CTA System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2019 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The CTA system is only active when reverse gear is selected.

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with factory trailer tow, if a trailer is electrically connected to the vehicle, the CTA® is disabled.

NOTE: On vehicles without factory trailer tow, if a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the CTA® system may detect the trailer and cause a false alert.

When the transmission is in reverse, the CTA system can detect a vehicle or a bicycle that is approaching at a speed between 8 km/h and 64 km/h (5 mph and 40 mph) and time to impact is between 1 and 2.5 seconds. The distance at which an alert is generated varies depending on the speed of the approaching vehicles or bicycles. The CTA system response time and performance can degrade if vehicles are approaching at speeds greater than 64 km/h (40 mph).

An adjacent parked vehicle or object can affect the systems ability to detect approaching vehicles or bicycles (refer to figure 1). Parking in at extreme angles can further affect the systems ability to detect approaching vehicles or bicycles (refer to figure 2).

Backing towards a curve road can also affect systems ability to detect approaching vehicles or bicycles (refer to figure 3).

CTA detection zones:

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The CTA system is designed to detect any objects approaching the vehicle at a speed equal to or greater than 8 km/h (5 mph). This includes vehicles and bicycles. The CTA system has some detection limitations due to the nature of the radar technology used by the SODL and SODR.

NOTE: The CTA system is not intended to detect parked vehicles, pedestrians, or objects such as fences, guard rails or trees.

NOTE: There should be no bumper stickers or body filler material used on the rear side bumper cover in the vicinity of the SODL or SODR.

Circumstances that may cause non-detection are:

Debris build-up or bumper stickers on the rear bumper sides
The rear quarter panel of the vehicle is obstructed or partially obstructed by an adjacently parked vehicle or object
Vehicle approaching at speeds greater than 64 km/h (40 mph)
Driving in reverse faster than 12 km/h (8 mph)
Damage to sensor and/or sensor area

Due to the nature of radar technology, there may be certain instances when the CTA system alerts the operator, when no object or vehicle is present while backing up. This is known as a false alert. False alerts up to 3% of the time (3 times out of 100 reversals) are considered normal. A false alert may occur when backing out of a garage or backing into a parking space and objects or vehicles are very close to the radar sensors. False alerts are temporary and self-correcting.

Missed targets occur when a target is present and the LED does not illuminate. Missed targets up to 1% (1 out of 100 targets) is considered normal operation.

Circumstances that cause missed alerts are:

Debris build-up or bumper stickers on the rear bumper sides
Certain maneuvering of the vehicles entering and exiting the detection zone
Vehicles passing through the detection zone at high rates of speed
When several vehicles forming a convoy pass through the detection zone

Exterior Mirror Indication - Vehicles Without Door Modules

When the BLIS® or CTA system is active and an object is detected by the SODL and/or SODR, the SODL and/or SODR supplies voltage to illuminate their respective exterior mirror BLIS®/ CTALED. The exterior mirrors provide ground to the BLIS®/ CTA Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

Each time the vehicle is started, the SODL and SODR command the exterior mirror BLIS®/ CTA Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to illuminate for approximately 3 seconds, indicating the BLIS® and CTA system is operational.

If a BLIS® or CTA system fault is present, the exterior mirror BLIS®/ CTA Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) remains off, the IPCBLIS® indicator illuminates and a message center warning displays BLIND SPOT SYSTEM FAULT.