2024 Navigator BlueCruise Idiosyncrasies

[driller]

I've noted in prior posts my opinion of BlueCruise along with the lack of OTA updates.

Over the past few months, some recent limited experience with BlueCruise over a handful of highway trips has brought some further observations.

I wonder if the system can be "calibrated" to adjust the lane centering control during BlueCruise operation?

I find myself constantly applying a steering bias to resist the tendency of the vehicle to hug the center line of the highway. If I'm in the right hand lane, the Navigator usually hugs the dotted center line to the left which is uncomfortable when someone is speeding by you. When I'm in the left lane, the Navigator seems to prefer the opposite - usually hugging the center line to the right, uncomfortably close when passing slow moving semis, let alone other traffic. It appears to be a camera directed input from the painted lines as it also has no deference to other traffic or objects such as construction barrels or concrete k-rail barriers. I prefer a bit more separation from neighboring vehicles, barrels and k-rail barriers!

Has anyone noticed BlueCruise does not support speeding? I don't necessarily speed all the time but I do on occasion like to make up time when traffic allows it and at other times I like to separate myself from surrounding traffic annoyances.

That being said, I've noticed at any speed above 80 mph the Navigator's BlueCruise suggests "both hands on wheel" warning. Allowing the speed to drop below 80 mph, the vehicle happily responds with full hands-free control. Repeatedly, every single time. Most of this experience is in 70 mph speed limits and I'm not sure if the vehicle is picking that number up from the posted speed limit or if it is a global limit. Seems to me it would be annoying out west on wide open highways with higher speed limits where traffic easily exceeds 80 mph.

I'm curious of other's experience with BlueCruise. I don't generally use it that often and I've learned to acclimate myself to these idiosyncrasies but I'm not so easily trained (ask my wife ). LOL

 

[Black Label]

My 2022 is still on 1.0. I don't think the right side of a lane tendency is as bad as others have reported. What I read in V 1.1 and newer is they corrected that.

The 80 mph is a real limit, even though I can't find it in the manual. I have a friend with a 2022 BL as well. He mentioned out once, so I tried it and same thing, no bueno over 80.

I love it otherwise. Still dreaming of the updated versions.

 

[driller]

The 80 mph is a real limit, even though I can't find it in the manual. I have a friend with a 2022 BL as well. He mentioned out once, so I tried it and same thing, no bueno over 80.

After some google research I found the 80 mph limit is the de facto standard for BlueCruise while evidently GM's SuperCruise limit is 85 mph. Interesting there is no mention of it in the manual.

Not a deal breaker, I don't use BlueCruise that much and was more curious than anything.

With each passing day I get more disenchanted with any possible updates to the BlueCruise on 2024 and earlier models.

 

[Black Label]

Yeah, 3.5 years in on my '22 and no update to BC.

I did get an OTA update earlier this week for my PCM. I was having an issue that showed a Priority Update on my screen saying it was not complete and related to hands free driving. I am waiting for a '25 Nav loaner from my dealer to supposedly get the latest version of BC finally installed.

In the late winter, Lincoln told me my VIN was in the queue for BC updates. Why it hasn't come yet is beyond me. Will report back if I ever do get above 1.0.

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[sixstring]

Unfortunately, Ford is not a technology company.

 

[Black Label]

Just got off the phone from a 1.5 hour chat with Lincoln. After all that, it took a supervisor to tell me the 2022 will not go beyond version 1.0 because the 1.2 and newer versions require a new Image Processing Module in order to be compatible and it would require a huge amount of labor.

Sounds like BS to me and all 2022-2024 owners got screwed on BC and OTA updates.

 

[driller]

Sounds like BS to me and all 2022-2024 owners got screwed on BC and OTA updates.

I agree.

 

[Black Label]

I agree.

Some internet research indicates it is possible to upgrade to a 2023 IPM to make this happen, then others say you don't need to. So annoying that we can't just get a straight answer.

And, one of the Lincoln guys before I got the supervisor on tried to tell me the 2024s came from the factory with 1.2 installed, which is not true and the supervisor agreed with me on.

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[jaymunone]

Some internet research indicates it is possible to upgrade to a 2023 IPM to make this happen, then others say you don't need to. So annoying that we can't just get a straight answer.

And, one of the Lincoln guys before I got the supervisor on tried to tell me the 2024s came from the factory with 1.2 installed, which is not true and the supervisor agreed with me on.

Sent twice accidentally. See below

 

[jaymunone]

Just got off the phone from a 1.5 hour chat with Lincoln. After all that, it took a supervisor to tell me the 2022 will not go beyond version 1.0 because the 1.2 and newer versions require a new Image Processing Module in order to be compatible and it would require a huge amount of labor.

Sounds like BS to me and all 2022-2024 owners got screwed on BC and OTA updates.

How confident are you that the supervisor knew what he was talking about and that there will never be a 1.2 or 1.3 update to the 2022 Navigator? One thing I've learned is that it seems like no one on the inside really knows what they are talking about. Just wondered if you got the impression this supervisor really knew what they were saying.

Seems odd to me that the 2021 Mach E and F-150s got the 1.3 but Navigators won't.

 

[dlcorbett]

How confident are you that the supervisor knew what he was talking about and that there will never be a 1.2 or 1.3 update to the 2022 Navigator? One thing I've learned is that it seems like no one on the inside really knows what they are talking about. Just wondered if you got the impression this supervisor really knew what they were saying.

Seems odd to me that the 2021 Mach E and F-150s got the 1.3 but Navigators won't.

It's easy to see why. The mach e was built from the ground up, and since it was the car to debut the bluecruise, it was a feature already predetermined to be included. The 2021 f150 was probably developed at the same time as the mach e, so it has newer hardware and control modules. The 22 -24 navigator is on the same platform as the previous gen f150 that was developed in the early 2010s, so ford most likely tacked on the feature to counter the escalade and supercruise, but it being tacked on like it was so its half baked. At the time, somewhere along the line, instead of adding the newer hardware and modules, ford just decided to focus in the newer gens and left the current trucks to linger in terms of bluecruise. I would love the newer versions, especially to do lane changes, but I do like the feature.

 

[Black Label]

How confident are you that the supervisor knew what he was talking about and that there will never be a 1.2 or 1.3 update to the 2022 Navigator? One thing I've learned is that it seems like no one on the inside really knows what they are talking about. Just wondered if you got the impression this supervisor really knew what they were saying.

Seems odd to me that the 2021 Mach E and F-150s got the 1.3 but Navigators won't.

I'm not confident at all. As I told him, it is hard to believe Ford would update a module for the '24 Nav to enable BC 1.4 when they were redesigning the truck for '25. Maybe he is right and a completely different module is required, but I am suspect. That does not seem like Ford, especially considering how they have removed other tech since '22, such as Park Assist and hands-free ljftgate. But, yeah, throw a new IPM in there for '24. I call BS.

And, of course, Fair Oaks Lincoln is as useless as tits on a nun. If I do need a new IPM for 1.2 and beyond, why wouldn't they just tell me beyond the service manager, who I like, telling me, well we are told your vehicle is updated to all the latest software. The whole reason I was there was to have it updated to at least 1.2. The dealer can't even tell me what version they updated to. I know the answer. It wasn't updated and is still, maddeningly, on 1.0.

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[jaymunone]

I'm not confident at all. As I told him, it is hard to believe Ford would update a module for the '24 Nav to enable BC 1.4 when they were redesigning the truck for '25. Maybe he is right and a completely different module is required, but I am suspect. That does not seem like Ford, especially considering how they have removed other tech since '22, such as Park Assist and hands-free ljftgate. But, yeah, throw a new IPM in there for '24. I call BS.

And, of course, Fair Oaks Lincoln is as useless as tits on a nun. If I do need a new IPM for 1.2 and beyond, why wouldn't they just tell me beyond the service manager, who I like, telling me, well we are told your vehicle is updated to all the latest software. The whole reason I was there was to have it updated to at least 1.2. The dealer can't even tell me what version they updated to. I know the answer. It wasn't updated and is still, maddeningly, on 1.0.

This might be a dumb question, but have you ever purchased the 72-hour subscription to Motorcraft to look at the service manual for the Navigator? Using that service was vital for me when I decided to replace the coolant lines on the turbos for my 2016 Navigator on my own rather than pay Ford 5000 bucks.

Reason I ask is because you may be able to review and cross reference the 2022 Navigator against all the other vehicles mentioned to see if it actually a different piece of hardware.

The service for 72 hours is 26 bucks.

 

[Black Label]

This might be a dumb question, but have you ever purchased the 72-hour subscription to Motorcraft to look at the service manual for the Navigator? Using that service was vital for me when I decided to replace the coolant lines on the turbos for my 2016 Navigator on my own rather than pay Ford 5000 bucks.

Reason I ask is because you may be able to review and cross reference the 2022 Navigator against all the other vehicles mentioned to see if it actually a different piece of hardware.

The service for 72 hours is 26 bucks.

No, not a dumb question. I have not. This is the first I have heard of that. I will look into that, thanks.

 

[jaymunone]

No, not a dumb question. I have not. This is the first I have heard of that. I will look into that, thanks.

I've been considering a BC Navigator for about six months and now that I've purchased one with BC 1.0, I will investigate incessantly until I find the answer. Another forum is confident this isn't a hardware issue. Yet another forum says that the reason Expeditions/Navigators haven't received an update is because they are jumping right to BC 1.4.

I just want to be able to change lanes without BC disengaging.

 

[Black Label]

I've been considering a BC Navigator for about six months and now that I've purchased one with BC 1.0, I will investigate incessantly until I find the answer. Another forum is confident this isn't a hardware issue. Yet another forum says that the reason Expeditions/Navigators haven't received an update is because they are jumping right to BC 1.4.

I just want to be able to change lanes without BC disengaging.

I certainly hope you post your findings here. Yes, it is maddening to think they came out with 1.0 on the '22 Nav saying OTA updates would add features only to potentially require buying a new piece if hardware. The info is definitely conflicting.

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[Eculdsay]

BlueCruise works well in its comfort zone, but the lack of tuning and OTA refinement definitely makes its quirks more noticeable.