"Ford/Lincoln Banned from Parking Lot Over Vulnerable Keyless Start System"

Recently, a TikTok video sparked widespread discussion: a woman discovered a peculiar sign outside a store explicitly banning Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with push-button start systems from parking there. Grace, the video’s poster, noted that her older car lacks this feature, but the sign has already garnered over 135,000 views. Online users have speculated extensively about the reason, with most focusing on radio frequency interference (RFI). The store appears to be a jewelry and coin shop, likely outfitted with powerful security or signal-jamming equipment. Modern push-button start systems rely on wireless communication between the vehicle and its key fob; if this signal is disrupted, the car may fail to start—or worse, stall and become impossible to restart after turning off. Some Ford models are particularly vulnerable due to their narrower authentication frequency bands. Experts advise drivers who frequently encounter “key not detected” warnings to avoid parking in this area. What seems like an odd notice is, in fact, a real-world example of the clash between smart vehicles and complex electromagnetic environments.