Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Lincoln Navigator and 2017 Ford Expedition. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The CTA system is an alert feature that assists the driver in backing out of a front-in parking space with the transmission in REVERSE (R). The CTA system uses the SOD-L, SOD-R, exterior mirror BLIS ® /Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) LEDs, a warning chime from the parking aid speaker and a message in the IPC message center to notify the driver of impending traffic.

When the transmission is in REVERSE (R) the CTA system can detect a vehicle that is approaching at a speed up to 24.1 kmh (15 mph) and approximately 13.72 m (45 ft) from the left or right side of the vehicle. The CTA system's response time and performance can degrade if vehicles are approaching at speeds greater than 24.1 kmh (15 mph).

The CTA system detects a vehicle approaching up to 13.72 m (45 ft) away (approximately the width of five parking spaces). Backing out of parking spots slowly increases the radar sensor coverage in close proximity situations. The CTA system coverage also decreases when parking at shallow angles, which is described in the Owner's Literature.

The CTA system utilizes the same detection modules (SOD-L and SOD-R) as the BLIS ®.

When the transmission is in REVERSE (R), the CTA system is active. The driver is warned of an approaching vehicle when an audio alert chime from the parking aid speaker sounds, the right or left exterior mirror BLIS ®/Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) amber LED flashes, and the message center displays CROSS TRAFFIC VEHICLE COMING FROM RIGHT or CROSS TRAFFIC VEHICLE COMING FROM LEFT to warn the driver from which direction the vehicle is approaching.

NOTE: The CTA system is only active when the transmission is in REVERSE (R). CTA is not active if the vehicle is rolled backwards with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).

The CTA system cannot normally detect stationary vehicles, humans, animals or objects such as fences, guard rails or trees. The system does not function when the transmission is not in REVERSE (R).

The CTA system has some detection limitations due to the nature of the radar technology used by the SOD-L and SOD-R. There can be certain instances where vehicles entering and exiting the blind spot zone may not be detected. The circumstances that may cause non-detection are:

Debris build up on the rear bumper sides
The rear quarter panel of the vehicle is obstructed or partially obstructed by an adjacently parked vehicle or object
Approaching vehicle passing at speeds greater than 24.1 kmh (15 mph)
Severe weather conditions
Driving in REVERSE (R) faster than 4.8 kmh (3 mph)
Backing out of an angled parking spot

Due to the nature of radar technology, there may be certain instances when the CTA system alerts the operator, however no object or vehicle (referred to as targets) is present when backing up. This is known as a false alert. False alerts up to 5% (5 times out of 100 reversals) are 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-correct.