Car stuck in middle of intersection, all sorts of lights and warnings. TERRIBLE service so far. *EDIT* Car fell off the rack at dealer

fallguy

Well-Known Member
First Name
fallguy
Joined
Feb 17, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
213
Reaction score
320
Location
The south
Vehicles
2020 Defender, 1968 Mustang, 2021 Mach-E GT
Occupation
Federal
Country flag
I have had a Mach-E since Feb of 2021, never have I gotten a turtle or any other battery related issues. Never been stranded or broken down. It's the first year, of a new platform, things happen. Not even that upset that the car broke down, but at the service that I received so far.

Yesterday while running errands with wife and 5yo, I turned right on a road. Immediately the car jerked and warning lights flew up. Would not accelerate or do anything. Couldn't pull off to the right, as I was in the left lane and cars on the right and losing speed fast. So I pulled into a turning section of the 4 way in the middle.

Used Ford Pass for service. Waited 20 minutes, nothing. Found a number and called, couldn't understand anything she said. But claimed she submitted our request for tow. 30 minutes go by, we were supposed to get a text or notice of the tow truck. Called back again, the next lady said that the previous one wrote up the ticket but did not actually submit it. Couldn't understand her either, which made everything worse. The ticket was submitted and we got a notice within a few minutes of 60-75 minutes. I got an Uber for wife and 5 year old, didn't have anyone to call, AC wasn't working, and side of the road was not safe. It took almost 3 hours to get a tow. They send it out for bid, and the bidder who accepted only had one truck. I know this because I called the company and he told me. I told him I was in the middle of an intersection and have been for well over an hour. The notice he got did not say anything about that, or about having a child with me either, with no where to go.

Called the Ford dealership down the road, literally. 1.7 miles away, to give them a heads up of the car coming. She said that they did not have any room on the lot and they could not see my car until my appointment. Which is NEXT Wednesday, a whole week. She said I would either need to have it towed home, or to the lot. Then have it towed again when my appointment was. She also could not give me a loaner, until my appointment and a certified EV tech could see it and determine the problem.

It obviously can't be driven. Turning it on gives error after error and will not shift. Having to wait a week to get a loaner, because there is only one tech "in the area" and he is backed up is ridiculous. Luckily I have two other vehicles to drive, my '68 Mustang and a motorcycle. We have 4 kids though, neither is ideal for obvious reasons. Weather the next few days is terrible, strong storms.

As I said, not even upset the car broke down. It happens, to every mfg ever. The service has been terrible. Having one EV tech in the area, our city is just over 100k, and the Mach-E has been out for 15 months or so, with the Lightning coming out this week is terrible planning. With no excuse for it. Out sourcing the tow and support is common, everyone does that. Lowest bidder, etc. 3 hours is a long time though.

I am more upset at the no loaner car until it can be seen by one individual. The dealer claims, and it may be true, that they cannot submit a request for a loaner until it has been diagnosed. Previous dealerships from other car makers have given me a car for various reasons with zero problems.

Waited a day to post anything, really didn't want to just seem like I am bitching. Hopefully someone at Ford is taking notes and makes things better in the future. Planning on going to the dealership tomorrow and pleading my case, wanted to cool off for a day or so as I was pretty heated yesterday. It was 87 degree and humid AF, with no AC on the side of the road with my wife and 5yo. Then get told I can't get a car, oh and you can't even have it towed to the dealership where they will be working on it.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Car stuck in middle of intersection, all sorts of lights and warnings. TERRIBLE service so far. *EDIT* Car fell off the rack at dealer 20220525_124118
Ford Mustang Mach-E Car stuck in middle of intersection, all sorts of lights and warnings. TERRIBLE service so far. *EDIT* Car fell off the rack at dealer 20220525_124116
Ford Mustang Mach-E Car stuck in middle of intersection, all sorts of lights and warnings. TERRIBLE service so far. *EDIT* Car fell off the rack at dealer Screenshot_20220525-145133_FordPass
 
Last edited:

urmyboyblue

Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
15
Reaction score
42
Location
Arizona
Vehicles
Lexus IS 350
Country flag
Same thing happened to me last year. The jolt and the lose power. My car would turn on the next day and I could drive it about 15 miles before happening again. My advise is to park it and come back to it tomorrow. If you already towed it, it should turn on enough to turtle home scared. Its frustrating but they will figure it out. They replaced my wiring hardness and something else. Drove for a day and back in the shop for a few more weeks. Ultimately they replaced some battery cells that were defective and not a problem since. Good luck!
 

BadgerGreg

Well-Known Member
First Name
Greg
Joined
Dec 2, 2020
Threads
29
Messages
629
Reaction score
1,525
Location
North Carolina
Vehicles
2023 Mach E Premium RWD SR and 2022 BMW i4 M50
Occupation
Engineer
Country flag
Sorry to hear about that...glad you're safe! Reach out to @Ford Motor Company; they may be able to give you options to secure a rental car to bridge between now and when the dealership can give you a loaner. They helped me out in the past when I was stranded; I can't guarantee they'll cover rental costs, but never hurts to ask. They (Ford) can also help to expedite repairs with your dealership, as they did for me.
 

BigMach-E

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Threads
54
Messages
1,339
Reaction score
1,502
Location
Bay Area
Vehicles
Mach-E GTPE Shadow Black 2021
Occupation
IT
Country flag
Yikes. Welcome to the "Stop Safely Now" club, a team no one wants to join. Glad you and yours are safe. A week to look at the car is unacceptable. Submit to NHTSA.gov. Call Ford Customer Service, expect to go over the story twice, once to the first person who answers, second to your soon to be assigned rep. Get a case with Ford made. Explain that you need this to be expedited, and don't take no for an answer. Stop dealing with the dealership alone, request the Ford rep gets involved. @Ford Motor Company , this is continuing to happen to an alarming amount of vehicles. Please actually do something about it.
 


VegStang

Well-Known Member
First Name
Leo
Joined
Jan 30, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
1,247
Reaction score
1,340
Location
Silicon Valley
Vehicles
Volvo C40 Recharge, 2021 MME
Occupation
Artist, animal rights activist
Country flag
Sorry that you have joined the club. I joined it today after 13k miles, 12/20 build. Will not charge or start, but I did manage to get it home. Guess I will be in the garage and await service trip- at which time I hope it will start and bypass the tow hassle.
 

JohnFoxeSheets

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Threads
21
Messages
2,449
Reaction score
3,395
Location
San Francisco
Website
johnfoxesheets.com
Vehicles
2022 Iced Blue Silver Mach E GT
Occupation
Retired Engineer
Country flag
@fallguy So sorry to hear this. Here are a couple things that might help:
  1. Ask the dealership to pull up the list of DTCs for your car using their computer. The dealership that fixed my car was able to do it while it was being towed and on the basis of that they approved my car rental.
  2. Try calling Ford Customer Service and ask them to help you find another dealership within a reasonable distance that can look at your car sooner. They did this for me. If they find one, ask them to approve having the car towed to that dealership.
Best of luck!
 

BigMach-E

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Threads
54
Messages
1,339
Reaction score
1,502
Location
Bay Area
Vehicles
Mach-E GTPE Shadow Black 2021
Occupation
IT
Country flag
This is perfectly stated. If I had a Mach-E on order, in this market, and I had a family that relied on my car being safe, I would buy the car, turn right around, and sell it, pocket some profit, pocket the tax credit, and buy a car from a different maker at this point. That way it takes a tax credit incentive away from another sale by Ford, someone out there gets a car for likely less than a dealership is going to gouge them, you come ahead with a big win, and Ford misses out on another sale. If that is what it takes to get Ford to acknowledge there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed, right now, so be it.

I don't understand how the windshield reseal recall was such a priority, when the issue that was supposedly addressed, has happened to exactly no one. This has been given no action other than repairing the cars it has already happened to, by replacing the parts with the same parts that have failed. That isn't fixing the issue, it's temporary.
 
OP
OP

fallguy

Well-Known Member
First Name
fallguy
Joined
Feb 17, 2021
Threads
11
Messages
213
Reaction score
320
Location
The south
Vehicles
2020 Defender, 1968 Mustang, 2021 Mach-E GT
Occupation
Federal
Country flag
Thanks for all the advice. Yesterday I received a call about noon, telling me that I could go pick up a rental at 2. I believe someone on these forums helped me to get a rental, after receiving a DM here.

When my contact from the shop called to tell me this, he said *long pause* "It will be awhile", really stressing it. Rental isn't comparable, but still free so I'm thankful. I have it until June 6th at least. He told me they found room on their lot and has the car moved.

So two good things yesterday, all that's left is to fix whatever the problem(s) are.

I rarely see another Mach-E, but when we were trying to get my car on the tow truck, another Mach-E passed by and pulled into a parking lot right across, took some pics. Was a light blue color, not sure of its exact name. Be interesting to see those pics if she's a member here.

Again thanks for those who offered support and suggestions. Everyone is safe, have a rental. Not in a huge hurry to fix it. Was going to drive it on date night for Top Gun 2, looks like driving the '68 now. Whoa is me haha.
 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
200
Messages
13,132
Reaction score
17,849
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat
Country flag
Within 25 miles of my house are about a dozen Ford dealers. I left my prior dealer for several reasons, including their small size and one EV tech.

If you buy an EV, shouldn't you ensure an adequate technician base with x miles of your home before buying?

We are/were considering relocating for retirement. Only 3 Ford dealers in the area. All are EV dealers. If we moved, I would evaluate each before buying an EV there.
 

AlpaChino

Well-Known Member
First Name
JB
Joined
May 4, 2021
Threads
40
Messages
740
Reaction score
1,825
Location
Indiana
Vehicles
Mach-e Premium eAWD Ext Range, Rapid Red
Country flag
If you buy an EV, shouldn't you ensure an adequate technician base with x miles of your home before buying?
If you are a legacy auto manufacturer, and go to market with an EV and billions on the line, shouldn't your well established dealer network and support agents be adequately trained and supported to deliver the service your brand has been built on for more than 100 years?

It's easier to blame the little guy I guess.
 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
200
Messages
13,132
Reaction score
17,849
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat
Country flag
If you are a legacy auto manufacturer, and go to market with an EV and billions on the line, shouldn't your well established dealer network and support agents be adequately trained and supported to deliver the service your brand has been built on for more than 100 years?

It's easier to blame the little guy I guess.
I totally agree with you.

But you missed my point.

If there is one Ford dealer within 25 miles of my house, and they have one EV tech (and one diesel tech, and one expert on whatever), then isn't it in my best interest to figure that out BEFORE buying the vehicle? Is it Ford's fault that there's only one dealer where I might live? No.

When I considered buying an HEV in 2009, I did my research. Did it again when I got my PHEV in 2018, moving to another dealer because my salesman retired AND they had one HEV/PHEV tech on staff - and I experienced the "he's on vacation this week" and "he has 2 cars before yours".

My dealership has a lot of techs. Recently, they were down to one diesel tech because of people leaving, and had a 3 week wait.

I'm not blaming anyone, just stating that people need to do their research before buying.
Sponsored

 
 




Top