"Check 12-Volt Battery" alert in FordPass now enabled

Mach-Lee · Jun 19, 2025

Based on reports I'm seeing from a few owners, it looks like Ford has enabled the "Check 12-Volt Battery" message in FordPass! This is the message to replace your 12V battery when it is getting old and weak before you have a dead car or lockout, which is something we've been asking about for a long time. Glad to finally see it working, we now have some warning about pending 12V failure. This was announced back in September.

As far as I can tell, the message is triggered when the detected 12V battery capacity (in amp-hours) has declined below a threshold (unclear on the exact Ah number), which occurs when the battery has aged sufficiently. If you get this message, it means your 12V battery is unhealthy and should likely be replaced ASAP. This is a different message than the previous "Plug in to Maintain 12V Battery" and "Electrical System Drain Service Required" messages, which are based on 12V system drain (rather than battery health).

I'm not 100% clear if this is enabled for all Mach-E's yet (or just a subset), but the current recall may have something to do with it. For now, I'm still going to recommend 12V battery replacement every 3-5 years to mitigate risk.

Ford Mustang Mach-E "Check 12-Volt Battery" alert in FordPass now enabled Check 12V Battery Mach-E

RickMachE · Jun 19, 2025

Announced in September, rolled out in June...

AskGoogleCallMike · Jun 19, 2025

Was this in the 10.2 update? Anyway to tell if we have in enabled?

rreddy3 · Jun 19, 2025

Mach-Lee said:
Based on reports I'm seeing from a few owners, it looks like Ford has enabled the "Check 12-Volt Battery" message in FordPass! This is the message to replace your 12V battery when it is getting old and weak before you have a dead car or lockout, which is something we've been asking about for a long time. Glad to finally see it working, we now have some warning about pending 12V failure. This was announced back in September.

As far as I can tell, the message is triggered when the detected 12V battery capacity (in amp-hours) has declined below a threshold (unclear on the exact Ah number), which occurs when the battery has aged sufficiently. If you get this message, it means your 12V battery is unhealthy and should likely be replaced ASAP. This is a different message than the previous "Plug in to Maintain 12V Battery" and "Electrical System Drain Service Required" messages, which are based on 12V system drain (rather than battery health).

I'm not 100% clear if this is enabled for all Mach-E's yet (or just a subset), but the current recall may have something to do with it. For now, I'm still going to recommend 12V battery replacement every 3-5 years to mitigate risk.

I would bet this apparent warning rollout is related to the recall which, as you know, covers 21-25 MY as seen in the hold/advance notice sent to dealers.

It doesn’t seem like a coincidence to me. Partly that’s because if Ford has the ability to push out a warning and failed to do so, and somone suffered a personal injury or worse as a result of being locked in and unable to be timely rescued, that’s as close to a slam dunk negligence winner as you can get -> liability on Ford.

If I were advising Ford, which of course I’m not, I would advise the warning feature be made available for all affected vehicles. I’d also suggest if vehicles not having an associated FP account can be identified, the registered owners be notified that the feature is available and urge them to register a FP account for the vehicle.

Of the couple of reports I noticed one was a low mileage 24 GT, the other a higher mileage 22 Premium. But as you note the sample is too small to tell how broadly among vehicles the warning is spread. Although in the absence of a definitive and credible statement from Ford on the warning feature it can’t be conclusive said it’s related to the recall, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

Bobcat17 · Jun 19, 2025

My 12v was showing 15% life at 3 1/2 years so I replaced before the dreaded lock-out.

Mach1E · Jun 19, 2025

AskGoogleCallMike said:
Was this in the 10.2 update? Anyway to tell if we have in enabled?

No, because I only have 10.1.1 on my 2021 and got the alert.

Ford Mustang Mach-E "Check 12-Volt Battery" alert in FordPass now enabled IMG_2515

What’s odd is I just checked the voltage out of curiosity.

Car has been sitting overnight, not charging. I unlocked popped the frunk…… 14.55v

That tells me it’s currently being charged by the HVB??? ?‍

I’ll check it again in a bit.

EasyPass · Jun 19, 2025

#BabySteps
(....but welcome, none the less)

infinihertz · Jun 19, 2025

I took my car to the dealer two days ago specifically to check the battery because it’s approaching 4.5 years old. They said it was fine, and I was skeptical and prodded, but they were insistent. Yesterday I got the push notification. I’m confused and frustrated how that happened. On the plus side, they’re sending a mobile tech to replace the battery at my house this afternoon for no extra charge (just the battery cost).

2021 Job 1, 10.1.1 non-EA

ChehRob · Jun 19, 2025

Tesla has had this for a long time, but my kid has warned me that when that message come on, it is best to get that new battery immediately or almost as soon. 12-volt batteries for EVs are a problem not yet solved.

eStang · Jun 19, 2025

While a notification in the app is a nice addition, what we have been asking for *forever* is a 12v battery health guage on the in-vehicle display. It should be trivial to add an app to the entertainment system, similar to the Tire Pressure app. Please @Ford Motor Company

EasyPass · Jun 19, 2025

eStang said:
While a notification in the app is a nice addition, what we have been asking for *forever* is a 12v battery health guage on the in-vehicle display. It should be trivial to add an app to the entertainment system, similar to the Tire Pressure app. Please @Ford Motor Company

Well, duh!
Couldn't agree more. I've been saying for some time that there is already space allocated on the IPC for a 12v battery status only when in Accessory Mode. It could be repurposed for an on-startup-check for this application as well.

moog · Jun 19, 2025

This is welcome news for sure.

Mach1E · Jun 19, 2025

moog said:
This is welcome news for sure.

Maybe…… if we knew what the parameters even are. And if our dealers are just telling us “your battery is fine,” it just wastes our time?

Especially since by the time you get this message the battery is likely well out of warranty.

ChehRob · Jun 19, 2025

The problem may be that an easy assessment of that 12-volt battery is not possible.

moog · Jun 19, 2025

Mach1E said:
Maybe…… if we knew what the parameters even are. And if our dealers are just telling us “your battery is fine,” it just wastes our time?

Especially since by the time you get this message the battery is likely well out of warranty.

I don't think most people care about the battery warranty.
What they do care about is a real-time notification that the 12 Volt is nearing end of life and it's time for replacement.

Prior to this it has been a guessing game of how old the battery is, charging sequences, and climate location, etc.

The dealer checking any 12V battery has never been a good gauge of battery life.
It's a snap shot.

This is better.

"Check 12-Volt Battery" alert in FordPass now enabled

Mach-Lee

Well-Known Member

RickMachE

Well-Known Member

AskGoogleCallMike

Member

rreddy3

Well-Known Member

Bobcat17

Well-Known Member

Mach1E

Well-Known Member

EasyPass

Well-Known Member

infinihertz

Well-Known Member

ChehRob

Well-Known Member

eStang

Well-Known Member

EasyPass

Well-Known Member

moog

Banned

Mach1E

Well-Known Member

ChehRob

Well-Known Member

moog

Banned

Similar threads