Ford SYNC Issues

[Meaney77]

Not looking for a Ford or F150 bash!!

Currently have a 2021 F150 and over the last 2 months I have been having issues with my stereo and curious if anyone else is experiencing the same issue?

• My Iphone wont connect and if I want to connect to the stereo, I have to set it up like its a new phone. Only way to listen to my music is using a cord and car play.
• The screen intermttenly goes dark so I cant access or change my music sources, see the map or change the heating and AC temp in the car. Seems like the screen goes dark if I use the remote start on my key fab but maybe just coincidence.
• The satellite radio takes awhile to work-Even though I have satellite preset stations saved, I occasionally get an error that the station isnt available.
• messages on screen at startup about sharing data, and auto updates

I have done the master reset on the unit, I have confirmed I am using the most current SYNC software and still having issues. I have looked around online and dont see anything regarding this issue. I have called Ford 3 times now and they have infomed me that its a known issue with the software and a new version is to be pushed out to users in late September. Not sure if they are blowing smoke up my ass or not but its super frustrating to say the least. And I find it very hard to believe if this truly is a software issue affecting lots of consumers that their isnt more of a sense of urgency to fix.

The customer service rep said I could take it to a dealer to diagnose the issue but seems kind of pointless right now.

Anyone else experinceing these issues?

 

[4Waters]

We did an update about a month ago on our 2021 and the auto start/stop quit working, I'm not mad though . That's it for us.

 

[brecht]

Not that one but in my 2016 F150 with Sync 3 maybe 1 in 100 starts the audio would be completely dead. You would have to leave the truck off for like 20 minutes - just restarting it wouldn't do anything. They could never figure it out... good luck lol

 

[oldschool]

The SYNC in my 19 seems to have a mind of its own.

 

[Taboma]

Not looking for a Ford or F150 bash!!

Currently have a 2021 F150 and over the last 2 months I have been having issues with my stereo and curious if anyone else is experiencing the same issue?

• My Iphone wont connect and if I want to connect to the stereo, I have to set it up like its a new phone. Only way to listen to my music is using a cord and car play.
• The screen intermttenly goes dark so I cant access or change my music sources, see the map or change the heating and AC temp in the car. Seems like the screen goes dark if I use the remote start on my key fab but maybe just coincidence.
• The satellite radio takes awhile to work-Even though I have satellite preset stations saved, I occasionally get an error that the station isnt available.

I have done the master reset on the unit, I have confirmed I am using the most current SYNC software and still having issues. I have looked around online and dont see anything regarding this issue. I have called Ford 3 times now and they have infomed me that its a known issue with the software and a new version is to be pushed out to users in late September. Not sure if they are blowing smoke up my ass or not but its super frustrating to say the least. And I find it very hard to believe if this truly is a software issue affecting lots of consumers that their isnt more of a sense of urgency to fix.

The customer service rep said I could take it to a dealer to diagnose the issue but seems kind of pointless right now.

Anyone else experinceing these issues?

I will share this. The sync in my '18 Raptor started doing wonky things. Did all the resets, researched online, but despite my efforts, it continued to get worse.
When it got to around the stage yours is at, which had rendered it pretty much useless I took it in for service and said FIX IT. They tried to re-install the latest and greatest software, didn't matter. They finally bit the bullet and replaced the entire synch module. That finally fixed it.
Although now it's starting act up a bit and doing something I have read about on the internet. I don't use my phone, in fact we have no phones even programmed into it. I use a USB flash drive with over 1,200 songs on it I usually play in Random order. I'll check and it will be at let's say song 785 out of 1,200, but the next time I start the truck, it will start trying to play AM radio and resets the random order back to 1 again. I've found if I shut off the synch prior to shutting off the engine, that doesn't seen to happen.

 

[Nordie]

My buddies explorer had the same issue and he had the dealer replace the whole unit under warranty. He says it's fine now, but the other unit was all messed up and it's a 2019.

With the newer stuff I actually just plug my phones in let them charge, and not worry about Bluetooth so much.

 

[Meaney77]

I will share this. The sync in my '18 Raptor started doing wonky things. Did all the resets, researched online, but despite my efforts, it continued to get worse.
When it got to around the stage yours is at, which had rendered it pretty much useless I took it in for service and said FIX IT. They tried to re-install the latest and greatest software, didn't matter. They finally bit the bullet and replaced the entire synch module. That finally fixed it.
Although now it's starting act up a bit and doing something I have read about on the internet. I don't use my phone, in fact we have no phones even programmed into it. I use a USB flash drive with over 1,200 songs on it I usually play in Random order. I'll check and it will be at let's say song 785 out of 1,200, but the next time I start the truck, it will start trying to play AM radio and resets the random order back to 1 again. I've found if I shut off the synch prior to shutting off the engine, that doesn't seen to happen.

Thanks for the info- I will try turning off the radio before turnng off the key and see if that helps at all.

 

[snowhammer]

I have a '16 F250 with the basic SYNC system. It would refuse to connect once every 30 to 50 starts. Just last week it would show a connection and then immediately disconnect. My fix was to disconnect the fuse for the SYNC system for a couple minutes before reinstalling the fuse. From that point on it has been working.

 

[Meaney77]

I have a '16 F250 with the basic SYNC system. It would refuse to connect once every 30 to 50 starts. Just last week it would show a connection and then immediately disconnect. My fix was to disconnect the fuse for the SYNC system for a couple minutes before reinstalling the fuse. From that point on it has been working.

I have tried the fuse thing as well and it worked for a bit and then nothing...

 

[Taboma]

Thanks for the info- I will try turning off the radio before turnng off the key and see if that helps at all.

Honestly, from your description, yours sounds well beyond that minor glitchy phase. Especially with the black screen, when mine got that wonky, it was on the way out.
The frustrating part is, Ford Tech made the dealer's techs essentially re-trace everything I'd already done, which I'd already provided the service writer with a complete list of my efforts they were duplicating.

Was considering ordering a new '24 once the books open, I was hoping Ford had gotten past all those synch issues.

 

[Taboma]

I have a '16 F250 with the basic SYNC system. It would refuse to connect once every 30 to 50 starts. Just last week it would show a connection and then immediately disconnect. My fix was to disconnect the fuse for the SYNC system for a couple minutes before reinstalling the fuse. From that point on it has been working.

That sounds similar as to what happens when you do the soft restart sequence. That sequence is like some magic code that varies per vehicle.
Reminds me of the "Press this button, then the other button, all while patting your head and rubbing your stomach I admit to having never tried that however.

 

[Outdrive1]

On my third truck with Sync and I’ve never had any of those issues. The only random thing I get, is if I get out of the truck with my phone and the truck running, my phone won’t reconnect until I restart it. Even if I plug it in. Of course I always get a phone call about that time and can’t connect to truck to answer it.

 

[Taboma]

On my third truck with Sync and I’ve never had any of those issues. The only random thing I get, is if I get out of the truck with my phone and the truck running, my phone won’t reconnect until I restart it. Even if I plug it in. Of course I always get a phone call about that time and can’t connect to truck to answer it.

Sounds like my '12 Platinum sync unit, bullet proof and in five years never burped or farted once.

 

[Jefftowz]

@Jakeleft is having the same issues with his 2022 Ranger Tremor... Ford is waiting for some part?

 

[Nordie]

Both the GMs and Fords do it, I've stopped using Bluetooth and plug in with the charging cables. It really seems to help, especially being on a phone call, I'm on the phone call and unplug the phone it immediately picks up, jump in the truck and plug it in it immediately goes to speaker.

 

[Dcb.blake]

2020 f250, Mines messed up a handful of times. Have about 120k now. Sometimes the screen just wouldn’t boot up or it would function but be completly black. It seemed to fix itself and I haven’t had any recent issues within the last 6 months. I use CarPlay 99% of the time and for some reason it wouldn’t work. Still charged phone but wouldn’t do the CarPlay. Ended up being the gas station phone cable

I know it’s a complete pita but if it’s under warranty I would get it in asap. The electronics add up $$$

 

[sczagurs]

Try to do a hard reset on your phone and press and hold the power/forward button on the radio until it resets.

 

[Meaney77]

Try to do a hard reset on your phone and press and hold the power/forward button on the radio until it resets.

Is this some new technique?

 

[Happy Smitty]

Sync on my 17 F150 started getting buggy. Screen would go black and not come back.

My 19 would reset to an AM station and have to repair my phone every time I turned on the truck. Calls would dial out without dial tone and no phone info on the display.

My 23 constantly looses the wifi android auto connection.

 

[sczagurs]

Is this some new technique?

Has worked for me on 3 separate trucks when they act up.

 

[Neverbowdown]

My wife's 2019 acted-up on me the first couple of times I jumped in the thing with my phone (Android) and I didn't have the patience to try and figure it out. I like trucks that I turn the key, they fire up and I drive down the road, if I need to use the speakers to talk to somebody I just plug it in, no Bluetooth linking or Synching or whatever. It seems to work fine for her and my daughters, they've never complained and believe me they would've!

Sorry, I just realized I did not contribute to this thread in the least

 

[fennaz]

I’m having the same challenges with my 2020 ford ranger. Took it to the dealer under warranty and the parts are on back order, Service tech said they’d call me when it gets here. They don’t know when the parts will be available so I continue to re-boot every time I drive it. Makes me really appreciate my 02’F350 more and more….

 

[Pivot]

My 2021 f150 sync has been shit for 6 months. Constantly disconnects 'android auto'
I restart my cell to get it back working.
There no doubt sync isn't working right

 

[4Waters]

I don't have my phone (android) fully connected to my sync, I only have my phone contacts and Bluetooth connected, I didn't like how it worked when it was fully synced.

 

[Track Man]

My raptor is a 2011 and I hate the sync. If I don’t wait at least 4 to 5 minutes push the button she says may I help you? I say Bluetooth audio. She will say no Bluetooth device available. I have to go to my phone Bluetooth and push sync and then it connects. I hate talking to the lady. I do cuss her out a lot.

 

[Waterjunky]

The two I currently have (17's) and the two previous (16 & 11) have been great. Occasionally I will not move from the low speed proximity radar screen in the front back to the radio and map but I just let off the throttle and shift to neutral for a split second and back to drive and it goes away. This happens less than once a month.

Hoping for the best.

 

[Bigbore500r]

For the win

 

[Bigbore500r]

My car is doing weird shit too. When i start it up, the radio is off and I have to turn it on. When it's on, it doesn't display Nav, or climate controls. Vehicle options menus are not available and it seems to have no idea where my current location is. It seems to play the same Kiss album over and over. Not sure whats wrong with this 1967 El Camino