Help - stranded

[mgmessner89]

Ford seems to have an issue with these shifters. When I bought my 2023 in July of 2024 I got the Powertrain Error within 100 miles. Shifter had to be replaced. The folding button was the root of the issue. "Apparently" new shifters are built with this fix in mind

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[evowner]

It is going to take a while to learn all of the 'idiosyncrasy's' of these vehicles.

His story reminds me when I was younger and traveled every day for work. I rented a car in AZ to visit some clients. Afterwards, I went to a convenience store, picked some things up, and when I went to leave I could not get the floor shifter to move. I jiggled it, I pulled as hard as I could before I thought something would break. I tried everything I could, but could not get it to move out of park. It was working fine up until then. I called the rental company and asked for help, they couldn't think of anything. They decided to send out service.

So service arrives and he gets in the car grabs the shifter and moves it out of park. I was like WTF. I get back in and I try again and the shifter will not move. We are both wondering what is going on. He gets back in and I am watching very closely and I notice that he put his foot on the brake before shifting. I got back in did the same and wala it worked. Very red faced I told him that I was sorry I wasted his time, and that this is the first vehicle I ever drove that had that 'feature'. I must not have been the only one, because subsequent rental cars had a sticker on the display to remind people to step on the brake to shift the car. I had to learn a new way of driving.

 

[Grease Lightning]

The few times I have dropped the shifter to lay the work space flat, I have felt concern...it definitely sounds and feels cheap...thus I rarely drop the shifter out of fear. Would much prefer some form of knob that allows the work space to lay flat.

I wish they would allow us to fold it flat and have a display option like the new M3. That would be a nice middle of the road so we can stop using this old tech.

On a funny side, I love going from my only M3 and the Lightning because I often mess up the shifter expecting it to be on the stock….🫢

 

[farmtruck]

Imagine getting robbed or attacked (i.e. someone holds the door open when you are getting in). You throw the truck in drive and step on it to get away, only to have the truck auto-shift to park for your safety. I think I'd rather have full control of my truck and take responsibility for my actions if I'm stupid enough to leave it in drive and walk away.

I am all in with you on this one. How do you escape a carjacking attempt if your vehicle is going to disable itself if a door is opened.

 

[Pioneer74]

Ford seems to have an issue with these shifters. When I bought my 2023 in July of 2024 I got the Powertrain Error within 100 miles. Shifter had to be replaced. The folding button was the root of the issue. "Apparently" new shifters are built with this fix in mind

They've had problems with the shifter since the 2021 ICE truck launched with them.

 

[Henry Ford]

I am all in with you on this one. How do you escape a carjacking attempt if your vehicle is going to disable itself if a door is opened.

1. That's what insurance is for.

2. You can shift out of park with the door open.

 

[Mach Turtle]

It is going to take a while to learn all of the 'idiosyncrasy's' of these vehicles.

His story reminds me when I was younger and traveled every day for work. I rented a car in AZ to visit some clients. Afterwards, I went to a convenience store, picked some things up, and when I went to leave I could not get the floor shifter to move. I jiggled it, I pulled as hard as I could before I thought something would break. I tried everything I could, but could not get it to move out of park. It was working fine up until then. I called the rental company and asked for help, they couldn't think of anything. They decided to send out service.

So service arrives and he gets in the car grabs the shifter and moves it out of park. I was like WTF. I get back in and I try again and the shifter will not move. We are both wondering what is going on. He gets back in and I am watching very closely and I notice that he put his foot on the brake before shifting. I got back in did the same and wala it worked. Very red faced I told him that I was sorry I wasted his time, and that this is the first vehicle I ever drove that had that 'feature'. I must not have been the only one, because subsequent rental cars had a sticker on the display to remind people to step on the brake to shift the car. I had to learn a new way of driving.

Great story. Was this sometime in the late 1980s by any chance?

I recall that this feature was added after a "sudden acceleration" craze in which lots of people claimed that their cars had spontaneously accelerated, overcoming the drivers' attempts to stop them, and lots of attorneys and reporters made lots of money. The brake-to-shift feature was added to prevent people first putting their cars into drive without feet on the brakes, then feeling the cars lurch forward, and then panicking and hitting the gas by accident (it is only human to make mistakes like that). Sudden accelerations became a whole lot less common after that design change.

The more recent unintended acceleration trend came and went also, but since many cars had electronic "drive by wire" throttles by then, as least the claims were somewhat feasible.

As for doors and shifting out of park, I'll bet the Ford folks have decided that protecting people against accidents such as running over bystanders is more important than protecting people and vehicles against carjackings. I'd rather lose my truck than run over someone with it; how about you all?

 

[evowner]

Great story. Was this sometime in the late 1980s by any chance?

I recall that this feature was added after a "sudden acceleration" craze in which lots of people claimed that their cars had spontaneously accelerated, overcoming the drivers' attempts to stop them, and lots of attorneys and reporters made lots of money. The brake-to-shift feature was added to prevent people first putting their cars into drive without feet on the brakes, then feeling the cars lurch forward, and then panicking and hitting the gas by accident (it is only human to make mistakes like that). Sudden accelerations became a whole lot less common after that design change.

The more recent unintended acceleration trend came and went also, but since many cars had electronic "drive by wire" throttles by then, as least the claims were somewhat feasible.

As for doors and shifting out of park, I'll bet the Ford folks have decided that protecting people against accidents such as running over bystanders is more important than protecting people and vehicles against carjackings. I'd rather lose my truck than run over someone with it; how about you all?

I don't remember the exact date but I traveled from mid 80s until shortly after 911, so it likely was in the late 80s.

 

[chl]

It is going to take a while to learn all of the 'idiosyncrasy's' of these vehicles.

His story reminds me when I was younger and traveled every day for work. I rented a car in AZ to visit some clients. Afterwards, I went to a convenience store, picked some things up, and when I went to leave I could not get the floor shifter to move. I jiggled it, I pulled as hard as I could before I thought something would break. I tried everything I could, but could not get it to move out of park. It was working fine up until then. I called the rental company and asked for help, they couldn't think of anything. They decided to send out service.

So service arrives and he gets in the car grabs the shifter and moves it out of park. I was like WTF. I get back in and I try again and the shifter will not move. We are both wondering what is going on. He gets back in and I am watching very closely and I notice that he put his foot on the brake before shifting. I got back in did the same and wala it worked. Very red faced I told him that I was sorry I wasted his time, and that this is the first vehicle I ever drove that had that 'feature'. I must not have been the only one, because subsequent rental cars had a sticker on the display to remind people to step on the brake to shift the car. I had to learn a new way of driving.

My 80+ year old mom had a Toyota Camry that often had trouble with the shifter and key on the column, the issue was getting the key and the shifter into the right position to unlock the steering column was often difficult and involved a lot of jiggling and cursing.

So far I have had no trouble with my shifter on my 2023 Pro. But I can't say I ever tried opening the door with the truck in drive and the brake pedal not pressed fully, and I am NOT tempted to try it now to see what happens after reading this thread!

It is a good safety feature, though I never knew it was a thing until now.

Does it do the same thing when in Reverse?

I can remember having to open the driver's door when backing up for some reason, like lining things up along the sides in a parking lot with white lines, or at the back of the car/truck, in the days before cameras and screens.

Seems like sometimes in a garage, the mechanic would do that to get the wheels lined up with the lift in the old days.

 

[K6CCC]

more important than protecting people and vehicles against carjackings. I'd rather lose my truck than run over someone with it; how about you all?

Losing my truck is not the issue. Losing my life is. When escape is the only goal, the vehicle should not work against you. Same issue with a remote key fob unlock that only unlocks ALL doors as opposed to the drivers door only. Just gave the bad guy a way into the vehicle so they can harm you.

 

[Jimbalf]

I am all in with you on this one. How do you escape a carjacking attempt if your vehicle is going to disable itself if a door is opened.

I make the mistake of opening my door while in Drive mode at my mailbox often and it always moves to Park immediately. Glad my truck watches out for me.

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