NHTSA Complaint #11536808 — 2020 FORD F-150

The infotainment system fails to retain configuration settings whereby accustomed “conveniences” have become unavailable such as cell phone hands free operation, back lighting level (nighttime brightness), volume level, audio source, and station presets. The configuration settings occur randomly with each startup of the vehicle and must be re-set in each time or later discovered by the driver while traveling and often lend to distraction and frustration. In reading the Ford F150 Forum online, this is not unique to my vehicle and there are NUMEROUS complaints of this same problem. It is suggested that the problem is either software (Sync 3.4) or hardware (accessory protocol interface module). Some have taken it upon themselves to hack into the system using a rogue interface known as Forscan to correct the problem since Ford is SLOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE the problem. Forscan has vast capabilities that could cause erroneous configuration of anything on the digital communication buses within the vehicle, things set in that could lead to inopportune malfunctions while the vehicle is in operation. There is a possibility that interfacing to the Apple iPhone has caused configuration file corruption (deliberate or accidental). There is also a possibility of APIM chipset failure (deliberate or poor quality). In either case, Ford should have to own up to the problem. It would behoove the NHTSA to investigate this problem for the sake of all motorists.