Active Park Assist Disabled

[mhExped]

Been getting message on dash saying something to the effect "Active Park Assist Disabled" when shifting into gear for months. Self-parking feature doesn't work anymore. Neither does the "radar" that tells you when you're about to hit something (on any side) when parking.

2018 model, purchased new about a year ago. Been in 2x to dealer for repair. Both times dealer says it's a known issue and has a prescribed fix, which they've applied, but problem persists. The way they explained it, the sensors allow dirt and water inside them and are very sensitive and get knocked offline easily. No explanation for why the prescribed fix (cleaning them out, I guess) hasn't resolved the issue and they suggested wait for a permanent fix.

I reached out to corporate Ford and they didn't help at all.

Anyone else experience this? Any ideas how to more quickly get to a permenent fix? Any other insight?

 

[mhExped]

Bumping this thread with some new info. Hoping it sounds familiar to someone and maybe there's word of what the ultimate fix is?

I noticed today that the wording of the error message alternates between what I wrote above ("Active Park Assist Disabled") and something to the effect "Park Aid Unavailable - Sensor Blocked".

With either message the result is the same: The self-park feature is disabled (and cannot be re-enabled by pushbutton) and the "radar" that tells you when you're getting to close to something is completely disabled.

We get this error condition probably around 49 out of every 50 engine starts, meaning about once every 50 starts we luck out and both the active park and "radar" systems work as normal. Though, it seems like lately we're lucking out a bit more often then we had been (maybe we're up to 1 out of every 25 starts it's all working?).

We'll be taking it back to the dealer for a 3rd attempt at fixing soon. In the 2 prior visits they said they cleaned the sensors but otherwise just shrugged their shoulders. Anyone else had theirs in for service with this issue?

 

[2018expyXLT4wd]

Bad Sensor or Parking Assist Control Module (PAM) ?

 

[mhExped]

Bad Sensor or Parking Assist Control Module (PAM) ?

Would either of those conditions be expected to result in codes on OBD scanner? Dealer claims despite the on-dash error message no codes come through OBD.

 

[2018expyXLT4wd]

Not sure which module generates a code - Does the PAM, for instance, push the code out to a higher level module, or does some higher level module interrogate the PAM periodically, and post the code (don't know). It's firmware, so at the mercy of the programmer - just ask Boeing.

 

[armoredsaint]

I never even tried it on my Expedition, maybe I should see it's magic

 

[aggiegrad05]

I never even tried it on my Expedition, maybe I should see it's magic

Normal perpendicular spot: I can back in just as well and a lot faster than the truck can on its own, but I often let the truck do it when I have passengers as they get a kick out of it.

Parallel spot: It's magical. I can't parallel park to save my life and the truck does an excellent job getting in and out of a spot. It cuts the corners really close (too close for my comfort sometimes) but it gets the land yacht into spots that look far too small. I wouldn't even attempt to parallel park this thing on my own and am very happy with the feature.

 

[mhExped]

In my case, I don't really care about the self-park feature (don't use it except to amaze the kids).

However, not having the "radar" that tells you you're about to hit something when manually parking is a major deal in my book. All that "radar" just might save you from unwittingly backing over someone or something. It also does help when pulling into tight spaces (garage, parking stall/space, etc.).

Had the "radar" (sorry to keep calling it that, don't know what its offical term is) been working instead of broken a month or two back, my wife likely wouldn't have backed into a parked car and our insurance rates wouldn't have just increased. :-/ But, better having backed into a car rather than a person. :-/

 

[armoredsaint]

this is embarrassing, since i never used it - i don't know how to even initiative it - i know there's the button you push next to the drive modes and use the turn signal

 

[Rancidlunchmeat]

I didn't know the option was even offered on any trim level for the Expy's!

 

[aggiegrad05]

this is embarrassing, since i never used it - i don't know how to even initiative it - i know there's the button you push next to the drive modes and use the turn signal

Push once for parallel park and flip your blinker to tell it what side.

Push twice for perpendicular park and do the same with your blinker.

Drive forward and follow insurrections on screen.

 

[Sowie1701]

Is the park “out” assist new on the 2020? If so I wonder if it’s a software upgrade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Adieu]

Look for dirt dead bugs or birdsh!t on your sensors?

 

[aggiegrad05]

Is the park “out” assist new on the 2020? If so I wonder if it’s a software upgrade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope, my ‘18 has it.

 

[Sowie1701]

I thought I read the new park assist on the 2020 also controls brake and gas.


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[AKentPhoto]

Not the 2020 Navi we took on a test drive...

I haven't tried it on my truck yet.


If they shrugged at me like that I'd tell them to start replacing stuff til they figured it out. Sensors go bad and can be intermittent. Figure it out you lazy putzes

 

[mhExped]

Had my '19 Limited back at the dealer's recently to take another look into this issue (Active Park Aid/Assist disabled). The dealer's tech's were stumped since no error codes are thrown (only error is on dash), so they turned to corporate Ford. Corporate Ford had them check all sensors and wiring for signs of trouble - they found nothing unusual.

After that, corporate Ford suggested replacing the control module for that system, which they did. Unfortunately, problem still exists. I'll be taking it back in soon, but apparently corporate Ford is stumped.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[mhExped]

Typo in my previous post, not that it matters, but I should have said "'18 Limited" (instead of "'19 Limited"). In any case, I believe (hope?) this issue has finally been resolved.

Probably had the car in the shop for a total of 2 months since I've owned it for this specific issue. Finally took a Ford field tech's onsite visit to get the local service department on the right track.

I don't understand all the details, but it sounds like a module involved in reporting trouble had failed in addition to one of the parking sensors. Since the reporting module failed, there were no diagnostics thrown to indicate which sensor had failed. This is what led to a painfully long diagnostic and repair time.

Once the failed reporting module was replaced, it quickly became clear which parking sensor had failed and since that sensor was replaced the initial trouble has not returned. Interestingly, among the parts replaced was the entire piece containing the flip-down sunglasses holder, backseat/baby mirror, and lighting & sunroof control buttons - I guess the diagnostics component that had failed is housed in that module. Weird!

Anyway, in case it's ever helpful to anyone else who suffers this issue, I'm attaching the relevant parts of the service ticket here.

View media item 7240
View media item 7241

 

[Matthew Abrams]

Typo in my previous post, not that it matters, but I should have said "'18 Limited" (instead of "'19 Limited"). In any case, I believe (hope?) this issue has finally been resolved.

Probably had the car in the shop for a total of 2 months since I've owned it for this specific issue. Finally took a Ford field tech's onsite visit to get the local service department on the right track.

I don't understand all the details, but it sounds like a module involved in reporting trouble had failed in addition to one of the parking sensors. Since the reporting module failed, there were no diagnostics thrown to indicate which sensor had failed. This is what led to a painfully long diagnostic and repair time.

Once the failed reporting module was replaced, it quickly became clear which parking sensor had failed and since that sensor was replaced the initial trouble has not returned. Interestingly, among the parts replaced was the entire piece containing the flip-down sunglasses holder, backseat/baby mirror, and lighting & sunroof control buttons - I guess the diagnostics component that had failed is housed in that module. Weird!

Anyway, in case it's ever helpful to anyone else who suffers this issue, I'm attaching the relevant parts of the service ticket here.

View media item 7240
View media item 7241

This could be a long shot, but I had the EXACT same set of warnings and errors (with the addition of no regular cruise control) on our old 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. the issue was a wheel speed sensor. Quick replacement and all was fine.

 

[gbosin]

I’ve been getting this message for about a week now. I cleaned sensors and it went away for a couple starts. My wife informed me it came back again.