Bad keyless lock design?

[JohnRambo]

One small thing that really annoys me about my Bronco is the keyless locking sensor on the outside door handle. Instead of a physical button, it uses a capacitive touch area, and there is basically no useful feedback when you touch it.

There is no click, no vibration, no horn chirp, and the light flash is not obvious when you are standing right beside the vehicle. In a noisy parking lot, I often end up touching it twice or pulling the handle afterward just to make sure the doors actually locked.

My Wrangler had an actual button on the handle, which gave clear tactile feedback. Other vehicles also confirm locking with a noticeable flash or a short horn chirp. The Bronco’s system works, but the lack of confirmation makes it feel unnecessarily uncertain and less user-friendly than a simple physical button.

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[Sandbergo]

You should be able to hear the locks engage, worst case you can go into the Ford Pass app and lock it there too.

 

[not on the rug]

You can literally hear and feel the doors lock when you touch it. If your sense have deteriorated that much, I'm thinking you should maybe rely on the key fob like most other humans do. If your senses are that bad, maybe your driving privilege is something you and your family should be having a conversation about.

 

[JohnRambo]

You can literally hear and feel the doors lock when you touch it. If your sense have deteriorated that much, I'm thinking you should maybe rely on the key fob like most other humans do. If your senses are that bad, maybe your driving privilege is something you and your family should be having a conversation about.

IThat’s a pretty dramatic response to a minor usability criticism. Yes, in a quiet environment you can usually hear the locks actuate. In a noisy parking lot, with traffic, wind or people around, it is much less obvious. My point is simply that a physical button or a clear flash/chirp provides better confirmation. Preferring clearer feedback from a control does not mean someone is unfit to drive.

 

[HighVelocity]

If you close your eyes, face west and touch your door handle, you can smell the ocean.

 

[not on the rug]

I think Jim Morrison once sang a song called "Jeeple are strange"

This post is a nice reminder of that classic tune

 

[CalvinT]

There is no click,

I hear the doors lock when I press mine.

 

[Smocaine]

Despite the misleading name, you do in fact still have a key and fob. There's a button on the middle with a on it - press that twice, and your horn will sound once for a successful lock or twice, rapidly, for a mislock.
As horns are designed to be loud enough to hear at road speed, this should be audible in your noisy parking lot.

 

[The Green Flash]

I can both feel and hear mine both lock and unlock when touching the right parts of the door handle. I especially like the fact it's quiet and no annoying 'chirp' or lights flashing to draw attention.

I've got what is probably almost a phobia about my fob in my pocket and other 'stuff' -- pocket knife, shotshells, etc., 'pushing' the unlock button without me knowing and finding the Green Flash unlocked when I get back to her... I actually disassembled the fob, and shaved away the rubber nub for the 'unlock' button and the 'panic' button. Now the buttons on the fob can lock and start the Flash, but I have to actually walk up and touch the door handle to unlock her.

 

[Lej512]

I don't mean to speak for him and please correct me if I'm wrong. I had the key pad on my 2023 BD and when you pushed each number on the keypad, you could FEEL a little click. Unlike my wife's Explorer which had the capacitive touch numbers. Many times I had difficulty "waking it up" and there was no feedback with each number press. I think that is what he's referring, not the locking mechanism.

 

[T800]

I have poor hearing and have been able to hear the door lock when I touch that sensor on the handle. Though probably not a lot of environment noise.

I think they use a sensor rather than an actual button because it's on the outside and subject to weather. An actual button might wear out faster. I usually try to lock mine using the interior button on the door before closing it.

My wife's Expedition doesn't have anything there. You are just supposed to know where on the handle to touch and it locks. Hers is a 2019 though, so the newer ones might have a sensor like ours.

 

[Dral97]

My Bimmer is like this too. However, it's a bit easier in that since you can actually see a little lock nubbin on the top interior door sill that goes down when you touch the exterior handle. So, no light flash or anything, but there is a nice visual cue.

I feel that I could sense the click on the Bronco even in a noisy environment, but maybe I'm overestimating my abilities.

 

[userdude]

I didn't even know you could that.

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