Why is Ford Remote Start Not Working?
From frost-plastered windshields to skin-searing seat buckles, extreme weather adds a long list of inconveniences to the daily commute. Having a remote start system helps you stay comfortable by conditioning your car’s temperature before you hop behind the wheel. If you’re having trouble operating the remote start system on your Ford vehicle, don’t panic. There are several easy-fix reasons why your Ford remote start system could not be working.
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Troubleshooting Remote Start
For the safety of you and your vehicle, remote start will not work under certain conditions. Here are some reasons your remote start system may fail:
- The ignition is on.
- The alarm system has been triggered.
- Remote start has been disabled.
- The hood is open.
- The vehicle is not in park.
- The vehicle battery voltage is low.
- The service engine soon light is on.
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How to Use Remote Start
Step 1: Press the lock button
Step 2: Press the Remote Start (2X) button twice
Turning Off Your Vehicle with Remote Start
To turn off your vehicle after remote starting, simply press the Remote Start (2X) button once.
Key FOB Light Meanings
Some Ford key fobs feature LED lights that provide feedback on the status of your remote start and stop commands. Here’s what your key fob could be trying to tell you:
| Solid Green | Remote start successful. |
| Solid Red | Remote stop successful. |
| Blinking Red | Remote start or stop failed. |
| Blinking Green | Remote start in progress. |
Remote Start and Climate Control
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic climate control system, you can configure the system to begin operating when you remote start your vehicle. If you have manual climate control, the system will run at the setting it was left at when the vehicle was turned off.
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Good Morning,
i have a 2014 Ford Escape Titanium. i had to get a new key Fob and every since then my remote start won’t stay running. it starts and then after about 30 seconds it stops. Can someone tell me why this is happening? And how to fit it?
Thanks,
Annette Elliott
@Annette, I am having the same problem with my 2104 Ford Focus Titanium. My remote start has worked fine until this point.
Dang you got a 2104 focus thats crazy na jk but same issue here with a 2018
I have a 2014 Escape as well same issue. Any ideas why?
I have a 2014 Escape with the same problem. It starts and runs for 30 seconds then goes off.
I dont even get 30 seconds with my 2018 escape (titanium) it shuts off as soon as the lights go on (1-2 seconds) most times I have to use the ford pass app to start my car and sometimes that doesn’t work either…
Ive had it looked at and Ford can’t figure out what’s wrong with it… I even showed them a video of what’s going on…
That was happening to my 2015 Escape (Titanium) Took it to Ford and they had to replace the relay and the battery terminals. That was in July after I only had the car for less that 3 weeks I was SO PISSED. Grapevine Ford in Texas repaired it. I took it to 2 other places and they had NO idea why it was doing that.
My 2015 Ford Mustang remote start stopped working recently. so every time I try to remote start it the vehicle just honks and that’s it. Has any one experienced this with similar vehicle and what could I possibly do to fix the solution
Have a 2020 Ford escape with app. Ford Pass for remote start. It will not start the car first time in the day. Go and start car on start button and car starts. Shut off, then remote will work the remainder of the day. disgusting remote, of course useless, its in the morning when you want it to work
my 2016 mustang is doing the same thing! Did you ever figure out the issue?
My 2015 Mustang started doing it as well and It honks twice and the hazard lights blink. Anyone figure anything out?
Your comments are interesting but doesn’t address why my 2015 F350 Super Duty will not auto start when going through the procedure …Lock…2x on start. Is there an on and off in the information system?
I purchased a 2018 Ford Focus Titanium from North Brothers Ford on Westland Michigan. The car is very nice but the remote start only works half the time and NBF tells me that’s a common issue and they can’t fix it. Would have been nice if they told me that when they were selling me the car!
Purchase a new 2019 F150 from Short Redmond Ford in Tennessee in May of 2020. Remote start worked for a couple of months but no longer starts the truck. Sounds like ford messed this up. Would love to get an answer on any of these questions.
My 2015 Ford Escape was purchased as used. Worked okay when using start engine button for almost a year, but then stopped working. It was as if battery was dead. Had to jump off to start. After sitting overnight it would have the same problem. Took to Vic Bailey Volkswagen, where purchased from to have checked out. Service Manager said it started the next morning and could find no reason for it not starting and said I could pick it up. After a week, I experienced the same problem. I had a Dr. Appt. and like before, the start button would not work again Had to call Dr. and reschedule my appt. To say the least, I was more than upset. On Labor Day, the same thing happened as I was needing a few extra items for a planned family cookout. My daughter came over and jumped the car off once again. I have no idea why this is happening and neither could the dealership. I plan on trading this car as soon as possible due to its’ unreliability when I really need it to work. Completely disgusted!!
I have a Ford Titanium and i have been locked out, remote key does not start
2014 Ford Fusion titanium….. remote start won’t work
Seems like I’m having a bit of a different problem with my 2018 Escape Titanium than many are relaying here but with the same end result of our remote start not starting. What mine does, not every time either, mind you, but when I use the fob the car tries to start but just doesn’t succeed. I then check my Ford Pass for any possible messages/ alerts, but there are none and if I try to start the car from there, it gives me a message saying something along the lines of two attempts have been made and were unsuccessful and as a result, I must start the car manually, which is exactly what I’m trying NOT to do on these cold South Dakota mornings we’re already having here in November. I have not taken it to the dealership yet as it’s just started occurring to me and after reading many of the comments here, I’m not feeling especially confident in doing it. I’ll keep an eye on here for a bit while continuing to monitor the situation and hopefully, someone will come up with an answer for all of us. Good luck all.
I have a 2016 Ford Escape Titanium. When I initially purchased the vehicle in 2017 from Brown Bros. Ford in Vancouver, BC, the remote start worked fine and has worked fine as far as I know. (I don’t use it very often – only use it occasionally in the winter months). I tried to use it in late October 2020 and the vehicle would start but then shut off after approximately 20 seconds. Have tried it several times and the same thing happens every time. I recently took it to my local dealership for a routine service/oil change and was advised that it was a battery issue. I informed them that that is not accurate as the battery was just replaced. I have spoken to two Ford service departments who both said that I need a diagnostics test done (cost approx. $150 plus tax) to determine what the issue was. However, after reading this post, I think I will forego the test as I’m not confident they will resolve the issue. Looking forward to someone figuring this out.
I have a 2013 escape titanium. I am experiencing the same issues as everyone else. First thing in the morning when it’s cold I try to use the remote start system. When clicking it sounds like it starts up, then stops. Try it again and it does the same thing, after the third attempt it beeps at me. Also my year of vehicle had a recall for the trunk latch, they. “Fixed it” and now it won’t close and lock. So I have to stand outside and wait for it to close and push down on it….. Gosh Ford really? I’ve had my 2010 Focus with only a few minor problems at first but it runs great. I’ve had a lot of issues with this vehicle which takes a lot of my time.