Pedestrian Sounder Fault - Service Now Driving me Crazy

[BradnChristine]

I have just started getting this error as well. I may not be saved by warranty, as I relocated the speaker slightly for my Demco baseplate install. If it is the under-the-backseat module, however, maybe I will have a warranty repair. For what it is worth, I am also hearing a faint, rhythmic tick from the speaker (just in front of and to the inside of the driver's front tire) when the truck is "alive."

I wonder if the connector is a little loose? Mine is still fine 8 months after I relocated it for my Demco baseplate. Noisy and obnoxious as ever. My wife's 2024 had the winshield washer fluid connector come loose almost immediately after purchase...wasn't seated properly, said the tech (in the passenger side wheel area). Not sure if it is reachable to check with the fascia on. Wishing you luck!

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[jfg6869]

Maybe you can turn the alarm off via forscan

Now that would be stupid and a potentially huge liability....

 

[rmhopper]

I wonder if the connector is a little loose? Mine is still fine 8 months after I relocated it for my Demco baseplate. Noisy and obnoxious as ever. My wife's 2024 had the winshield washer fluid connector come loose almost immediately after purchase...wasn't seated properly, said the tech (in the passenger side wheel area). Not sure if it is reachable to check with the fascia on. Wishing you luck!

My first thought was that I hadn't fully seated that connector, but it's only a two-wire connection (like any speaker) and I am getting that ticking sound, so I have to believe that connection is good (and removing the fascia again will be my last resort). Hoping for the easy, under the backseat warranty repair when I can get to a dealer...

 

[Jman79]

It's a mess how things are made now. I'm a web and mobile developer and disgusted with my own industry (software).

These warnings should not be so intrusive! There should be a little "check error" light on that is unobtrusive that leads to a screen with all these ancillary sensors readouts.

@Ford Motor Company, I know I'm snarky and approach these forums from a noisy customer perspective. However, as a professional involved in software and UX for most of my adult life why is there no recognition on the many many complaints about these prompts and the need to manually dismiss them? It seems to be a very simple software change.

While I'm sure they satisfy some legal concern that the driver "was warned" they are also a distraction from the very critical task at hand "driving safely". None of these warnings should be impeding the screen for even a moment while the vehicle is in anything other than park. There are so many other options for implementation that wouldn't impede the driver.

Once I'm moving what purpose does a warning screen, which is asking the driver for active acknowledgement, accomplish that is more important than having my eyes forward and my thoughts on driving safely? Its creating a larger issue than the warning is trying to address.

 

[rmhopper]

It's a mess how things are made now. I'm a web and mobile developer and disgusted with my own industry (software).

These warnings should not be so intrusive! There should be a little "check error" light on that is unobtrusive that leads to a screen with all these ancillary sensors readouts.

@Ford Motor Company, I know I'm snarky and approach these forums from a noisy customer perspective. However, as a professional involved in software and UX for most of my adult life why is there no recognition on the many many complaints about these prompts and the need to manually dismiss them? It seems to be a very simple software change.

While I'm sure they satisfy some legal concern that the driver "was warned" they are also a distraction from the very critical task at hand "driving safely". None of these warnings should be impeding the screen for even a moment while the vehicle is in anything other than park. There are so many other options for implementation that wouldn't impede the driver.

Once I'm moving, what purpose does a warning screen, which is asking the driver for active acknowledgement, accomplish that is more important than having my eyes forward and my thoughts on driving safely? Its creating a larger issue than the warning is trying to address.

Well said!!

 

[Jman79]

Now that would be stupid and a potentially huge liability....

I understand your statement, but I would point out that these warnings themselves are a liability... Hence my other post. There is no reason to have a warning persist once the car is moving. Let alone have a call to action like "press ok". That is actively asking the driver to focus on something other than the road.

It's a bit disappointing how we let those who previously seek to dump liability on others set precedent. For fear of lawsuit or liability in case of accident we leave in place something that also promotes a situation to increase chances of an accident . Seems counter intuitive. Seems like those with money for lawyers can win out over common sense too many times.

This thread is a perfect example. The warning about a safety feature to help keep pedestrians safe, is actively creating a hazard to pedestrians. I would bet this is causing the driver to drop their eyes when first starting their journey. This would be in parking lots, neighborhoods, and they mention at stop lights also. All places when a driver needs to be most alert and eyes forward for pedestrians. It's a little mind boggling why we can't just have a safety audible ding and a little icon that can be clicked later (when safe) to read the list of active warnings. Better yet, send a message to the mobile app. There are many other ways to do this without the distraction it is now.

 

[tubazeppelin]

Just as an update, the part finally came in (I live in Hawaii so it took a while) and since the repair it's been totally fine. Leading up to the repair the warning became less frequent...it happened a LOT after I got back from a trip (so my truck sat for a week) and then would get less and less. Occasionally the sounder would actually work, too. Definitely the module malfunctioning.

After the repair all has been good. I have a young child so I actually like having the sounder...makes me more present in the daycare parking lot where there are a lot of families with young children around.

I do, however, think that the warning is absolutely over the top. It was becoming a distraction while driving for sure...anytime I dipped in speed below maybe 10mph (so slowing for a light or yeilding) it would go off and the bell would sound and the dash would light up. Absolutely should be a warning that displays once and then can't be overridden until it's fixed.

The issue is that the warning appears to be set to go off every time the fault is detected, not just a one-and-done (like a CEL would be). So as the vehicle changes speeds and you go in and out of the "pedistrain sounder = ON" parameters set by the computer, it'll trigger the fault.

For instances where my unit was just dead from the get-go, I'd get the warning as I was leaving my house and then never again. But since it was intermittently working (still broken, but not all the time!) I would get it whenever it was detected. I'm sure there's a way to program it that when the computer detects that it's broken ONCE the warning comes on and stays up until reset.

Somtimes I wish I could just drive my '94 Mustang everywhere and be done with all this complicated technology. 13mpg doesn't get you very far, though...

 

[a***h]

I just started getting the pedestrian sounder fault - service now alert. Mine only alerts at each start up. So I assume it will get worse. I assume if I unplug the module that the alarm won’t go away?

 

[tubazeppelin]

I just started getting the pedestrian sounder fault - service now alert. Mine only alerts at each start up. So I assume it will get worse. I assume if I unplug the module that the alarm won’t go away?

Yeah I assume that wouldn't do anything...just gotta take it to the dealership. Aside from waiting for the part the repair didn't take very long and I haven't had the issue since it was replaced.

 

[BradnChristine]

I just started getting the pedestrian sounder fault - service now alert. Mine only alerts at each start up. So I assume it will get worse. I assume if I unplug the module that the alarm won’t go away?

Unplugging it will get you a CEL that will persist.

 

[a***h]

Yeah I assume that wouldn't do anything...just gotta take it to the dealership. Aside from waiting for the part the repair didn't take very long and I haven't had the issue since it was replaced.

I went to my dealer yesterday and got an appointment for 5 weeks from now. Which is ridiculous. I'm going to go back and see if they will just order the module while I'm waiting?

 

[epgrove]

My first thought was that I hadn't fully seated that connector, but it's only a two-wire connection (like any speaker) and I am getting that ticking sound, so I have to believe that connection is good (and removing the fascia again will be my last resort). Hoping for the easy, under the backseat warranty repair when I can get to a dealer...

Hi, what ended up being your fix for this issue? I am now getting the same warning at times. Seems to come and go.

Thanks!

 

[tubazeppelin]

Hi, what ended up being your fix for this issue? I am now getting the same warning at times. Seems to come and go.

Thanks!

I was still under warranty so the dealer fixed it...wasn't the speaker, was the relay that controls the speaker. I think it's all located under the back seat.

 

[epgrove]

I was still under warranty so the dealer fixed it...wasn't the speaker, was the relay that controls the speaker. I think it's all located under the back seat.

Sorry, I meant to ask rmhopper. I saw your fix and am hoping that is my fix as well, but like rmhopper I previously added a Demco baseplate and had to relocate the speaker so hoping that isn't the problem.

 

[rmhopper]

Hi, what ended up being your fix for this issue? I am now getting the same warning at times. Seems to come and go.

Thanks!

I honestly have not fixed it yet--I ordered new connectors and am ready to fix it, but I haven't had a chance to pull the grill off and redo the wiring. I will post when I do. Frankly, the easy solution is the bypass plug you can install under the rear seat! Worth avoiding the labor!

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