Received invite for Early Access to BlueCruise update

[Slade]

Regarding the dealers installing the blue cruise update, maybe it would just be too time consuming. I am not saying it's a great excuse but it's possible.

I have a 2021 3.5 Ecoboost that's equipped with the hardware for blue cruise. It was manufcatured in march but sat somewjere until August. It arrived on the lot on August 5th or so.

Recently, at less than 3000 miles my adaptive cruise control just stopped working. No codes listed, no check engine light, the feature just didn't work with a message that said it was unavailable. I washed all the sensors and made sure they were clear. I assumed one was hit by a stone on the highway.

I took it to the local dealership and they indicated that it was a known software issue with certain F150s, but that it did not effect all of them. They had a service bulletin about it and had to reinstall a good deal of the software. Once they did that, they had to drive the car around so that the sensors would "re-learn" the dimensions of the vehicle and how to detect the lane.

They told me just the software update took 5 and a half hours. That was removing the old and putting on the new. Then they drove it for around 20 to 30 minutes. I was told that the software is different, but that I would not be able to see a difference in the display. The only difference I have noted (other than my cruise control working) is that my camera screens are brighter and more clear.

If a blue cruise update would be like that, dealerships would throw a revolt. I assume like any relationship, Ford has to be careful with how it treats its partners m. Can you imagine the time they would have in that? It's not like it's easy for the dealerships around here to find qualified mechanics. If you have half your techs dealing with a software update, you can't work on the private pay work that probably keeps the dealership profitable. I am not saying it's acceptable, but I can see that Ford may have some difficult decisions. It's just tough when you pay over 60k for a truck to have to put up with that.

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[SonnyDigs]

Why I received this today.
There was nothing to it.

 

[charliecbp]

Got that July 30th......nothing

 

[SonnyDigs]

Got that July 30th......nothing

Got mine back then..
Don't know why I got this one.

 

[2AActuary]

Agreed that Ford is moving fast to distance itself from its legacy automaker habits. Just a few short years ago I thought Ford was lightyears behind other manufacturers in tech and innovation, and applaud the work that Farley and team are doing. It is depicted in the stock price. What I'm surprised about is how they seem to allow unforced errors such as this blue cruise situation. You create an early access group and get them excited to beta test new software, then ghost them while rolling said software out to new builds instead, in some cases surprising customers who didn't expect the system to work until they were out on the highway. As a Tesla owner myself, I would say the complaints of software rollouts are the number one issue on their forums. But I don't think Ford needs to follow the Elon script here. If Ford would have just said why they are not rolling out the software to consumers, and not relied upon their CEO to inform its customers indirectly to stock analysts, then 90% of this problem would have went away. I think most of us here are understanding. I complain because I want Ford to do better. And while the system does appear to have room for improvement, the reason for the delay as described by the CEO was due to trying to simplify and consolidate the number of over the air updates to get the system to work. If Ford actually sends out an email to its customers to say the reason they are delaying the roll out is to improve the system I would be elated. And finally, they need to fix that blue cruise map that looks like something my 5th grader would prepare. In Central Florida it is just one big blue blob, no way of knowing which highways are BC approved. Google the Super Cruise map, it is simple and clear to understand. I would give Ford an A for effort, a B for execution, and a D for communication on BC. With some minor tweaks they could really be killing it. Problem is I don't think they are listening.

Bravo - best post I’ve seen in awhile. Just some basic communication from Ford would go a long way.

 

[Slade]

As an aside, my cruise control failed again yesterday with the same message. I'll take it back in and I am sure they will work through it eventually, but just imagine if the dealers have trouble with the blue cruise update and people have to go in mutuple times. Ford might just be looking at a good deal of not great options.

NewTruckinFL sumed it up perfectly. The poor communication is probably the main source of frustration.

 

[SonnyDigs]

Do

As an aside, my cruise control failed again yesterday with the same message. I'll take it back in and I am sure they will work through it eventually, but just imagine if the dealers have trouble with the blue cruise update and people have to go in mutuple times. Ford might just be looking at a good deal of not great options.

NewTruckinFL sumed it up perfectly. The poor communication is probably the main source of frustration.

You have Journeys turned on in Fordpass?

 

[Slade]

Do
You have Journeys turned on in Fordpass?

I do. For the first few weeks I would turn it on and it would shut itself off. Now it seems to be on constantly.

 

[SonnyDigs]

I do. For the first few weeks I would turn it on and it would shut itself off. Now it seems to be on constantly.

I was having problems with my
Lane Assist not working.
I turned off Journeys and lane assist started working.
May be was just a coincidence but that's what happened.
I'll turn Journeys back on next week to see if it happens again.
I've also noticed if you have an erratic incident avoiding an accident it will turn off lane assist.

 

[Skeldog99]

I keep journeys off, This is why they push Ford insurance. They are getting info on how you drive and know if you are a High risk driver. I wonder if all the safe drivers get BC first because they give Ford their driving information.

 

[mj1angier]

Regarding the dealers installing the blue cruise update, maybe it would just be too time consuming. I am not saying it's a great excuse but it's possible.

I have a 2021 3.5 Ecoboost that's equipped with the hardware for blue cruise. It was manufcatured in march but sat somewjere until August. It arrived on the lot on August 5th or so.

Recently, at less than 3000 miles my adaptive cruise control just stopped working. No codes listed, no check engine light, the feature just didn't work with a message that said it was unavailable. I washed all the sensors and made sure they were clear. I assumed one was hit by a stone on the highway.

I took it to the local dealership and they indicated that it was a known software issue with certain F150s, but that it did not effect all of them. They had a service bulletin about it and had to reinstall a good deal of the software. Once they did that, they had to drive the car around so that the sensors would "re-learn" the dimensions of the vehicle and how to detect the lane.

They told me just the software update took 5 and a half hours. That was removing the old and putting on the new. Then they drove it for around 20 to 30 minutes. I was told that the software is different, but that I would not be able to see a difference in the display. The only difference I have noted (other than my cruise control working) is that my camera screens are brighter and more clear.

If a blue cruise update would be like that, dealerships would throw a revolt. I assume like any relationship, Ford has to be careful with how it treats its partners m. Can you imagine the time they would have in that? It's not like it's easy for the dealerships around here to find qualified mechanics. If you have half your techs dealing with a software update, you can't work on the private pay work that probably keeps the dealership profitable. I am not saying it's acceptable, but I can see that Ford may have some difficult decisions. It's just tough when you pay over 60k for a truck to have to put up with that.

I think this is why auto service depts are going to have add a new position to the service team- IT Tech. He is not going to turn wrenches but will run the software upgrades, computer resets/ reloads, and if it needs a hardware up grade he will send to a normal mechanic with a parts list. Think of how many of the days appointments do not need a full service bay- no lifts, oil pits, air tools... just a computer and power. IT tech hooks to a OBD and lets computer do its thing. Give him enough laptops and he could run different vechials at same time. If or when it shows a part needs replacing, it goes to the normal wrench guys.

EDIT: I also think that in this same IT dept, they will have a IT rep- someone that you can go to and say " I want to have my truck do XYZ, How do I do that?" They will be trained for that- not half-assed like a sales rep or CSR. Again, it would free up the mechanical team to do mechanical repairs

 

[2AActuary]

I think this is why auto service depts are going to have add a new position to the service team- IT Tech. He is not going to turn wrenches but will run the software upgrades, computer resets/ reloads, and if it needs a hardware up grade he will send to a normal mechanic with a parts list. Think of how many of the days appointments do not need a full service bay- no lifts, oil pits, air tools... just a computer and power. IT tech hooks to a OBD and lets computer do its thing. Give him enough laptops and he could run different vechials at same time. If or when it shows a part needs replacing, it goes to the normal wrench guys.

EDIT: I also think that in this same IT dept, they will have a IT rep- someone that you can go to and say " I want to have my truck do XYZ, How do I do that?" They will be trained for that- not half-assed like a sales rep or CSR. Again, it would free up the mechanical team to do mechanical repairs

Agreed. Ford, as well as other legacy car manufacturers, are going to continue to struggle with these massive software undertakings. These projects are well-intentioned, but poorly executed at the dealership & servicing levels. Having the dealer be a “specialist” for these computer items will be a paradigm shift for them (instead of just turning wrenches as you mention). This is an item where Tesla has a huge leg up because they don’t have these “norms” that they have to break.

Ford as one leg in the past and one leg in the future and it’s difficult to execute both. They are putting on a clinic of bad communication on several fronts right now. Such as managing software expectations (no communications), vehicle orders (little or no communications), Bronco rollout (just north of pathetically bad), etc.

 

[Slade]

Agreed. Ford, as well as other legacy car manufacturers, are going to continue to struggle with these massive software undertakings. These projects are well-intentioned, but poorly executed at the dealership & servicing levels. Having the dealer be a “specialist” for these computer items will be a paradigm shift for them (instead of just turning wrenches as you mention). This is an item where Tesla has a huge leg up because they don’t have these “norms” that they have to break.

Ford as one leg in the past and one leg in the future and it’s difficult to execute both. They are putting on a clinic of bad communication on several fronts right now. Such as managing software expectations (no communications), vehicle orders (little or no communications), Bronco rollout (just north of pathetically bad), etc.

Well said.

Hopefully in time they work through this. I can see how it will be difficult to pivot quickly. I could understand it taking a few years to get better with the software on a dealership level and from the factory. While that sucks, it's just likely the reality of the situation.

That being said any communication, even a no update update (one that says that a roll out is delayed for x reasons until sometime next year) would be nice as it at least acknowledges the issue and some level of accountability to your customers.

For me, blue cruise is just totally gone on my connected services login. It used to say coming soon. Now it's just gone with no explanation other than what I have read here.

 

[TheGoatman]

If they can’t easily update job 1 trucks to have the cameras working at speed, I’m not holding my breathe for bluecruise. Comparatively it should be a simple job

 

[Granch]

We could create a bounty for 21+ F-150 for comma.ai openpilot and skip Bluecrusie.
Bounty would be needed to port the car unless someone just wants to do it them self. Mach-e owners are in a similar situation.
Benefit would be would could use it on any road vs. mapped roads only.
Con would be the cost of the comma hw $2600 for the comma 3, red panda, harness. You would not have to buy the $500 ford Bluecrusie subscription.

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