Ford has fitted its cars with a feature for decades now that remains uncommon in the automotive market. The feature is the Ford SecuriCode keypad. Ford owners will know the feature as it’s on many of the company’s most popular vehicles. It’s the keyboard that allows you to enter the locked car without a key or fob.
Ford has been offering the feature for nearly 40 years, and for owners who have come to rely on the feature, it’s a mystery why other automakers don’t offer it. On vehicles where SecuriCode is an option, it costs less than $50.
Ford SecuriCode is a popular feature for people who like to spend time in the outdoors without having to take their keys with them and worry that they may get lost. Instead, a hiker can leave the keys in the glove box, lock the door, and then get into the vehicle with the code when they return. The feature also allows owners to start their cars and leave them running to warm up or stay warm during cold winters.
As for why other automakers don’t copy the feature, Ford switches and mechatronics manager Joe Scott says that it’s not easy to make a touchpad that works all the time in all weather conditions. Ford first debuted the feature on the 1980 Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar, Lincoln Continental Mark VI, and Lincoln Town Car. In those days, they were actual buttons in the metal of the door near the handle.
My mother had a Lincoln with that feature growing up, and it kept us from being stranged on more than a few occasions when she left the keys in the ignition. The first Ford with a capacitive touchpad for the feature came in 2009 on the Lincoln MKS sedan. Some Ford’s, like the F-150, still use the buttons today. The capacitive controls are designed to work with gloves up to 1.5mm thick.
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Source: Free Press
Comments
Interesting that some want lock the keys inside the vehicle to do a work out of sorts, but no one would do that with their smart phone. It wouldn’t be that difficult to use your phone for remote access.
you win the DUH award. if you don’t want to store your keys on your body due to size, etc, why would you
want to take a big, honkin’ Note 9 like mine, around the lake or to get a loaf of bread? Think, Mary, think..
Sure wish my ’02 TBird had this feature. But phone access (Ford Pass?) will likely replace this feature at some point.
I use this feature all the time. When I mountain bike, I do not want anything along that will get lost or broken in a spill. Before this feature, I lost my keys on a ride after I had to patch an innertube and didn’t zip the pouch all the way closed., I needed someone to bring a spare set. I then had to retrace 7 of my 12 mile ride (in the rain) by foot, to find the keys the next day. I was very lucky to find them, as they were off the trail and partially hidden by vines.
Throwing the keys in the trunk is just so much easier.
The new Ranger this is option and it’s a stick-on keypad, which blows and looks tacky. Loved this feature on my previous 2 Explorers and missed it when i went with GM.
I have and use the keypad on my 2014 Fusion Hybrid every day. It is easier than using a physical key, and sometimes I need to open the door quickly without using my fob. It also locks the doors by pressing the 7-8 and 9-0 keys simultaneously with two fingers of one hand. It saves the energy in the fob battery!
Because of this one feature we will only buy Ford. Lots of cars work and offer features, but I hate locked doors with a passion, as long as I have my brain, I can unlock the door! And I go outdoors a lot. Especially on the river. Don’t take anything you wouldn’t mind giving to the river. So ya, no phone and no keys please. Any other car, as a kayaker we have to hide our keys nearby. And it doesn’t work if you have a car that senses the key. Anybody could steal your car! Use to have a Prius. We got rid of it just because it had the nearby sensory thing. Can’t go kayaking. It’s a mystery why more manufacturers don’t have it. One time my mother got hurt, she couldn’t find her keys and we had to pick up her car from the airport. Thank you securicode! Saved us from a lock smith:)
I loved the Securicode in my Mercury and Fords. It was so convenient especially going places with the kids, like amusement parks, playgrounds etc. when they were little. Even going to a party, never had to worry about where are the keys! Again, “The Best NEVER Rest”
I’ve owned over 20 fords with this keypad. Never a failure!! And in all climates!! Especially helpful with kids at the beach. They knew the code to get in the car safe if anything happened.. won’t drive anything without it!!
George, pseudo logic. This is ford’s better idea. The keyless entry pad is one of ford’s best features. Once bought a Maxima because it had it. This is a very wrong move on ford’s part. Either go back to the old affixed to door as an option on all models (worked better in the rain) or just leave it on the pillar. At the dealership levels customers are complaining about the Edge.
Bad decision I own many Ford’s and love this feature