Lift gate, software, and airbag issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The Ford Edge, launched 15 years ago, has been labeled a “smart SUV for a smart world” by Ford because it is the company’s most technologically advanced SUV. But the 2022 model has serious safety issues from lift gates that smack into people, and airbags that don’t deploy. Faulty software is also a problem.
The Ford Edge is one the oldest mid-size SUVs, but it’s high on technology. When the 2022 model was launched in 2021, Ford reminded us in no uncertain terms that it’s “intelligent by design.” But when you’ve been hit in the face by the lift gate or sustained multiple injuries because the Edge’s airbags didn’t deploy, you will likely question the validity of the word intelligent.
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tell it like it is.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021
Complaints to the NHTSA relate to 5 components and systems, plus two that are listed under the Unknown or Other category. The other categories named are Airbags, Electrical System, Equipment, Latches,Lock/Linkages, and Suspension.
The most common complaints to the NHTSA relate to the 2022 Ford Edge’s hands-free power liftgate at the rear of the SUV. One of the complainants reports an injury. There is also a reported injury that was sustained when the airbags of the SUV did not deploy in a crash.
There are also complaints on other platforms.
For example, the lessor of a 2022 Edge SEL with only 300 miles on the clock is afraid to drive the SUV. In a review published on Edmunds, he complains that he’s “got a lemon.” There are trans sensor issues as well as steering problems, and his Edge needs service after only 300 miles! Awarding the SUV only 1 out of 5 stars for performance and reliability, he gives the vehicle an overall 2 stars.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock | |
| Power Train | |
| Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly | |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | |
| Electrical System:wiring: Rear Compartment/trunk | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Fuel/propulsion System |
The 2022 Ford Edge has a foot-activated liftgate. This enables you to open the trunk by tapping a foot sensor below the liftgate. There are three NHTSA complaints that relate to the 2022 Ford Edge liftgate, one that resulted in an injury.
After renting a 2022 Ford Edge, a Wisconsin resident says she was moving things out of the trunk of the vehicle. The liftgate, which she refers to as the rear door, suddenly dropped and hit her on the face. She sustained a laceration under her left eye and subsequently suffered from headaches, neck ache, and emotional stress as a result.
Another complaint, logged with the NHTSA in May 2022, describes how someone loading a 2022 Ford Edge was hit in the back and back of the head by the liftgate.
“This happened three times. The dealer told me that Ford relocated the foot sensor farther towards the back of the vehicle following consumer complaints that it was too hard to activate with your foot, as you had to extend your foot too far under the vehicle. This has now caused the liftgate to descend while you are loading/unloading cargo, without you intentionally activating it. This can pose an injury danger when the liftgate hits your back and/or head suddenly.”
While the dealer deactivated the sensor and didn’t charge the owner, Ford refused to reimburse the dealer.
“This is an engineering fault that should be corrected by Ford before unsuspecting users are injured when the liftgate suddenly, and unexpectedly, closes down on them. I found Ford’s attitude towards the dealer was arrogant. Apparently they are unconcerned about user injury.”
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One of the major software-related problems Ford Edge owners face relates to a blank or distorted rear view camera image. There is a recall linked to this for both the 2021 and 2022 Ford Edge model years. Lemberg Law currently has a class action investigation underway for the 2021 Edge. Our post about this will give you more information about what Ford Edge owners are experiencing.
According to the recall, dealers are to update the rearview camera software free of charge. But there are lots of complaints that the software doesn’t work. As a result, Ford has issued software updates, most recently on August 31, 2022.
While there are many complaints about the software and updates to the NHTSA about the 2021 model year, there aren’t any about the 2022 model that has the same problem.
Another software problem that at least one 2022 Edge owner is aware of relates to the Sync 4A system. According to an owner from Michigan, his SUV has had “a random system lockup and reboot issue since delivery.”
It appears that this issue cannot be resolved. While Ford is apparently investigating the 2022 Edge software issue with Sync 4, he says:
“THERE IS NO RESOLUTION PLAN ISSUED BY FORD. The issue has existed since vehicle delivery. The effect of this issue is that all functions of the Sync system are disabled for minutes while the system locks up (the touch screen becomes completely unresponsive) and the system reboots. Phone calls are terminated, the backup camera is disabled, and driver attention is diverted while trying to determine what is going on with the Sync system and the aforementioned functional issues.”
The Colorado owner of the SUV that crashed said her son was driving the Edge at about 40 mph when a vehicle turned in front of him. He tried to brake, but crashed into the vehicle. The airbags didn’t deploy and the SOS system didn’t work.
The vehicle, which had about 2,000 miles on the clock, couldn’t be driven after the accident, but the driver was taken to ER with head, back, wrist, elbow, and knee injuries. They filed a police report.
There may not be large numbers of 2022 Ford Edge SUVs that can be labeled a lemon. But if yours is one of them, one can you do?
Lemberg Law offers to assess and evaluate potential lemon law cases free of charge. If we agree that you might have bought a lemon, we can handle negotiations for a settlement deal on your behalf.
Just fill in our contact form or call our Helpline. Remember, the law says Ford has to pay the legal fees of lemon law cases. We will do all we can to help.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I rented an edge from National Car Rental. I drove it from Tucson to Phoenix and back the first day but when we returned we went to a friend’s home in northern Tucson and parked it on a slanted driveway. About an hour later we got in three people, pushed the button to start it and realized I had to put my foot on the brake to start it. So then I put my foot on the brake and started it turned the knob to reverse and the car lounged backwards me pounding on the brake and no response pounding the brake and avoiding two parked cars across from his neighbors we missed them but the car would not stop. I finally put the car in park it halted as w3 side swiped another car two houses down from our friends house. National said they were going to check it out with ford and do their own assessment but 6 weeks later they said they could not find anything wrong with it. My insurance had to pay for the vehicle we side swiped and National charged my insurance about 2400 to fix the rental and charged 1 week for having the vehicle out for servicing, which made me think they didn’t contact Ford about the mishap’s just charged my insurance company to fixed both cars. They stated the vehicle would be out of service for at least a month so that ford could check the brakes and electronics. I don’t think that happened. We the same day we got it went back to the airport with the side swiped vehicle we rented gave our story what happened to a rental agent and got a Chevy suv instead, had no problems with it. All three of us were shaking during the incident and even our friend who we were visiting said the car took off like there were no brakes.