Ford Owners Frustrated: Steering Wheel Buttons Can't Skip Spotify Podcast Ads

Morgan Gary, a Ford Fusion owner, complained on TikTok that while listening to podcasts via Spotify, the “15-second skip” button on her steering wheel couldn’t skip ads—but the same function worked when using the center touchscreen. She noted that the steering wheel controls work normally with other audio sources, but specifically fail to skip ads inserted by Spotify, forcing drivers to reach for the screen and creating a safety hazard. Similar issues have been reported by owners of other Ford models, such as the Escape, and discussed on Reddit. Some users suspect Spotify may be deliberately limiting this functionality to protect ad revenue, sparking frustration even among paying subscribers. Neither Spotify nor Ford has issued an official response yet. Temporary workarounds include resetting the SYNC system (by holding the volume and fast-forward buttons for 10 seconds) or disconnecting the car battery for 10 minutes to reboot the vehicle’s electronics.