the computer that runs your SYNC 4 system (your touch screen, navigation, apps, etc.). If your vehicle's SYNC 4 software version is 23187 or older, your vehicle's infotainment system cannot currently be updated, not even by a Ford dealership. Ford made a technical decision to block updates for certain SYNC 4 systems. As of now, they haven’t explained why. Ford is expected to release more info or a fix later. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STBEAST Posted Thursday at 02:59 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:59 AM Thank you so much for breaking that down for me. I just don't understand why Ford would do that, unless there is a safety issue?? I am recently questioning why I bought a Ford product, other than the fact that it was in my heart to buy an American built (assembled) vehicle, Especially with all the reliability issues compared to the foreign competition. I really love my Edge ST! I am blown away EVERY time I drive it. I sure hope I made a good decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted Thursday at 11:50 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 11:50 AM 8 hours ago, STBEAST said: Thank you so much for breaking that down for me. I just don't understand why Ford would do that, unless there is a safety issue?? I am recently questioning why I bought a Ford product, other than the fact that it was in my heart to buy an American built (assembled) vehicle, Especially with all the reliability issues compared to the foreign competition. I really love my Edge ST! I am blown away EVERY time I drive it. I sure hope I made a good decision. Your Edge was built in Canada not the U.S…….. 😎 It probably means they don’t plan to do any more updates since they switched to the new Google based system. They almost never did any functional changes anyway so of your sync 4 is working fine then this really is no change. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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