Blind Spot Intervention System Flaw

[WEHorton]

:redcard:Has anyone had a problem with the BLIS (Blind spot Indicator System) repaired where the indicator LOCKS ON after driving near a center island for a short period of time. Th indicator locks on and does not reset for about 20 minutes of driving.. Hitting RESET on the steering wheel controls removes the error from the display, however the rear view mirror indicator stays on for the entire 20 minute period and becomes useless.

My dealer said this is NORMAL and there was not a repair for it.

[Grey]

OK, thanks for the information. I'll not worry about it then. Seems to reset when you restart the vehicle.

[MKZ 2011]

OK, thanks for the information. I'll not worry about it then. Seems to reset when you restart the vehicle.

 

Not sure what the above refence is about?

 

but "No" I have not had this happen on my MKZ

[drolds1]

This hasn't happened to me either, but some have reported similar issues.

 

Per the OM:

 

BLIS False Alerts

Due to the nature of radar technology, there may be certain instances when the BLIS will alert with no object present in the blind zone. This is known as a false alert. Some level of false alerts are normal. Circumstances that may cause a false alert are guardrails, freeway concrete walls, cyclone fencing, sharp turns around a pole or building, or coming to a stop with a vehicle directly behind but very close. False alerts are temporary and self correct.

[Wdewing]

I have this problem frequently. I took the car in to have it fixed, and after four trips to the dealer, they say that it is perfectly normal. This doesn't make me very happy. I think if this is a false alarm, that the system should reset in a couple of minutes, and not wait until the car is turned off before the system is useful again.

 

I hope Ford wakes up and fixes what I also think is a software flaw in this system.

 

[rfruth]

I get the BLIS error once a month or so, its no fun but if it reset when there was an error think of the risk for FoMoCo, how to document it (sorry I creamed you, thought the BLIS had reset) - I'm glad for the BlIS system working 95 percent of the time, wish it was 100 percent though

[drolds1]

I get the BLIS error once a month or so, its no fun but if it reset when there was an error think of the risk for FoMoCo, how to document it (sorry I creamed you, thought the BLIS had reset) - I'm glad for the BlIS system working 95 percent of the time, wish it was 100 percent though

 

What risk would Ford be at if you hit somebody b/c of a BLIS malfunction?

 

OM:

WARNING: To help avoid injuries, NEVER use the BLIS as a replacement for using the side and rear view mirrors and looking over your shoulder before changing lanes. BLIS is not a replacement for careful driving and only an assist.

[rfruth]

What risk would Ford be at if you hit somebody b/c of a BLIS malfunction?

 

OM:

 

 

The added complexity of a self correcting BLIS system and trying to explain how it works / how to use it to consumers could open Ford up to all sorts of creative lawsuits instead they (FoMoCo) seemed to have taken the easy cheap way out (if too many BLIS errors then stop working til next reset) and hopefully the short disclaimer about not relying on BLIS will keep them out of hot water.

Edited November 26, 2010 by rfruth

[drolds1]

The added complexity of a self correcting BLIS system and trying to explain how it works / how to use it to consumers could open Ford up to all sorts of creative lawsuits instead they (FoMoCo) seemed to have taken the easy cheap way out (if too many BLIS errors then stop working til next reset) and hopefully the short disclaimer about not relying on BLIS will keep them out of hot water.

 

Well, I certainly can agree that too many consumers are guilty of not bothering to read the owners guide and, as a result, make warranty claims with no basis. I also agree that people can get creative with lawsuits, but I don't think Ford took the "easy cheap way out." I think there's a flaw the in BLIS in specific cars. I say this b/c I don't have these problems with my MKZ. On the rare occasions where I thought the warning was staying on too long, it eventually cleared itself without a restart once I got away from the "trigger," e.g., center median, guard rail, plus there is a TSB for this issue.

[Wdewing]

Well, I certainly can agree that too many consumers are guilty of not bothering to read the owners guide and, as a result, make warranty claims with no basis. I also agree that people can get creative with lawsuits, but I don't think Ford took the "easy cheap way out." I think there's a flaw the in BLIS in specific cars. I say this b/c I don't have these problems with my MKZ. On the rare occasions where I thought the warning was staying on too long, it eventually cleared itself without a restart once I got away from the "trigger," e.g., center median, guard rail, plus there is a TSB for this issue.

 

 

I can only assume that my dealer must have checked my vehicle for the TSB since it's been there multiple times for this problem. Oh well.

 

Well, I googled the error message and see that people with the MKZ and the Ford Edge are both reporting the problem also. Looks like this is just something that Ford engineered about half way, then decided it was good enough to release. It looks like more people have reported the problem with the Fusion because it has had the BLIS system on it longer than the Edge, and because they sell more Fusions than MKZ's. Just a guess.

 

There ya go, quality designed in?

 

At least it's the only complaint I have about the car so far. Maybe they'll come up with a software update. I keep hoping.

Edited November 28, 2010 by Wdewing

[drolds1]

I can only assume that my dealer must have checked my vehicle for the TSB since it's been there multiple times for this problem. Oh well.

 

Well, I googled the error message and see that people with the MKZ and the Ford Edge are both reporting the problem also. Looks like this is just something that Ford engineered about half way, then decided it was good enough to release. It looks like more people have reported the problem with the Fusion because it has had the BLIS system on it longer than the Edge, and because they sell more Fusions than MKZ's. Just a guess.

 

There ya go, quality designed in?

 

At least it's the only complaint I have about the car so far. Maybe they'll come up with a software update. I keep hoping.

 

You can't assume anything. Look at your service ticket. When a TSB procedure is performed on a vehicle, it will be shown on the service ticket. What does yours say in response to your complaint? Have you spoken to the service manager about this? Is your car in the build date range for the TSB. You might just need a new driver's side mirror, or a new dealer.

[Wdewing]

You can't assume anything. Look at your service ticket. When a TSB procedure is performed on a vehicle, it will be shown on the service ticket. What does yours say in response to your complaint? Have you spoken to the service manager about this? Is your car in the build date range for the TSB. You might just need a new driver's side mirror, or a new dealer.

 

 

Well, just to be sure, I called and asked them if performed the tsb, and then gave them the number. They said that they looked at it, and even though my car was manufactured in May, my car wasn't throwing any DTC's that there was nothing further for them to do on the TSB.

 

Oh well, that was worth a try. On the bright side, it hasn't happened in a week or so.

[Buster1]

This just happened to my wife today. She was driving solo and called me to let me know a BLIS warning came up on the dash with a beep or a bell. The drivers side rearview BLIS light stayed on.

 

After shutting down at the next shopping store and coming back out 20-30 min later...all was normal and has stayed normal since.

 

My first 'problem.'

[Blue Oval]

Once in awhile, I also observe false BLIS warning lights on my mirrors but they soon reset on their own. Interestingly, I can't recall ever hearing any sound indicating one was lit up regardless of whether it was an actual valid warning or a false alarm.

 

For the life of me I just can't get excited over this feature...whether the light is on or not I always turn my head after glancing in the mirror just to make sure no other car is present and/or approaching at a high-rate of speed before I change lanes. To rely on BLIS alone is dangerous and even the manual warns you of this. Because of the printed warning, all liability rests with the driver in the event of a collision.

 

Personally, I would rather have LED turn indicators mounted on or underneath the mirrors to warn other drivers and pedestrians of my intentions in addition to or instead of having a light telling me that there may or may not be another car nearby.

[Oman]

I agree with your point about relying on the system. I always do a mirror and head turn check. I also use my turn signal (I think I might be the only one up here that does). There was one of those times though when somehow I completely missed the car... it must have moved over or in or something because I SWEAR IT WASN'T THERE!... but I saw the orange light on as I went to move over and thought "that darn thing is malfunctioning." Another shoulder check to see what could be bugging the sensor and it was a car. Ugh, I'm telling you is wasn't there before. So the technology is a nice back-up for the normal human condition of being imperfect.

 

What I do find very valuable on a regular basis is the other feature of the system, backing out of a parking lot. Often I'm boxed in by larger cars and I just can't see much. The warning is a bit more sensitive than I would like but it is nice to know that it sees something. I it does and I don't have a bead yet on whatever it is yet I can be even more cautious.

 

Jon

.

 

Once in awhile, I also observe false BLIS warning lights on my mirrors but they soon reset on their own. Interestingly, I can't recall ever hearing any sound indicating one was lit up regardless of whether it was an actual valid warning or a false alarm.

 

For the life of me I just can't get excited over this feature...whether the light is on or not I always turn my head after glancing in the mirror just to make sure no other car is present and/or approaching at a high-rate of speed before I change lanes. To rely on BLIS alone is dangerous and even the manual warns you of this. Because of the printed warning, all liability rests with the driver in the event of a collision.

 

Personally, I would rather have LED turn indicators mounted on or underneath the mirrors to warn other drivers and pedestrians of my intentions in addition to or instead of having a light telling me that there may or may not be another car nearby.

[JimFFH]

My BLIS warning came on twice, both occasions was during rain. Reset both times within roughly 20 minutes. Doesn't bother me. If it happened a couple times a month or more it might bother me.

[drolds1]

I agree with your point about relying on the system. I always do a mirror and head turn check. I also use my turn signal (I think I might be the only one up here that does). There was one of those times though when somehow I completely missed the car... it must have moved over or in or something because I SWEAR IT WASN'T THERE!... but I saw the orange light on as I went to move over and thought "that darn thing is malfunctioning." Another shoulder check to see what could be bugging the sensor and it was a car. Ugh, I'm telling you is wasn't there before. So the technology is a nice back-up for the normal human condition of being imperfect.

 

What I do find very valuable on a regular basis is the other feature of the system, backing out of a parking lot. Often I'm boxed in by larger cars and I just can't see much. The warning is a bit more sensitive than I would like but it is nice to know that it sees something. I it does and I don't have a bead yet on whatever it is yet I can be even more cautious.

 

Jon

.

 

Completely agree with your assessment, but if you use this method for setting your outside rear view mirrors, BLIS is rendered pretty much useless. It takes some getting used to but you'll be amazed at how much you can now see. With the mirrors set this way, I find that I see cars in my blind spot about a half to a full car length before the BLIS warning light comes on.

 

The cross traffic alert, however, is much more useful. Again there's no substitute for looking but this does the looking for you when you can't see a thing. Yes, it does give occasional false alarms but I'm more than willing to put up with that.

[CometFlash]

Completely agree with your assessment, but if you use this method for setting your outside rear view mirrors, BLIS is rendered pretty much useless. It takes some getting used to but you'll be amazed at how much you can now see. With the mirrors set this way, I find that I see cars in my blind spot about a half to a full car length before the BLIS warning light comes on.

 

Agreed. That is exactly how your side-view's should be set up. I can't imagine anyone setting them to see behind them - that's what the rear-view mirror is for. I've always been able to see anyone on either side of me in my side-view's, no problem and never need to look around or starin my neck at all. The BLIS system is only interesting to me because of the feature where it beeps or blinks or whatever when someone may be coming behind you when you are trying to back out of a parking spot where you have poor visibility.

 

On occasion I have encountered people with their side-view's set to mimic the rear-view, and I've always explained to them how they are supposed to be set, but for some reason the vast majority of people in this very odd situation refuse to drive with them set correctly, they seem to think that they need to be able to see who's behind them in 3 different mirror's. Who the heck cares who's behind you while you're driving anyways? Let's hope that as kids are trained to drive they are taught the correct way to set their mirror's, so they don't get in the habit of being accident-prone just because they refuse to set their side-view's properly.

[treeofliberty]

I had real problems in this area, for over a year, and they started nearly the day we bought the car. A f ew months into this, we took the car to the dealer with intermittent BLIS faults and they did nothing, not being able "to reproduce the problem". I lived with faults for about a year, until they were happening daily. I took it back in, and they replaced one of the side mirrors, saying that is what the Ford docs said to do. This didn't fix the problem so I took it back and they replaced the other mirror, which did eliminate the problem.

 

All that being said, I have received the stuck indicators and faults when driving a distance next to a hard surface (like a wall on the freeway). This happens very infrequently and I do believe it is simply inherent to the system. I also had this happen in the pouring rain (infrequent in Phoenix).

 

Here are the errors I was getting prior to the fix.

[WEHorton]

I had real problems in this area, for over a year, and they started nearly the day we bought the car. A f ew months into this, we took the car to the dealer with intermittent BLIS faults and they did nothing, not being able "to reproduce the problem". I lived with faults for about a year, until they were happening daily. I took it back in, and they replaced one of the side mirrors, saying that is what the Ford docs said to do. This didn't fix the problem so I took it back and they replaced the other mirror, which did eliminate the problem.

 

All that being said, I have received the stuck indicators and faults when driving a distance next to a hard surface (like a wall on the freeway). This happens very infrequently and I do believe it is simply inherent to the system. I also had this happen in the pouring rain (infrequent in Phoenix).

 

Here are the errors I was getting prior to the fix.

[WEHorton]

Thanks for the update on this problem. My FFH is one year old and 13,000 miles. I continue to be plagued with this to the point where I would almost prefer to have the darned thing disconnected.. Every DAY morning and night, where I drive along a boulevard that has a narrow center island, the INDICATOR BLOCKED warning comes on and stays on until about 20 minutes pass then it resets itself. Yesterday , it did it after only 15 seconds of driving near the center island.. There are only two lanes here. I can't ALWAYS get into the slow lane!.

You have to hit the manual reset to clear the warning error in order to see the engine temperature display.

The dealer states that this is normal.. It is not.

I plan on visiting a new dealer next month. .Let's see what they have to say.

Thanks again for the news on the mirror replacement.. I think that might do the trick with mine too.

Edited January 18, 2011 by WEHorton

[AptosDriver]

I think it would be most unfortunate to become dependent on Ford's BLIS to safeguard yourself against being sideswiped or sideswiping another car. You can take this simple mechanical precaution to eliminate your personal blind spot: With your head against the driver's side window, adjust the side view mirror outward until you can just barely see the side of the car. That's it. You'll find that with the mirror adjusted this way, a car overtaking you on your left will show up in the side view mirror as soon as it disappears from the rear view mirror (assuming you have that adjusted appropriately). Then, as long you you remember to check your mirror -- and actually look at the next lane -- before you change lanes, you should be alright. Given that the passenger-side side view mirror is convex and has a wider field of view, you can probably do OK without the electronic minder on that side -- as long as you remember to look before you leap into the next lane. In this case, simplicity is bliss.

[Dclifford110910]

I have a 10' fusion hybrid- how do I get the blis system to make the noise that some of you are describing when it senses something? Thank you

[lolder]

I have a 10' fusion hybrid- how do I get the blis system to make the noise that some of you are describing when it senses something? Thank you

The BLIS system is active only in "L" or "D" and makes no sound. The CTA, if installed is active only in "R" and activates the yellow dot in the side mirror and shows a message center advisory and an audible rapid series of beeps.

[William Horton]

Thanks for the update on this problem. My FFH is one year old and 13,000 miles. I continue to be plagued with this to the point where I would almost prefer to have the darned thing disconnected.. Every DAY morning and night, where I drive along a boulevard that has a narrow center island, the INDICATOR BLOCKED warning comes on and stays on until about 20 minutes pass then it resets itself. Yesterday , it did it after only 15 seconds of driving near the center island.. There are only two lanes here. I can't ALWAYS get into the slow lane!.

You have to hit the manual reset to clear the warning error in order to see the engine temperature display.

The dealer states that this is normal.. It is not.

I plan on visiting a new dealer next month. .Let's see what they have to say.

Thanks again for the news on the mirror replacement.. I think that might do the trick with mine too.

 

GREAT NEWS everybody.. I visited another area leading FORD dealer and explained the problem with the BLIS. I even went so far as to CAUSE the alarm just before arriving at the dealership.. The center island spot where the BLIS alarm went off every day is close to the dealership. They RESOLVED THE ISSUE telling me that there had been a SERVICE BULLETIN on the problem and that they applied a software update and put some kind of coating on the contacts in the left side rear view mirror. Now confidently, it functions as it should only coming on momentarily when cars are in the blind spot.

If you have this problem, see your dealer.