Automatic Climate Controls Don’t Work

[TennesseeTremor]

Hello,

I purchased a 2023 Tremor in September of this year. If anyone has experienced this issue and can offer any advice or more info than what I can already find online I would appreciate it it so much. I spent a lot of money on this truck and I love it so much - but this issue is really tarnishing my ownership experience.

I’ve noticed since I’ve gotten the truck that the climate controls don’t work that well, but temps have been moderate so I haven’t noticed much

However over Thanksgiving I took a long cross country road trip with my family in cold temperatures and noticed how bad it really is.

in AUTO mode, any temp set higher than 64 is absolutely BLAZING hot. Essentially my only options for a comfortable cab are 60, 61, 62, and 63 but it requires constantly cycling between those options to maintain a temperature. LO blows ice cold.

and yes, I have set it and “left it” at 68-70 to see if it will stabilize, and it seems to keep the cab consistently 10-15 degrees hotter than the set temperature.

is there any fix for this? I’ve read a few threads on this but none seem to pinpoint the specific failure - and if it’s even possible to fix and how to DYI it. My father has a 2018 F150 and we set that at 69 degrees and never touch it - works great.

surely this can’t be as designed - I literally only have 4 comfortable temp settings. It’s also curious how I’m struggling to maintain a cool cabin when the outside air is literally 40F. Ironically I would be better off with a true manual climate controller than what is currently in the truck.

my dealer is not very helpful. They told me over the phone it’s a known issue. Also they are over 1.5 months for a warranty service appointment. I had a different issue they are looking at next week and I’ve been waiting months for that appointment.

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[Spiffers]

Have you tried calling different dealers in your area to see if you can get a quicker appointment?

 

[Samson16]

Hello,

I purchased a 2023 Tremor in September of this year. If anyone has experienced this issue and can offer any advice or more info than what I can already find online I would appreciate it it so much. I spent a lot of money on this truck and I love it so much - but this issue is really tarnishing my ownership experience.

I’ve noticed since I’ve gotten the truck that the climate controls don’t work that well, but temps have been moderate so I haven’t noticed much

However over Thanksgiving I took a long cross country road trip with my family in cold temperatures and noticed how bad it really is.

in AUTO mode, any temp set higher than 64 is absolutely BLAZING hot. Essentially my only options for a comfortable cab are 60, 61, 62, and 63 but it requires constantly cycling between those options to maintain a temperature. LO blows ice cold.

and yes, I have set it and “left it” at 68-70 to see if it will stabilize, and it seems to keep the cab consistently 10-15 degrees hotter than the set temperature.

is there any fix for this? I’ve read a few threads on this but none seem to pinpoint the specific failure - and if it’s even possible to fix and how to DYI it. My father has a 2018 F150 and we set that at 69 degrees and never touch it - works great.

surely this can’t be as designed - I literally only have 4 comfortable temp settings. It’s also curious how I’m struggling to maintain a cool cabin when the outside air is literally 40F. Ironically I would be better off with a true manual climate controller than what is currently in the truck.

my dealer is not very helpful. They told me over the phone it’s a known issue. Also they are over 1.5 months for a warranty service appointment. I had a different issue they are looking at next week and I’ve been waiting months for that appointment.

Can you post a pic of your HVAC controls? Is your AC light on when the cabin refuses to cool down to set temp? The auto feature is just for fan speed control. The temp dial or dials sets/set the desired temperature while the up/down switch or auto button sets the fan speed. There is also a button for vent choices.

 

[powerboatr]

mine hmmmm sucks in auto, it either burns you or lets you freeze
even my dads maverick in auto tries to be smarter than me.

i use mine in manual and adjust flow or temps as needed
i do wonder why they took the fan and temps switches off the wheel, like we had in the olde super duty and expedition

 

[slow3v]

Hello,

I purchased a 2023 Tremor in September of this year. If anyone has experienced this issue and can offer any advice or more info than what I can already find online I would appreciate it it so much. I spent a lot of money on this truck and I love it so much - but this issue is really tarnishing my ownership experience.

I’ve noticed since I’ve gotten the truck that the climate controls don’t work that well, but temps have been moderate so I haven’t noticed much

However over Thanksgiving I took a long cross country road trip with my family in cold temperatures and noticed how bad it really is.

in AUTO mode, any temp set higher than 64 is absolutely BLAZING hot. Essentially my only options for a comfortable cab are 60, 61, 62, and 63 but it requires constantly cycling between those options to maintain a temperature. LO blows ice cold.

and yes, I have set it and “left it” at 68-70 to see if it will stabilize, and it seems to keep the cab consistently 10-15 degrees hotter than the set temperature.

is there any fix for this? I’ve read a few threads on this but none seem to pinpoint the specific failure - and if it’s even possible to fix and how to DYI it. My father has a 2018 F150 and we set that at 69 degrees and never touch it - works great.

surely this can’t be as designed - I literally only have 4 comfortable temp settings. It’s also curious how I’m struggling to maintain a cool cabin when the outside air is literally 40F. Ironically I would be better off with a true manual climate controller than what is currently in the truck.

my dealer is not very helpful. They told me over the phone it’s a known issue. Also they are over 1.5 months for a warranty service appointment. I had a different issue they are looking at next week and I’ve been waiting months for that appointment.

I have noticed this too. My 2021 worked fine, my 2023 is the same as yours, fucked. WTF did Ford fuck up? A good friends 2023 is the same way, too.

I’ve always had it set to 70. In our 2 previous explorers, in my 21 f150, in our expedition… but this f150? Holy smokes no way.

 

[Je1279]

I am in the same boat. I haven't found a solution yet either.

 

[TennesseeTremor]

Sounds like many are reporting that this is “normal” for 2022’s and 2023’s… that’s really disappointing.

Can anyone report that their auto climate controls work completely normally? Set 70 and forget it and it just works?

 

[TennesseeTremor]

Can you post a pic of your HVAC controls? Is your AC light on when the cabin refuses to cool down to set temp? The auto feature is just for fan speed control. The temp dial or dials sets/set the desired temperature while the up/down switch or auto button sets the fan speed. There is also a button for vent choices.

Yep - I’m reporting this issue with the AC in the ON position and the fan in AUTO.

Interesting I drove to work this morning with the AC on, AUTO on and the temp set at 60 degrees and I still had to go to LO a few times momentarily to get the cabin to cool down.

Outside air temp was 40 F.

 

[TennesseeTremor]

I am in the same boat. I haven't found a solution yet either.

Good to know it’s not just mine though. Hopefully Ford can figure it out. I see someone else in this thread reported their 2021 worked fine so it’s not just the 14Gens that suck. Some humidity sensor, temp sensor or possibly a blend door is malfunctioning.

 

[S14suspense]

My 21 works as expected in Auto. Fan speed low unless it's summer time. Set it at 67 or 68 and it leave it.

 

[Je1279]

I think there's something to the auto low setting in the cold, even though I don't understand why. I ran mine at 65 in auto low with A/C selected on my way home yesterday and it seemed to be more comfortable. Still not as consistent as prior vehicles I've owned, but a noticible improvement.

 

[madsend81]

Not downplaying the experience of others, but I've had no problems with the auto climate control in my 2023 XLT PB. Granted I've only had it for 4 months, but it keeps the cab comfortable in hot or cold weather.

 

[TennesseeTremor]

Not downplaying the experience of others, but I've had no problems with the auto climate control in my 2023 XLT PB. Granted I've only had it for 4 months, but it keeps the cab comfortable in hot or cold weather.

I’m actually glad to hear that. That means it CAN work normally. Now just to convince Ford that mine is messed up and make them fix it ?

Luckily I was able to to get this issue “added” to the work order for an appointment I have next Tuesday for a different issue. I made that appointment long ago. I already encountered some resistance on the phone to looking at this - so I’m really hoping that they are willing to figure it out. Obviously according to your experience something is wrong with my truck

 

[slow3v]

I think there's something to the auto low setting in the cold, even though I don't understand why. I ran mine at 65 in auto low with A/C selected on my way home yesterday and it seemed to be more comfortable. Still not as consistent as prior vehicles I've owned, but a noticible improvement.

It's software. It's 100% an issue with post 2021's. As myself and others have mentioned, the early Gen 14's were fine and this is affecting later models. So odd. Maybe we'll get an OTA for it?

 

[js312]

Do any of you happen to notice that your auto headlamps act oddly too? I noticed the behavior described in this thread, but also that the auto headlamps like to turn on way more than necessary. I have a theory that the sun load sensor is the problem - maybe a bad batch of them made it into the later trucks?

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