Press Stop Underway, Automatically Shifts to Park???

[mhExped]

I read a post/complaint on the NHTSA website where the author explained how the '18 (and newer?) Expeditions (and all modern Fords?) automatically shut-down and shift to Park if the start-stop button is pressed while underway.

Wanting to know if this was true, I did a simple test in my driveway with my '18 Limited, taking my foot off the brake while engine running and car in drive (but essentially not moving due to vehicle's positioning in my drive). Pressed the start-stop button and sure enough the car immediately shifted to Park and powered down.

Like the author of that complaint on the NHTSA website, I'm concerned that should one accidently depress the start-stop button while driving at highway speeds, the results could be disastrous.

Anyone have more insight into this behavior? Hopefully no one has experienced this situation first-hand in any way that resulted in tragedy.

 

[Going_Going_Gone]

I can only speculate on when Ford introduced the Torqshift 5-speed transmissions in the 2003.5 Super Duties. Because the transmissions were all computer controlled, they said you could move the shift lever into Reverse when going 60 mph and nothing would happen as the computer would recognize that would not be a good move. If they had those protections 18 years ago, I would assume they would incorporate that feature on the ten-speeds as well (unless that was the part of the joint development that GM performed)

 

[KenK]

I use this feature all the time when stopping and parking but no way I have the guts to try it while moving. In theory the transmission won't let you do anything stupid like shift into reverse while moving forward.

 

[Deadman]

I WILL say that if you open the door on my 18 at any speed, the trans slams into park and tries to shear off the internal park pin. idiots!

 

[flying68]

Hit the stop button as I was slowly rolling to a stop at the mailbox and it stopped abruptly. I was only going a couple mph with the foot off the brake. Seems like there needs to be a software update to prevent the transmission from going into park unless the brake pedal is pressed and the vehicle wheel speed is 0.

 

[lobsenza]

I found this out when backing a trailer down the boat ramp. Mine slammed into park when I opened the door to see if I was deep enough. Stupid design. I now compensate and do not do this. Supposedly, if your seat belt is buckled, it will not slam into park. I always wear my seat belt, except when backing a trailer because I find it gets in the way.

 

[Uturn]

Are you sure it actually slammed into park? The transmission is supposed to shift to neutral until the vehicle stops, then shift to park. The indicator will show park immediately. The slam into park is probably the parking brake applying which is what is supposed to happen if you shift into park with the vehicle moving and the brake not firmly applied. From the owners manual.



On a console shifter, when the ignition is
turned off, your vehicle automatically shifts
into park (P). If the ignition is turned off
when the vehicle is moving, it first shifts
into neutral (N) until it comes to a
complete stop. Your vehicle then shifts
into park (P) automatically.
The electric parking brake may apply when
you shift to park (P) without the brake
pedal fully pressed.

 

[aggiegrad05]

And just to reassure everyone your vehicle is not trying to kill you, if you open the door while moving AND YOUR SEATBELT IS ON, it will stay in D.

I just tried it.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

AutoVlog tried this on his Ford Fusion... and nothing.

 

[AAOO]

@Deadman As long as the seatbelt indicator is not lit up on the dash you can open the door while underway and it will not slam into park. You can buckle then unbuckle your seatbelt and it won’t slam into park or keep it buckled behind your body when needed.

 

[AndrewS]

Curious if disabling the seatbelt alarm would have the same effect as being buckled in to bypass the auto-return to park when you open your door.

 

[duneslider]

Someone needs to go take a test drive and give some of these tests a go!

 

[Wangle]

Just a quick note, I was traveling at near highway speed’s when I realized I had not changed my mode to economy, which I usually do. I grabbed the knob while watching the display and nothing changed. To my horror I realized I had changed the shift knob to R. I quickly went back to D. Nothing happened. Please do not try this at home. LOL

 

[aggiegrad05]

Just a quick note, I was traveling at near highway speed’s when I realized I had not changed my mode to economy, which I usually do. I grabbed the knob while watching the display and nothing changed. To my horror I realized I had changed the shift knob to R. I quickly went back to D. Nothing happened. Please do not try this at home. LOL

Good info, thank you!

That's not particularly surprising given the shifter is electronic, not mechanical. Rotating the dial doesn't shift the vehicle...it tells the vehicle you want to shift...then, IF the parameters are met for a safe shift, the vehicle will actually shift the tranny.

 

[Highlightreel]

Since we are back on this topic, someone on here (I can't remember common contributor) said they just pull to their stop and hit STOP and don't even bother shifting back to P. I have done this a couple times and kind of prefer it.

Is this confirmed to be OK for the vehicle? Based on what Aggie just noted (since it's not actually shifting, if parameters fit...) I would think it's ok but also don't want to be ignorant and do something that overtime may be worse for the vehicle.

I say this because almost every time I pull into my garage my car auto-stops and shuts off the friggin engine. Then when I shift to P it starts up again just for me to hit STOP.

 

[aggiegrad05]

Since we are back on this topic, someone on here (I can't remember common contributor) said they just pull to their stop and hit STOP and don't even bother shifting back to P. I have done this a couple times and kind of prefer it.

Is this confirmed to be OK for the vehicle? Based on what Aggie just noted (since it's not actually shifting, if parameters fit...) I would think it's ok but also don't want to be ignorant and do something that overtime may be worse for the vehicle.

I say this because almost every time I pull into my garage my car auto-stops and shuts off the friggin engine. Then when I shift to P it starts up again just for me to hit STOP.

Yup, it's a "feature"



I don't ever shift into Park. Mostly for the ASS reason you noted, but also because that is one extra knob turn and I am faaar to important for things like that. (I'm kidding)

(No idea why it loaded that picture twice)

 

[flying68]

Since we are back on this topic, someone on here (I can't remember common contributor) said they just pull to their stop and hit STOP and don't even bother shifting back to P. I have done this a couple times and kind of prefer it.

Is this confirmed to be OK for the vehicle? Based on what Aggie just noted (since it's not actually shifting, if parameters fit...) I would think it's ok but also don't want to be ignorant and do something that overtime may be worse for the vehicle.

I say this because almost every time I pull into my garage my car auto-stops and shuts off the friggin engine. Then when I shift to P it starts up again just for me to hit STOP.

It is just fine if you are stopped. I try to do it if I remember because of what you just said, but now I have also gotten pretty good at throwing it into park as soon as I stop before auto stop-start kicks in. I just need to remember more often if the a.s.s. kicks in before I shift then just hit the button.

 

[Flexpedition]

The 2018 loaner I had certainly felt like it slammed into park when opening the door in reverse, but like pressing the start button, I speculate the electronic parking brake played a large role in stopping the vehicle & probably contributed the sudden jolt. Skeptical its only using the transmission.

The same AutoVlog guy mentioned earlier did another video about putting the transmission in Reverse at highway speed....

You can skip to 1:40

 

[Highlightreel]

Thanks for the responses! I should have looked for the answer first but appreciate the feedback. That's a nice 'feature' because of the ASS.

Thanks again and Stay Classy forum!

 

[Tocapet]

I use this feature all the time when stopping and parking but no way I have the guts to try it while moving. In theory the transmission won't let you do anything stupid like shift into reverse while moving forward.

I agree. In my 2015 Camry that has manual override for the transmission, it won't let you downshift too much if your speed is too high. It just beeps at you. Once your speed drops sufficiently, it will let you downshift some more. I use it all the time to save the brakes.