Ford survey - replacing key fobs with a smart phone app only

[Dawnybee]

Yep. As I’ve been searching frantically, that’s the exact thought that came to mind. AirTags. I’ll be purchasing some soon.

I have to be honest. The feature I was criticizing might end up saving my butt.

I am traveling for work and seem to have misplaced my key fob. Will FordPass app work for remote start without the presence of the fob? In other words, sometimes a device has to be in range for remote features to work. But in my case, if I have lost my fob, will I be able to start my vehicle with just the app when I get back to the airport?

That sucks. I hope you get it figured out ?

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[Weston52]

And how does your spouse/child/friend/valet use your car?

 

[SportWest]

At some point this will be the industry standard. Physical items like keys just won’t be needed for primary means. I’d think at first there will be some sort of two factor authentication to start a vehicle. Such as Bluetooth from your phone connecting to the car and a fingerprint or some other biometric involved. Could just be a passcode you input as well.

I'd prefer a standard that's implemented by phone manufacturers instead of relying on Ford's janky mobile app. So like you said, your phone can become a 'universal' fob for all vehicles that support the standard. Seems like a logical progression as phones become universal (and 'passwordless') authenticators, e.g., Apple Passkey.

Of course I think a fob from the vehicle manufacturer should still be optional.

 

[Tim Cee]

If you have a keypad on the door to unlock the vehicle you can keep a fob in the car in a faraday pouch and you never have to worry about losing or breaking the phone. I would love to have an app I can use to operate the car.

The Bronco Sport knows when the key is inside the car versus outside of the car. I tested this and the door would not open just by touching the handle when the key fob was inside the car. I'm not sure I would 100% trust this but Ford says the vehicle knows whether the key fob is inside or outside of the vehicle.

 

[Jmuns]

And how does your spouse/child/friend/valet use your car?

Share the key via an app just like you do for Airbnb or electronic locks that tons of people already have on their homes.

 

[magicbus]

The Bronco Sport knows when the key is inside the car versus outside of the car. I tested this and the door would not open just by touching the handle when the key fob was inside the car. I'm not sure I would 100% trust this but Ford says the vehicle knows whether the key fob is inside or outside of the vehicle.

I often ‘trust the (Ford) force’ and lock the fob in my car. Much better than losing it on the beach!

 

[Mark S.]

The Bronco Sport knows when the key is inside the car versus outside of the car. I tested this and the door would not open just by touching the handle when the key fob was inside the car. I'm not sure I would 100% trust this but Ford says the vehicle knows whether the key fob is inside or outside of the vehicle.

Normally, unless you use the Securicode keypad on the door, you cannot lock the fob inside the vehicle. Try it: leave the fob on the front seat, lock the door using the lock button on the inside of the door, then close the door. The car will unlock and the horn will sound.

A faraday pouch, however, will render the fob invisible to the car. If you place the fob inside a faraday pouch you can lock the car using lock button on the inside of the door.

 

[Mark S.]

I've mentioned this before, but just in case anyone hasn't seen it I'll post again. If you have push-button start and it's your habit to leave the fob inside the car be aware a thief can drive away with your car if they get the door open (break a window, jimmy the lock, etc.). This is true whether or not you have Ford's perimeter plus alarm installed. The fob is your golden ticket to the vehicle; if it's inside the car then the alarm is deactivated.

My recommendation is to get a faraday pouch for the fob if you want to leave it in the car. The pouch renders the fob invisible to the car, so all security features are functional.

 

[davidg4781]

Normally, unless you use the Securicode keypad on the door, you cannot lock the fob inside the vehicle. Try it: leave the fob on the front seat, lock the door using the lock button on the inside of the door, then close the door. The car will unlock and the horn will sound.

A faraday pouch, however, will render the fob invisible to the car. If you place the fob inside a faraday pouch you can lock the car using lock button on the inside of the door.

How would you open the door if the key is inside the locked BS?

 

[thekingprawn]

Where I work there are no personal phones allowed past the gate, so this would 100% never work for me. My phone has to stay in the vehicle in the parking lot or in a lockbox outside the gate on the days I get to drive in. I can't even have my Garmin watch or a fitbit at work. This idea that everyone is tethered to a damn phone 24/7 is simply not true. Some of us are forbidden form having them a lot of the time.

 

[Jmuns]

Where I work there are no personal phones allowed past the gate, so this would 100% never work for me. My phone has to stay in the vehicle in the parking lot or in a lockbox outside the gate on the days I get to drive in. I can't even have my Garmin watch or a fitbit at work. This idea that everyone is tethered to a damn phone 24/7 is simply not true. Some of us are forbidden form having them a lot of the time.

But your phone would be in your car when you left work, so it would still work. The phone is the easiest way to move away from a physical key, but any combination of biometric and passcode being entered in the car would work.

 

[Barry S.]

You have to really try to start the car using the FordPass App. Very little chance of accidentally starting it. Worse case is it shuts off after 15 minutes and other than 15 minutes of getting zero miles per gallon, no one would’ve the wiser!

Unless it's parked in your garage and fills the house with carbon monoxide fumes.

 

[Mark S.]

How would you open the door if the key is inside the locked BS?

Use the Securicode keypad.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Unless it's parked in your garage and fills the house with carbon monoxide fumes.

Fortunately, then you’ll still be no wiser!

 

[Dude]

… My recommendation is to get a faraday pouch for the fob if you want to leave it in the car… “

If the vehicle is parked at say your favorite mountain climbing location and has the Securicode keypad, the thief will assume that keyfob is in the vehicle and (after gaining entry) if it won’t immediately start, a quick search will locate that faraday pouch unless you lock the pouch in your vehicles safe then the thief will make quick access to the locked safe and have everything in the safe as well.

Or do you feel your hiding place for the faraday pouch is so secure it will outsmart the thief and if so please share where you hide it so we can all adopt your solution.

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