FordPass app update removed remote start?

[huunvubu]

My 2017 C-Max used to have some connectivity...now there is nothing but its picture and a statement that "This vehicle does not have connectivity." The 2020 Transit and 2023 Maverick still all work fine. I just updated to 4.26.0...but the C-Max disappeared prior to the update.

Searching I have found two sites with data from 2020 and 2021 that does not list the 2017 C-Max as working with FordPass Connect:

Which Models and Trims Have FordPass Connect?

Which Models and Trims Have FordPass Connect?

May 18, 2020

• 2017-2020 Escape Titanium
• 2017-2020 F-150. King Ranch/Platinum/Limited/Lariat Luxury/Raptor Luxury
• 2017 Fusion Platinum and Platinum Hybrid
• 2019-2020 EcoSport. Standard on SES and Titanium
• 2019-2020 Edge. Standard on SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST
• 2019-2020 Expedition. Standard on Limited and Platinum
• 2019-2020 Explorer. Standard on Limited, Sports, and Platinum
• 2019-2020 Escape. SE, SEL, and Titanium
• 2019-2020 Super Duty Lariat, King Ranch®, Platinum and Limited. Optional on XL (requires Sync 3, Power Equipment Group, Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System) and XLT (requires Sync 3).
• 2019 Fusion. SE, SE Hybrid, SEL, SEL Hybrid, Titanium, and Titanium Hybrid. Includes Fusion Hybrid vehicles. Not available on S.
• 2019-2020 Mustang. GT350. Optional on EcoBoost Premium (included in 201A) and GT Premium (Included in 401A); not available on EcoBoost.
• 2019-2020 Transit Connect. XL, XLT, and Titanium
• 2019-2020 Ranger. XL, XLT, and Lariat.

FordPass Connect Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which Ford cars have FordPass Connect?

A: As of 2021, the following Ford cars have FordPass Connect:

Ford Fiesta, Ford EcoSport, Ford Puma, Ford Puma ST, Ford Focus, Ford Kuga, Ford Mondeo, Ford Mustang, Ford Mustang Mach1, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Ranger, Ford Ranger MS-RT, Ford Tourneo Connect, Ford Tourneo Custom.

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[huunvubu]

My 2017 C-Max used to have some connectivity...now there is nothing but its picture and a statement that "This vehicle does not have connectivity."

This may be of interest to you:

Customer Satisfaction Program 21B09 – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit – 2014-2020 Ford & Lincoln

Summary

Certain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit. The North America 3G cellular service began decommissioning in August 2021 and a complete shutdown of the 3G network took place in February 2022. Vehicles on the road equipped with a 3G telematics control unit (TCU) / embedded modem will lose mobile app functionality/connectivity.


PROGRAM TERMS

This program will be in effect through March 31, 2023. There is no mileage limit for this program.

NOTE: Owners within the complimentary trial period may purchase the 4G upgrade kit and 21B09 covers labor/installation and one-time use components for 2013-2016 Fusion Energi, 2015-2016 Lincoln MKZ, and 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX.

NOTE: Owners outside of the complimentary trial period (VINs not under the 21B09 program) have the option to pay for both the labor and cost to purchase the 4G upgrade kit.

The program has just ended on March 31, 2023 so you probably would have to pay to get the 3G to 4G upgrade done.

 

[Joseaoe1]

I added remote start as an option because I did not want to rely on need for the app or phone service.

so far I have only needed the app but still glad I purchased remote start. Just tossing out for consideration of thread readers.

 

[BradnChristine]

This may be of interest to you:

Customer Satisfaction Program 21B09 – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit – 2014-2020 Ford & Lincoln

Summary

Certain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit. The North America 3G cellular service began decommissioning in August 2021 and a complete shutdown of the 3G network took place in February 2022. Vehicles on the road equipped with a 3G telematics control unit (TCU) / embedded modem will lose mobile app functionality/connectivity.


PROGRAM TERMS

This program will be in effect through March 31, 2023. There is no mileage limit for this program.

NOTE: Owners within the complimentary trial period may purchase the 4G upgrade kit and 21B09 covers labor/installation and one-time use components for 2013-2016 Fusion Energi, 2015-2016 Lincoln MKZ, and 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX.

NOTE: Owners outside of the complimentary trial period (VINs not under the 21B09 program) have the option to pay for both the labor and cost to purchase the 4G upgrade kit.

The program has just ended on March 31, 2023 so you probably would have to pay to get the 3G to 4G upgrade done.

Thanks for the info. What I used to see must have been via a 3g service. The C-Max will eventually be sold when I get the Maverick set up to tow (in place of the C-Max), so I'll pass on the Modem. Would have been nice for Ford to tell me...but then anyone with a Maverick or a Maverick order knows how well Ford communicates.

 

[TheWizziard]

Maybe that was too subtle...

I don't see much value in people posting that they don't have this message. We would all get value if anyone else has the message.

The fact that all the posts from Maverick owners that show that they haven't received the message and to date no one has posted that they have received it would indicate the message if it is real does not apply to the Maverick.

A lot of things get posted in forums that come from unproven sources. If the only people that could substantiate the post were to reply then untrue posts would die after the original post.

In reality the most bizarre posts are the ones that seem to go on for page after page.

 

[jeffrol48197]

My 2017 C-Max used to have some connectivity...now there is nothing but its picture and a statement that "This vehicle does not have connectivity." The 2020 Transit and 2023 Maverick still all work fine. I just updated to 4.26.0...but the C-Max disappeared prior to the update.

If I remember right, that was part of a rollover program thru Ford after 3G network was shut down...
guess I should've waited to read the other responses, my bad...LOL

 

[colinl]

Thanks, I did not know such a site existed. I'm getting a security concern with APK, so I may not be able to get there, just yet.

HRG

I personally do not trust any apk and would never install one from any online repository. Only Google Play Store. Years ago I had the Amazon app store installed but I honestly don't even trust that because I'm not sure of the screening process Amazon may or may not follow.

This may be of interest to you:

Customer Satisfaction Program 21B09 – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit – 2014-2020 Ford & Lincoln

Summary

Certain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines – 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit. The North America 3G cellular service began decommissioning in August 2021 and a complete shutdown of the 3G network took place in February 2022. Vehicles on the road equipped with a 3G telematics control unit (TCU) / embedded modem will lose mobile app functionality/connectivity.


PROGRAM TERMS

This program will be in effect through March 31, 2023. There is no mileage limit for this program.

NOTE: Owners within the complimentary trial period may purchase the 4G upgrade kit and 21B09 covers labor/installation and one-time use components for 2013-2016 Fusion Energi, 2015-2016 Lincoln MKZ, and 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX.

NOTE: Owners outside of the complimentary trial period (VINs not under the 21B09 program) have the option to pay for both the labor and cost to purchase the 4G upgrade kit.

The program has just ended on March 31, 2023 so you probably would have to pay to get the 3G to 4G upgrade done.

That's very interesting to me. Yesterday I speculated that Ford would have to offer connectivity upgrades to keep vehicles in service longer and.. lo and behold, they're already doing that.

Not saying they will care about a 2022 Maverick enough in 10 or so years when 4G LTE gets retired, but the fact they've already done it before is encouraging.

 

[jsus]

Thanks for the info. What I used to see must have been via a 3g service. The C-Max will eventually be sold when I get the Maverick set up to tow (in place of the C-Max), so I'll pass on the Modem. Would have been nice for Ford to tell me...but then anyone with a Maverick or a Maverick order knows how well Ford communicates.

Your C-Max would've come with Sync Connect (before it was rebranded FordPass Connect) and an AT&T 3G modem. AT&T shut down their 3G network a bit over a year ago so it would've been at that time that you lost the ability to use the FordPass app with it.

As noted above, there is the option to upgrade to a 4G TCU (modem) if you wanted to spend the money to reenable those features, at your expense.

 

[BradnChristine]

Your C-Max would've come with Sync Connect (before it was rebranded FordPass Connect) and an AT&T 3G modem. AT&T shut down their 3G network a bit over a year ago so it would've been at that time that you lost the ability to use the FordPass app with it.

As noted above, there is the option to upgrade to a 4G TCU (modem) if you wanted to spend the money to reenable those features, at your expense.

Thanks...but it really isn't worth it to me to pay to upgrade the C-Max's modem. This does serve to reinforce my decision to get remote start on my Maverick. I'm not trusting Ford to keep up a 4G system when I've already had 5G phones and internet for over 2 years. Ford may easily change again during my Maverick's lifetime.

I'm at least a bit miffed that Ford didn't send me any info to tell me the window of opportunity for a free 4G modem/install. I've not driven my C-Max much in the last 12 months, but Ford and I have been in lots of contact through the Maverick process for at least 18 months, and my C-Max has been listed in my Fordpass account for years. The only real value to me would be if Fordpass would alert me to a low tire while towing the C-Max. I think someone reported that the Maverick WOULD send a low tire alert via Fordpass, but I'm not positive and haven't investigated.
Maybe you'd know, @jsus ? Eventually I'll be setting up my Maverick to tow if Ford doesn't make a towable AWD Hybrid for 2024.

 

[huunvubu]

I'm at least a bit miffed that Ford didn't send me any info to tell me the window of opportunity for a free 4G modem/install. I've not driven my C-Max much in the last 12 months, but Ford and I have been in lots of contact through the Maverick process for at least 18 months, and my C-Max has been listed in my Fordpass account for years.

Some blame should also be with your dealership's service person assigned to you.

Because the 3G-to-4G upgrade was not a recall the Fordpass app/account would not show it.

The service department can and should have pulled up any advisories for your vehicles VIN that would have shown the upgrade was available.

 

[BradnChristine]

Some blame should also be with your dealership's service person assigned to you.

Because the 3G-to-4G upgrade was not a recall the Fordpass app/account would not show it.

The service department can and should have pulled up any advisories for your vehicles VIN that would have shown the upgrade was available.

In fairness, I moved from AZ to WY during the period. ...HOWEVER, if you have an opportunity to visit Lake Havasu City, AZ, PASS BY the Ford dealer. They can't/don't even answer their service department phones; don't respond to emails asking to purchase ESP warranties; and require a 3 week+ lead time to service a Ford Transit. I certainly wouldn't expect them to even try to reach out. Same company has a monopoly on both Ford and Chevy in the town.
The jury is still out on my new dealership. They got me my Maverick with no issues (after 491 dys)..but they just serviced the C-Max for the first time this week. So far, so good...but they seem to go through service advisors faster than McDonalds goes through workers. I'm not sure why that is happening.

 

[btas]

Not really. Oldest is our 2019 Expedition, which I would be very upset if it lost that functionality.

This looks like what Ford is doing in Europe. Those prices are in Pounds Sterling so England or UK.
Wonder if Fordpass support is short lived here in the US/Canada then you have to pay to keep it?

 

[spotdog14]

The fact that all the posts from Maverick owners that show that they haven't received the message and to date no one has posted that they have received it would indicate the message if it is real does not apply to the Maverick.

A lot of things get posted in forums that come from unproven sources. If the only people that could substantiate the post were to reply then untrue posts would die after the original post.

In reality the most bizarre posts are the ones that seem to go on for page after page.

Agreed. I mean, the message is real. Whether or not I received it by mistake is yet to be determined as well as which vehicle in my FordPass app it applies to.

I just thought I'd post here because this is far more active than any Expedition forum on the internet.

 

[TexasHybrid]

That was a good reminder. The way stuff is going with the auto makers, I fear that Remote Start via Ford Pass may morph to a subscription. Or get obsoleted in a few years. Just added Remote Start to my order.

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