Ford to Eliminate Parallel Parking Assist options

[GlennSullivan]

Say goodbye to the driver-assist parallel parking feature.

"Very, very few people are using it. So we can remove that feature. It's about $60 per vehicle,another $10 million per year (in savings)," Kumar Ghalhotra, Ford chief operating officer, said Tuesday in an effort to illustrate how Ford is making little changes for big savings.

I am not interested in any of the computer aided driving assistants, I prefer to steer and brake my vehicles myself. However I would suggest that the real reason for removing this feature is the numerous complaints and probably lawsuits when it does not perform as stated, causing damage to vehicles.

 

[Gmas15]

The technology has been around for a over a decade.

I tried it on several vehicles. With the Expedition, I never trusted it. The two times I tried using the feature I had to intervene to prevent contact with another vehicle.

That said, great idea for people that can't park but the implementation needs to be a lot more simple and reliable.

Honestly, I use it all the time on my 19, I think it’s well-implemented and works pretty well. I get it a stretch for some folks And it’s not necessary, but I see it as a neat feature that I paid for, why not use it? To techdude99, you do need to intervene when the system alerts you to stop and shift to D or R depending on whether or not the vehicle will hit another car. You do have to intervene in that sense - it only controls the steering wheel, not throttle or brake. E.g. if you start backing in to a spot, but need to pull forward to straigten out, then reverse back in, the system handles all of that and will alert you that it’s getting close to something and to shift to D, then will control the steering wheel while pulling forward, then will alert you to stop and shift to R, then will continue to control the steering wheel while backing in. It’s not perfect - but I think it works pretty Well for what it is. Seems like I’m one of the “very, very few“ people using it We’re note replacing ours anytime soon, but I like the feature and I will cross-shop other mfrs if we do. Got to question what’s going on at ford if they say this saves 10 million/yr? They had 176 Billion in revenue last year… what else are they cutting corners on? Isn’t that the story of our expys - continuous decontenting?

 

[Danm355]

Say goodbye to the driver-assist parallel parking feature.

"Very, very few people are using it. So we can remove that feature. It's about $60 per vehicle,another $10 million per year (in savings)," Kumar Ghalhotra, Ford chief operating officer, said Tuesday in an effort to illustrate how Ford is making little changes for big savings.

I used the parallel parking assist a lot, especially if your in the city where it's mostly parallel parking. I was disappointed when they eliminated it from my 2022 Expedition because the parts were not available.

 

[Danm355]

I am not interested in any of the computer aided driving assistants, I prefer to steer and brake my vehicles myself. However I would suggest that the real reason for removing this feature is the numerous complaints and probably lawsuits when it does not perform as stated, causing damage to vehicles.

It really worked great.

 

[JoeyNavigator]

Will Parallel Parking Assist continue to function on existing vehicles with Active Park Assist?

 

[dlcorbett]

Will Parallel Parking Assist continue to function on existing vehicles with Active Park Assist?

It should it's software is already installed in the car.

 

[18MaxLimited]

Not that I use "all" the features on our Platinum either. Can't remember when I last used parallel park since I bought it but doesn't matter. It's the fundamental of it. Same as the lock/unlock door handles, electric middle seat release, massaging seats, different interior color light options, and now park assist. Sure, these are all essentially meaningless things but because of these "cost savings," and chip shortage deleting, my I can say my 2018 Max Platinum is "better" than 2019 and newer expeditions. Now what's wrong with that statement? Are new things not supposed to improve or what?

 

[JoeyNavigator]

Hoping FORD/Lincoln...does it's homework before they drop an option based on low usage.

Many reasons could explain little use...such as maybe the implementation is poor and not deemed worthwhile as it is, but would be used much more often if improved.

 

[GixxerJasen]

I can say my 2018 Max Platinum is "better" than 2019 and newer expeditions. Now what's wrong with that statement?

What's wrong? Pretty sure including 2019 in your statement. I'm fairly happy to have a Pre-Covid vehicle.

 

[SyndicateZ]

Get rid of parking assist, cruise control, hands free driving, power deployed running boards, lane keeping assist, active braking, HUD, and that giant dtouchscreen Ipad thing and make an available V8 expy so we can get rid of the rattling turbos

 

[Asphalt Kid]

I have it, but I have been reluctant to try it out figuring it would be just my luck to damage another vehicle. If I doesn't work, the initial warranty is over with

I agree..I've had it on the 4 previous Fords but could not come to trusting it so never used it....

 

[GixxerJasen]

Try it, there's nothing to worry about. You are in control the entire time. If it's going to hit, then stop moving the truck. Pretty simple.

 

[5280tunage]

My issue is I know its there, but I refuse to let myself use it. I normally laugh at those that don't know how to parallel park, as it was actually something I had to prove I could do during my driving test at 16. I learned how to parallel park and back up trailers before I was allowed to drive, I actually found the trailer backup assist know worse than just using my mirrors and neck. But I did want the features, mostly in case the wife needs them if I'm not around and for resale.

The removal of this feature means that for every vehicle the remove this from, helps reduce losses on like 30 Li cells for their EV's.