Spent the last few days in our Ford Edge, and I've realized that the Ford Motor Company still needs to learn a few basics. Air conditioning vents for example. After 50 years you'd think they'd have a/c vents perfected. Every car and truck has them...
And yet, the Edge has the worst designed a/c vents I've had to deal with in a long time, and I've included a photo of the SUV's two middle vents to illustrate what I'm talking about. First of all you'll notice that there's no provision to close these vents or regulate their flow. But worse than that, is their limited maneuverability. In fact, in the photo they're pushed as high as they'll go, which you'll notice is straight out. These vents cannot be aimed up. Sure they adjust down, but I have no interest in cooling my knees.
Too bad, as I do like driving the Edge. Come on Ford. This is not rocket science.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor-in-Chief @ 7,348 miles
gmguy111 says:
06:29 PM, 05/ 3/07
The edge does drive good but those air vents are pathetic. Compared with the air vents in something like a super duty to these and it makes you wonder what went wrong when ford was designing the air vents for the edge also look how small the vents are i can't imagine that the driver can feel much of the air that is blown in hsi or her direction
cbmorton says:
06:12 PM, 05/ 4/07
It's surprising how many vehicles out there have little design oversights that make you wonder how much anyone really thought about how people would use the vehicle in the real world.
jeyhoe says:
06:47 PM, 05/ 4/07
Not only are they tiny and non-manueverable, but that pregnant center stack thing is soooo ugly. So many Ford interiors are just horrible. Edge, Fusion, escape (yeah the new one too). This one just sticks out like the assembly didnt fit all the way in properly.
kgford says:
04:36 PM, 05/ 5/07
The air vents are not tiny they are larger than almost any others. They are made to move alot of air at lower speeds, giving you quieter operation and cooling your body not just blowing in your face.
jerrywimer says:
08:27 AM, 05/ 7/07
Maybe so kgford. But Scott's right- there should be a mechanism to turn off the airflow from each vent independently and *completely*. Likewise the vents should be capable of being aimed in most directions at least a moderate amount.
bimmerjay says:
09:40 AM, 05/ 9/07
There's really no excuse for not having positive shut-off for all dash-level vents on a vehicle that costs $26k and up. Perhaps they are sitting in the "removed content bin" along with the cargo cover back at Ford's Product Development Center.
cooklaw says:
10:00 PM, 08/ 6/08
It's not just the vents. I believe the whole AC system is a joke. Tried to return my Edge today after driving it for 2 days. I can't stand sweating in it all day. Keep mine on max fan and max ac all the time in Texas. Makes the ride a little loud with the fan blaring at max speed. Would turn the radio up to compensate but the 4 $5 speakers sound worse than the fan.
I'd pay $500 to fix that AC. Anyone know of aftermarket compressors, fans, driers that would make the AC work better? I'm going to write to pimp my ride to see if they can pimp my AC.