CarPlay Now Available in All 2017 Ford Vehicles Equipped With SYNC 3

by

Ford has announced that its SYNC 3 infotainment system, which includes CarPlay and Android Auto, is now available across its entire 2017 lineup of cars, SUVs, light trucks, and electric vehicles in the United States.

Ford-SYNC-3-CarPlay
The expansion brings CarPlay to already-released 2017 models such as the Fusion, Mustang, and Explorer, while other models like the 2017 F-150, Focus, Edge, and Super Duty will arrive at U.S. dealerships later this year.

Ford confirmed in January that it would be adding CarPlay and Android Auto to all of its 2017 vehicles in North America equipped with BlackBerry's QNX-based SYNC 3 platform, starting with the 2017 Escape in May.

Ford has also added Spotify, Pandora, Ford PASS, AccuWeather, and AAA member services to SYNC AppLink.

ford_siri_eyes_free
In December, Ford retroactively added Siri Eyes Free support to 5 million 2011-2016 vehicles through a SYNC 3.8 software update. The automaker says more than 15 million SYNC-equipped vehicles are on the road worldwide today, although that figure likely includes older SYNC platforms incompatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ford is also adding CarPlay and Android Auto to its 2016 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 this year.

CarPlay brings Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts, and a number of third-party apps, such as Spotify, to a vehicle's dashboard. Apple's in-car software platform can be controlled with Siri and your vehicle's built-in controls for convenient access to common iPhone features. It is compatible with iPhone 5 and later models.

CarPlay widely launched in the second half of 2015, and the rollout has extended to several large automakers this year, including Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep; BMW and Nissan; and Hyundai and Kia. CarPlay is now available in over 100 new 2016 and 2017 models, while two notable holdouts include Toyota and Mazda.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Android Auto, Ford, Ford SYNC
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
Read Full Article • 165 comments
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Read Full Article • 69 comments
iPadOS 26 Apple Newsroom

Apple Says iPadOS 26 is Compatible With These iPad Models

Monday June 9, 2025 11:22 am PDT by
Apple today announced that iPadOS 26 will be compatible with the iPad models listed below. iPadOS 26 features a new Liquid Glass design, a menu bar, improved app windowing, and more. iPadOS 26 supports the following iPad models:iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (M2 and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and...
Read Full Article • 118 comments
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
Read Full Article • 100 comments
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
Read Full Article • 58 comments
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

Monday June 9, 2025 2:38 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote today, Apple said that 13...
Read Full Article • 27 comments
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...
Read Full Article • 209 comments
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26 Includes These 100 New Features and Changes for Your iPhone

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
Apple has announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes a long list of new features and changes for iPhones. The first iOS 26 developer beta is now available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released later this year. iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer. Below, we have provided a high-level overview of 100 new features and changes ...
Read Full Article • 52 comments

Top Rated Comments

AppLvr4Life Avatar
AppLvr4Life
116 months ago
According to Fords Sync owners website the 2016 cars will require a hardware update, this was not what we were told when we bought the car. Reading the boards other ford owners had the same thing told to them and now are up in arms about it. I hope Ford clarifies as the sync website you log into says it is not just over the air.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brock2621 Avatar
brock2621
116 months ago
Sooo... I have a 2016 Mustang with Sync 3 and would love to know when a CarPlay update is available for that as they promised...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
beanbaguk Avatar
beanbaguk
116 months ago
After using CarPlay on a couple of rental cars over the past couple of weeks I'm not impressed.

It's a very poor system and it also takes away a lot of functionality from the native car systems. You're also locked to the absolutely terrible Apple Maps which gives the most dreadful routes, and very often, Spotify or TuneIn refuse to work resulting in the need to disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.

Messages are also a chore as Siri sucks when there is any cabin noise in the car.

However most importantly, touch screen interfaces suck in cars. They are insanely dangerous when travelling at speed as they require you to change your driving posture and lean forward, removing a lot of control from the steering wheel.

Apple must do the following to make it a good option:

* FULL integration with the car

* Car computer (MPG, avg speed, etc...)
* Basic items where they are not visible on the dash such as outside temperature.
* Set-up of car systems.
* Service information

* Ability to use another GPS program such as Google Maps or Sygic, etc....
* Improve Siri when there is a lot of ambient noise
* Allow integration with physical dials.

One user noted how the BMW iDrive system was useless, but of all the systems I've used, this is the absolute best once you get used to the iDrive interface knob. I can control my system in seconds and dial numbers safely without looking away from my screen.

The interface is also miles better and more flexible than CarPlay too and I find it much safer to use.

Perhaps a personal view but every person I let try out the CarPlay in my two rental cars thought it was a pile of crap.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jakexb Avatar
Jakexb
116 months ago
This video is a great example of why Carplay is important. That built-in Ford interface looked like something from the 90s.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Piggie Avatar
Piggie
116 months ago
I hear people criticizing cars in general, but I still think they are amazing.

When I get in my car in the middle of a scorching summer day, when the sun has been shining directly onto the dash/electronic controls/screen for the past x hours and they are so hot they would burn your hands almost to touch them, or in the middle of winter, when it's below zero and almost frozen, you put they key in the ignition and all all just works, screen powers up, everything.

Think of an Apple product in the sun, gives up working.
Think it's amazing how cars and their equipment are so well made and designed to keep working no matter what is thrown at them.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
John Mcgregor Avatar
John Mcgregor
116 months ago
Nice. Was looking at purchasing a 2017 Ford Mustang GT. This will pair nicely with my iPhone 7 in the fall!
Too bad its not going to work with my 1967 Mustang.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments