Ford Focus "Intelligent Speed Assistance" (Not)

Goldwing1

So,
Last December I purchased a 2020 Ford Focus under the "Ford Direct" scheme through my local dealer. I've done it before and been very happy.
To cut a long story short, the "Intelligent Speed Assistance" on the car which can limit the car to the prevailing speed limit is, in my view, useless, because;
It goes blank when in a national speed limit road or motorway,
It goes blank whenever you turn left or right after passing a speed limit sign and stays blank until it sees another speed limit sign which could be the next change in limit,
It occasionally (And sometimes consistently) shows the wrong limit such as 60mph or 120mph (I wish) in a thirty limit.

The dealer has done all they can. Ford have now stated in writing;

“On vehicles equipped with Etis minor feature codes  (LESS SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) +  (INTELLIGENT SPEED ASSISTANCE ) the traffic sign recognition is limited to camera vision only. This can lead to a blank display if no speed signs are recognised by camera. The sign can go away in the cluster after a certain distance of driving without seeing a new sign or repetition of the old or after a turn / roundabout. The distance may vary depending on the speed limit value and vehicle speed. Also Implicit national Speed limits cannot be shown e.g. passing a city entrance/ exit sign may lead to no speed limit display. This is design intent behaviour.”

In other words, it's MEANT to do this!

It appears that my only other recourse is via the Consumer Rights Act 2015 on the basis that the system is not “satisfactory”, not “as described” and is demonstrably not “fit for purpose”. Unfortunately I have to take this up with the dealer who is very much piggy in the middle. 

In taking this route it seems I have to state what I want them to do to put it right. The fix seems to be to simply turn on the link to the sat nav data as my wife's car (2018 Fiesta) displays the correct limit almost all of the time but Ford have ignored this. I want to keep the car as I doubt they will do a straight swap so it looks like monetary compensation is the only option. What I don't know is what would be reasonable?

Also, given Ford's statement, I guess this step would fail and it would be off to the small claims court. I've never done eaither of these.

bazzyb

The system is designed merely as an aid to assist the driver. This is made explicitly clear in all marketing material etc, and the Ford website states “It remains the responsibility of the driver to ensure speed limits are adhered to at all times.”

I can’t see how it could be argued that the system is either not as described nor not fit for purpose, it does exactly what it says it does by reading the road signs. If you turn onto a new road then of course it won’t display the limit until it has passed a sign showing what the limit it. 

DB1904

Goldwing1 said:

So,
Last December I purchased a 2020 Ford Focus under the "Ford Direct" scheme through my local dealer. I've done it before and been very happy.
To cut a long story short, the "Intelligent Speed Assistance" on the car which can limit the car to the prevailing speed limit is, in my view, useless, because;
It goes blank when in a national speed limit road or motorway,
It goes blank whenever you turn left or right after passing a speed limit sign and stays blank until it sees another speed limit sign which could be the next change in limit,
It occasionally (And sometimes consistently) shows the wrong limit such as 60mph or 120mph (I wish) in a thirty limit.

The dealer has done all they can. Ford have now stated in writing;

“On vehicles equipped with Etis minor feature codes  (LESS SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) +  (INTELLIGENT SPEED ASSISTANCE ) the traffic sign recognition is limited to camera vision only. This can lead to a blank display if no speed signs are recognised by camera. The sign can go away in the cluster after a certain distance of driving without seeing a new sign or repetition of the old or after a turn / roundabout. The distance may vary depending on the speed limit value and vehicle speed. Also Implicit national Speed limits cannot be shown e.g. passing a city entrance/ exit sign may lead to no speed limit display. This is design intent behaviour.”

In other words, it's MEANT to do this!

It appears that my only other recourse is via the Consumer Rights Act 2015 on the basis that the system is not “satisfactory”, not “as described” and is demonstrably not “fit for purpose”. Unfortunately I have to take this up with the dealer who is very much piggy in the middle. 

In taking this route it seems I have to state what I want them to do to put it right. The fix seems to be to simply turn on the link to the sat nav data as my wife's car (2018 Fiesta) displays the correct limit almost all of the time but Ford have ignored this. I want to keep the car as I doubt they will do a straight swap so it looks like monetary compensation is the only option. What I don't know is what would be reasonable?

Also, given Ford's statement, I guess this step would fail and it would be off to the small claims court. I've never done eaither of these.

How much is the feature as an optional extra?

Grumpy_chap

It is not clear that the OP has any case - the clue is in the name "Intelligent Speed Assistance" with assistance being the operative word.  

The current Ford website describes the feature as follows:

FORD INTELLIGENT SPEED ASSIST

Intelligent Speed Assist is designed to aid your speed control, enabling you to concentrate on the road. First, a front-facing camera automatically detects the current speed limit. If activated, the system adjusts your maximum speed setting to that limit*.

*It remains the responsibility of the driver to ensure speed limits are adhered to at all times.

I accept that description may have been amended since the OP purchased the car, but the system does seem to do what the above description would require.  Specifically, as a camera-based technology, it can only provide an output when the camera senses an input, i.e. speed sign.

I also suspect, on the used car, the difference in price between a car with or without this feature would be negligible, so even if Ford accepted some principal, or didn't accept and made a "goodwill" payment, it would be a negligible amount.

bris

It would really depend on any disclaimers Ford actually give at the time of purchase (brand new vehicle). Does the feature have the disclaimer anywhere other than just sending it to you?

I would assume they are aware of it's flaws and warn people before the add it as a an extra. if not then you may have a case for compensation.

user1977

bazzyb said:

If you turn onto a new road then of course it won’t display the limit until it has passed a sign showing what the limit it. 

In what (UK) situations would the limit change without there being any signage? Might be different in other countries which is why it acts like that.

Grumpy_chap

user1977 said:

In what (UK) situations would the limit change without there being any signage? Might be different in other countries which is why it acts like that.

It is quite easy for the camera (like the human eye) to miss a sign if it has been damaged, obscured by trees, dirty, covered in snow, vandalised / graffiti, sprayed over for roadworks and not cleaned back, obscured by lorry, etc., etc. 

Goldwing1

To answer the questions so far,

When on a drive, the system is normally blank for at least 80% of the time. Sometimes it doesn't come on at all when the drive is totally within town. On one road I pass a 30mph situated just before a road junction. Turn at the junction (20 yards) and the system will go blank until Ieave town. My wife has a 2018 Fiesta and, although she doesn't have the intelligent assistance, she does have the speed recgnition system and hers behaves perfectly.

I don't know what the option cost when new.

This video may be of use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma4QBxgoZtw 

The Ford "Technical Experts" have also said it won't respond to motorway overhead signs, it does (Which is good).

I have an e-mail from Ford referring to "city limits". I can't think of an example in the UK where the limit would change without a sign being required.

Manxman_in_exile

user1977 said:

bazzyb said:

If you turn onto a new road then of course it won’t display the limit until it has passed a sign showing what the limit it. 

In what (UK) situations would the limit change without there being any signage? Might be different in other countries which is why it acts like that.

What happens when you turn off an urban (for example) 40 limit into a restricted road with a system of street lighting?  Is there anything - apart from the streetlights - to tell you i't a 30?  (Serious question - I'd know I was on a 30 but I can't remember if you need a 30 sign after you turn off the 40... )

Edit:  How would any "recognition" system recognise a restricted road without any limit signs?  Does it recognise the streetlights?

Alderbank

user1977 said:

In what (UK) situations would the limit change without there being any signage? Might be different in other countries which is why it acts like that.

I take it you are not a driver. Lots of UK roads don't have signs and don't require them.

• Dual carriageway, no streetlights, 70mph unless otherwise signposted.
• Single carriageway road, no streetlights, not urban therefore 60mph unless otherwise signposted
• Single carriageway, one-way, rural, but with street lighting spaced frequently usually means it’s 30mph
• Urban area, streetlights close together, 30mph unless otherwise signposted (e.g. it could also be a 20mph or 40mph)

user1977

Manxman_in_exile said:

user1977 said:

bazzyb said:

If you turn onto a new road then of course it won’t display the limit until it has passed a sign showing what the limit it. 

In what (UK) situations would the limit change without there being any signage? Might be different in other countries which is why it acts like that.

What happens when you turn off an urban (for example) 40 limit into a restricted road with a system of street lighting?  Is there anything - apart from the streetlights - to tell you i't a 30?  (Serious question - I'd know I was on a 30 but I can't remember if you need a 30 sign after you turn off the 40... )

There should be a 30 sign.