Audible Parking Aid System Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2021 Ford F-150. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The rear parking aid system calculates the distance to an object around the rear of the vehicle using 4 ultrasonic sensors. The rear parking aid sensors detect objects approximately 180 cm (70 in) from the rear of the vehicle, 50 cm (20 in) from the rear side of the vehicle, and 30 cm (12 in) above the ground. To detect objects behind the vehicle, the IPMA supplies voltage and ground to the rear ultrasonic sensors while monitoring a signal return circuit from each sensor. The 4 rear sensors share common voltage and ground circuits.

The front parking aid system calculates the distance to an object around the front of the vehicle using 4 ultrasonic sensors. The front parking aid sensors detect objects approximately 70 cm (27 in) from the front of the vehicle, 50 cm (20 in) from the front side of the vehicle, 30 cm (12 in) above the ground. To detect objects in front of the vehicle, the IPMA supplies voltage and ground to the front ultrasonic sensors while monitoring a signal return circuit from each sensor. The 4 front sensors share common voltage and ground circuits. Vehicles equipped with active park assist must be equipped with the front parking aid system.

Only objects that reflect a sufficient amount of sound waves are detected by the parking aid sensors. The surface properties, size and composition of an object can affect the ability of the parking aid system to detect the object.

Parking aid operation may be affected by:

Improper sensor installation or alignment
Dirt or ice covered sensors
Heavy rain or snow

The parking aid system detects objects when the vehicle is in any of the following conditions:

Reverse (rear parking aid).
Motion in any gear except neutral (front parking aid and side sensing system, if equipped).
Moving toward the object.
Stationary and the object is moving toward the vehicle.
The vehicle and object are both moving toward one another.

The following may trigger false detections when driving at slow/creeping speeds (could be decelerating or accelerating) less than 12 km/h (8 mph), but not at a stop:

Near another vehicle equipped with parking aid sensors. The other vehicle could be several meters away (it does not have to be within the detection zone of the host vehicle).
Near a truck or school bus with air brakes (while the bus/truck is applying their brake).
Near another signal with the same frequency.

NOTE: There is no false detection when the vehicle is at a standstill. Even if the sensors are detecting something, the system does not sound a warning when the vehicle is not moving.

As the distance to the obstacle decreases, the indicator blocks illuminate and move toward the vehicle icon as displayed on the audio system display. If there is no obstacle detected, the distance indicator blocks are greyed out.