collision avoidance alarm

[iam2sam]

I was driving my granddaughter to piano practice yesterday afternoon in my 2025 XL 2.0 ICE AWD that is equipped with the tow package and the Co-pilot 360 option that is usually associated with that. We were cruising at about 45 mph on a 2-lane blacktop road, nearest vehicle in front or behind was at least 100 feet distant, and suddenly the banner for Collision Avoidance Assistance was displayed, It stayed on for maybe 3 seconds, then disappeared, and hasn't been seen since. I didn't notice any attempt by the computer to provide steering or braking inputs. I have never seen anything like that in the 800 miles I've driven this truck so far. Temperature was about 20 F, road was clear, although there was a good bit of snow on both shoulders. The truck was also clean of snow, but there were a few snow and ice particles flying around. Any idea what could have triggered that alarm? Should I be concerned enough to take in into the dealer immediately, or do you think it's safe to wait to mention it when I get my first oil change (which I'm planning to do at 1,200 miles or so, which will likely be in about a month)?

***EDIT*** If it could make any difference, (I don't know why it should) I had turned the lane keeping feature off when I got the truck.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

I have had mine alert only Once when there was nothing around.​

It has never activated the brakes.​

Regardless of what my pictures show. I have mine set at High the most sensitive setting. I want plenty of notice.​

 

[HeyBales]

In addition - what to actually expect.
Notice nothing on steering, nothing on braking until imminent - which may mean it helps slow you down but not avoid impact.

HOW DOES PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WORK

The system warns the driver of potential hazards by providing three levels of assistance.

If your vehicle is rapidly approaching potential hazards the system provides the following levels of functionality:

1. Alert.

1. Brake support.

1. Automatic emergency braking.

Alert: When active, a flashing visual warning appears and an audible warning tone sounds.

Brake Support: The system helps reduce the impact speed by preparing the brakes for rapid braking. The system does not automatically apply the brakes. If you press the brake pedal, the system may apply additional braking up to maximum braking force, even if you lightly press the brake pedal.

Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatic emergency braking may activate if the system determines that a collision is imminent.

Note: If the pre-collision assist alerts are too frequent or disturbing, you can reduce the alert sensitivity. Setting the low sensitivity results in fewer and later warnings of a potential forward collision. The manufacturer recommends using the high sensitivity setting where possible.
Note: Automatic emergency braking performance is not affected by the sensitivity setting.
Each system has various levels of detection capabilities. See Pre-Collision Assist Limitations.

Note: Automatic emergency braking may activate when a collision is imminent. The system cannot prevent all crashes, but may reduce crash severity. Do not test automatic emergency braking or forward collision warning.

 

[iam2sam]

Plenty of notice is a good thing, having the computer apply the brakes unexpectedly and without need would not be... I stumbled across another thread here on this issue by accident (funny that search didn't find that one) that indicated that this particular false alarm is not all that rare. A number of commenters in that thread indicated that driving into the sun was a common denominator. I wasn't exactly doing that yesterday, but close to it, and there was a lot of sun glare off of the snow. I'm tentatively blaming that situation for the false alarm, and I'll leave my settings alone for the moment. If it happens again, especially if the brakes are actually applied, I'll need to reevaluate.

 

[iam2sam]

In addition - what to actually expect.
Notice nothing on steering, nothing on braking until imminent - which may mean it helps slow you down but not avoid impact.

HOW DOES PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WORK

The system warns the driver of potential hazards by providing three levels of assistance.

If your vehicle is rapidly approaching potential hazards the system provides the following levels of functionality:

1. Alert.
2. Brake support.
3. Automatic emergency braking.

Alert: When active, a flashing visual warning appears and an audible warning tone sounds.

Brake Support: The system helps reduce the impact speed by preparing the brakes for rapid braking. The system does not automatically apply the brakes. If you press the brake pedal, the system may apply additional braking up to maximum braking force, even if you lightly press the brake pedal.

Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatic emergency braking may activate if the system determines that a collision is imminent.

Note: If the pre-collision assist alerts are too frequent or disturbing, you can reduce the alert sensitivity. Setting the low sensitivity results in fewer and later warnings of a potential forward collision. The manufacturer recommends using the high sensitivity setting where possible.
Note: Automatic emergency braking performance is not affected by the sensitivity setting.
Each system has various levels of detection capabilities. See Pre-Collision Assist Limitations.

Note: Automatic emergency braking may activate when a collision is imminent. The system cannot prevent all crashes, but may reduce crash severity. Do not test automatic emergency braking or forward collision warning.

That's informative. However, I have a devil's advocate question about "imminence". If the system is capable of deciding that there is a collision risk to warn about where none actually exists, why shouldn't I suspect that it might also be capable of deciding that a non-existent collision risk is imminent and applying the brakes?

 

[HeyBales]

That's informative. However, I have a devil's advocate question about "imminence". If the system is capable of deciding that there is a collision risk to warn about where none actually exists, why shouldn't I suspect that it might also be capable of deciding that a non-existent collision risk is imminent and applying the brakes?

Sure - if glare or whatever is causing the false reading stayed constant so the radar/video thought you actually were closer and about to crash - it probably could.

Be interesting if it figured you had 70 foot stopping distance (on assumed road surface) for object 50 ft out - does it recalculate at 50 ft that something was amiss due to no impact, and release the brakes?

Since you have nicer system with actual radar - I'm guessing at some point the video camera estimate of distance/collision is replaced with radar and it would remove the warning with nothing actually there.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

My Pre Collision Alert came on tonight on the way home from work windshield was clear and slammed the brakes on with nothing on the road in front of me and scared the crap out of Me.It slammed on the brakes so hard I heard the back seat slam back down. It was like -8 degrees when it happened. Also this morning I start the Maverick 9 degrees outside and it pops up the rear drivers side tire has 0 psi in it. It didn't look low I checked it with air pressure gauge it showed 28 psi in it. I drive 8 miles and check tire pressures on the tire pressure screen and now the same tire is showing 33 psi. I think this cold weather is really messing with the electronics.

 

[Gaidheal]

Mine has gone off when I've been in the left lane and someone pulled out of a gas station into the right lane. No where near me.

Mine has gone off going through a 2-lane roundabout with no one else in the roundabout - best guess is that it freaked out about a snowbank 2+ lanes over from me.

One time it went off that I sort of understand is when I was setting up to pass someone: clear line of sight that there was no on-coming traffic beyond the one I was waiting to go by so I could start the pass, the passing zone was short so I needed to get a head-start, and was closer to the guy in front of me than you might see in a text book. lol. Sport mode on, truck accelerated toward the slow guy ahead of me as the on-coming traffic went by. Sure - had the guy ahead of me randomly decided that *this* exact spot on a stretch with nothing to stop for jammed on the brakes then things might have gotten interesting. *but* since I set the whole thing in motion I was actually aware of what I was doing and what to do should something not go to plan. That's sort of the whole point of driving. lol

The good news is that the system is actually better and easier to live with than the one on my wife's recently traded-in 2021 Mazda cx-30. It warned about just about everything but fortunately never grabbed the brakes.

I'd be ok if the vehicle just let me drive...

 

[TwoHoots]

I experienced the same alarm last week. I was cruising around 70 mph in the left-most lane on a highway with no one in front of me when some chunks of ice scooted across the road from the right. I couldn't figure out where it came from but when it passed in front of my vehicle the alarm went off for couple of seconds. Fortunately there was no brake support. Talk about a heart stopping moment! I can't imagine the outcome if the emergency braking kicked in and there was someone behind me. I guess the system can distinguish between debris and a vehicle.

 

[lavaspill]

We need someone to drive into a bunch of styrofoam to see what an imminent application is

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Get us back the 70's with no car driving sensors needed it whatsoever

 

[Gaidheal]

I'm not seriously proposing it, but if you truly want people to drive more safely you would remove all ABS, airbags, seatbelts and other "safety" devices*** and put a large, sharp spike on the steering column.

Make anything other than safe driving a literal danger to the driver and see how things change. lol

*** in my experience these devices enable bad driving and treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Like everything else in our society sadly.

I love the Maverick as a truck. I *hate* the electronics, even when they work.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

I'm not seriously proposing it, but if you truly want people to drive more safely you would remove all ABS, airbags, seatbelts and other "safety" devices*** and put a large, sharp spike on the steering column.

Make anything other than safe driving a literal danger to the driver and see how things change. lol

*** in my experience these devices enable bad driving and treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Like everything else in our society sadly.

I love the Maverick as a truck. I *hate* the electronics, even when they work.

No one is gonna been texting and driving anymore

 

[icegradner]

I'm not seriously proposing it, but if you truly want people to drive more safely you would remove all ABS, airbags, seatbelts and other "safety" devices*** and put a large, sharp spike on the steering column.

Make anything other than safe driving a literal danger to the driver and see how things change.

I know this isn’t serious, but I think you grossly under estimate how shortsighted, stupid or selfish some people are. It maybe only be a small percentage of people, but they are enough to make life miserable for everyone else.

 

[Cherokee]

My auto braking stays OFF !

Once and only once It saw an oncoming vehicle in the other lane on a curve and the brakes came on hard. I had to punch it to keep from being rear ended.

Eased up behind a moped in my lane doing 25 mph, I was easing up at 26 mph.
Again it braked hard as hell thinking what ?
Thinking I was about to hit that moped that was some four car lengths away.

It stays OFF
I was told in here that the brake lights
DO NOT activate!

Ford !
Really ?

The good if anything I’ve learned from that system, I like the alerts but have learned to never ever tailgate or get anywhere close behind any late model Ford vehicles. Four second intervals at least.

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