'10 Hybrid--buttons (heated seats, defrost) randomly don't work

[ethereal]

Hello,

 

2010 Fusion Hybrid owner here (with the NAV system, leather, moonroof), 2000 miles and thus far I'm pretty happy with the vehicle. Of the three problems I've seen, the most troublesome one has been this:

At times, depressing the heated seat button, as well as the rear defrost button, and occasionally, the "media" voice recognition button on the steering wheel, don't work. This is not reproducible, it happens only some of the time. At least on a couple of occasions, I've found that turning off the engine and restarting fixes the problem. I'm concerned that if I take it to the dealership, it won't happen there and they'll refuse to investigate. Do you helpful folks have any idea what the problem could be? I apologize if this has already been asked and answered, and would appreciate pointers to any prior discussions.

 

Thanks,

Derek

[m056678]

I have the exact same problem with my seats (have not tried the defroster yet). My car is brand new (just bought it on Tuesday). I would greatly appreciate any insight and will post anything that I can find.

[ethereal]

I have the exact same problem with my seats (have not tried the defroster yet). My car is brand new (just bought it on Tuesday). I would greatly appreciate any insight and will post anything that I can find.

Good to know that it's not an isolated problem! One discovery I've made: if, soon after starting the vehicle, you press the heater or defrost button (i.e. while the annoying sony splash screen comes up on the nav for example), they seem to get stuck in the off mode. However, if you wait a bit and try them, it seems to work. I don't know if this is the only possible scenario where the buttons stop working, but it seems pretty repeatable. Everyone else, please chime in if you have any tips/suggestions! Thanks.

[apreece]

My seat heaters sometimes wont come on unless I restart. I had Ford look at it but it wouldn't do it for them. Although it's good to know that it happens during the boot sequence of the entertainment system. That's when I would have been hitting it and have to restart for them to come on. Let me know if a solution arises.

[m056678]

My Fusion finally reproduced the problem for the dealer. They are going to call me tomorrow after they contact The Engineers. I'll post anything useful I get.

 

Also, when my buttons don't work, they don't work until after the car has been restarted, not only during the entertainment boot cycle.

[ethereal]

Cool, let us know what they say. I should've been clearer--if you press the buttons during the startup period, not only do they not respond, they seem to be permanently stuck in 'off' mode until you restart the engine.

[apreece]

Cool, let us know what they say. I should've been clearer--if you press the buttons during the startup period, not only do they not respond, they seem to be permanently stuck in 'off' mode until you restart the engine.

 

That's what I meant also.

[m056678]

So the dealer hasn't pinpointed the problem, but issue did produce a trouble code (unfortunately I didn't write it down, it started with a U though). Oddly enough the trouble code cleared after the car was restarted and the buttons worked again. The button were registering as being actuated in the computer, the computer just wasn't energizing the equipment. They said they will be replacing "a module." Unfortunately the "service advisor" couldn't tell me which one, but after talking to the shop foreman yesterday I am assuming it is the environmental controls module in the center stack or possibly the SJB. It will be a couple of days until the part comes in, I will post the results then.

[m056678]

So the dealer hasn't pinpointed the problem, but issue did produce a trouble code (unfortunately I didn't write it down, it started with a U though). Oddly enough the trouble code cleared after the car was restarted and the buttons worked again. The button were registering as being actuated in the computer, the computer just wasn't energizing the equipment. They said they will be replacing "a module." Unfortunately the "service advisor" couldn't tell me which one, but after talking to the shop foreman yesterday I am assuming it is the environmental controls module in the center stack or possibly the SJB. It will be a couple of days until the part comes in, I will post the results then.

 

The dealer is replacing the "Front Control Interface Module" as directed by Ford Engineering. This is the unit in the center stack that has the environmental controls buttons. I'm pretty sure the fault resides elsewhere in the system, but I'll let everyone know how the repairs go. They should be done by the middle of next week.

[ethereal]

Agreed, a mechanical/electrical issue with the buttons themselves seems unlikely. I'll be curious to hear the outcome! Thanks.

[m056678]

Just got my Fusion back, with a brand new Front Controls Interface Module. The problem is still there. The dealer said they are going to contact Ford Engineering again. At this point it seems like they are just replacing parts without really knowing what is wrong, starting with the cheapest one first. Hopefully the next part will fix it, I'll post an update when I have more information.

 

Has anyone else heard anything new or experienced a similar problem?

[m056678]

So I took the car in for visit #4 this week. The dealer had a Field Service Engineer come in to look at it, he couldn't tell me anything. He took some data and is sending it back to Detroit. I'post more information when I have it.

[m056678]

So I might finally be making some progress with Ford. It looks like maybe the HVAC-DATC module (the module that controls both the heated seats and the rear defroster) isn't getting a signal to tell it that the car has been started. Hopefully the engineers will approve some repair soon to fix this, I am going on two months with this problem.

 

Has anyone else gotten this problem fixed?

 

Also, I am trying to collect some information to give to Ford to prove to them that this is not an isolated problem in my car and need some help. If anyone here experiencing the same problem and is will to give me some information, I am trying to collect VINs (just the last six digits) and the names of the dealers doing the warranty work. Any input is much appreciated.

 

Hopefully I will have this solved soon and can pass on the solution to everyone else with the same issue.

 

-William

[m056678]

Looks like Ford can't fix the problem. They have offered to buy the car back.

[bradhoy]

Looks like Ford can't fix the problem. They have offered to buy the car back.

I have this identical problem on a 2011 model so they still have this issue. Curious if anyone has gotten this issue corrected and if so what was the fix? I suspect this could be corrected with a firmware/software update given the symptom. Has Ford recognized this needs to be fixed?

[m056678]

I have this identical problem on a 2011 model so they still have this issue. Curious if anyone has gotten this issue corrected and if so what was the fix? I suspect this could be corrected with a firmware/software update given the symptom. Has Ford recognized this needs to be fixed?

 

My 2011 (replacement for the faulty 2010) still has the same problem. Can you please post the last 8 characters of your VIN and the name of the dealer you are taking it to for service (if you have taken it in)? I want to give it to the engineer that is looking at my car as proof that mine is not an isolated instance. My VIN is 3FADP0L35BR161052 and I am taking mine to Heller Ford. Also, the Ford CRC case number for my 2010 is 0713122000, and for the 2011 is 0567892240, if that helps with anything. Thanks.

Edited December 13, 2010 by m056678

[Mohammad Chowdhury]

ugh I am now currently encountering this with my new hybrid fusion 2010. The rear defroster and the heated seats buttons don't work....I have to restart it often to get it to work...which is a PAIN in the winter!!!

[Oldguy16]

I don't have a Fusion Hybrid, I have an SEL 3.0, with the climate package, and sometimes the auto climate control goes nuts and starts randomly turning on and off, also sometimes in the cold the heated seats don't turn on with the first or second push of the button. If I wait a few minutes everything is fine. Is this part of the problem everyone here is seeing? Just curious. Again my problem is intermittent and only happens on occasion.

[m056678]

I don't have a Fusion Hybrid, I have an SEL 3.0, with the climate package, and sometimes the auto climate control goes nuts and starts randomly turning on and off, also sometimes in the cold the heated seats don't turn on with the first or second push of the button. If I wait a few minutes everything is fine. Is this part of the problem everyone here is seeing? Just curious. Again my problem is intermittent and only happens on occasion.

 

The problem you describe is a little different from what I have observed in both of my car. If the heated seats/rear defroster don't work on the first try, they don't work until I re-start the car.

 

Has anyone with this problem taken their car to the dealer?

[kartello]

I have had my Ford Fusion 2010 Hybrid since December 2010. The 36,000 bumper to bumper warranty is running out and I am having problems with the heated seat on the driver side. The seat is getting much warmer than it used to do and then sometimes the light comes on for three seconds and then goes off on its own. This problem comes and goes. I took it to the dealership in Harmarville PA. They can't find anything. Any suggestions?

 

My vin #

 

Radio/Nav and Steering Wheel

Slick 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid VIN: 3FAD P0L 37AR 302217