To contrast that anecdote, this doesn't happen with my Subaru with EyeSight. It uses parallax for 3D distance, if it detects a solid object ahead (be it vehicle, wall, barrier, or anything else) it will apply the emergency braking system (which may still result in a collision in the given circumstances but at much less fatal speeds).

The industry has many highly effective AEB systems, and has for years now. I cannot comment on Ford's because I don't know specifically about its problems.