Another one bites the dust: Premium AWD Extended Range HVBJB failure: 2021 Job 2

[jbirdzee]

Driving westbound on NYS I-90 approximately 30 minutes ago in Batavia NY. I was accelerating 60mph to 70mph just after completing the "climb" in snail traffic by the GCC campus for those of you familiar. FYI - I was accelerating, although not WOT. Temperature 65F, raining, a little bit windy and my efficiency was 2.5mi/kwh so there was some persistent load during the drive. I am currently at 16k miles. The only DCFC this car has ever had was at ~400mi on the odometer (That was on it's first trip as I drove it home, purchased new from an out of town dealership).

If anyone here has had this repair done in the WNY area, preferably Buffalo - please let me know. I'd prefer to take this to a dealer that has done the repair at least once before if at all possible. Thanks to all of the advice on the forums - I did back into my garage just in case I need a tow. I turned the car off and it does turn back on with the service vehicle soon warning but not stop safely now.

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[SnBGC]

Bummer. I hope you get your car back quickly and with parts that can support what appears to be totally normal driving conditions. These cars should be able to perform as designed.

 

[Logal727]

Changes in elevation seem to be the Achilles heel for the contactors it seems

 

[heisnuts]

Be prepared for a wait on parts. Mine is currently on order and tomorrow makes two weeks.

 

[Billyk24]

Changes in elevation seem to be the Achilles heel for the contactors it seems

But the western New York elevation change is not a Rocky Mt. Climb. Car should not fail because of this small height change.

 

[Logal727]

But the western New York elevation change is not a Rocky Mt. Climb. Car should not fail because of this small height change.

Well of course, that’s why there’s a recall

 

[jbirdzee]

Be prepared for a wait on parts. Mine is currently on order and tomorrow makes two weeks.

Curious, are you still driving it - did they give you a loaner?

 

[jbirdzee]

I've been reading all of the forums and commenting on a few of the different members who've had to go through the repair ordeal - while knowing full well that this has to be happening to me at some point. I felt sorry for the others that went through it, now I'm here feeling sorry for myself. I get the new car/new technology adoption thing and I knew the risks that go along with that when I went into this.

I just really can't stand interactions with dealerships (is anyone excited to take their car for repairs though?) and have some concerns, listed in order:
-A dealership -nearby- that knows how to fix this properly without making things worse (like breaking the battery cover,etc)
-A dealership that will work on the car even though I didn't buy it from them (I bought it from a dealership 400mi away)
-Ability to get a loaner for what seems I will be in for a lengthy time waiting for the parts.

These forums are a blessing but can also cause me some anxiety in looking for problems that I may or may not have - only because others ran into them. The takeaway though is that I am educated on what to expect here thanks to all of you. We'll see how it goes tomorrow when I start calling around.

 

[Ming]

It looks more and more sooner or later the contactor will go bad at some point. My feeling is they go bad over time, it's not it suddenly change from good to bad when you DCFC or climb a mountain or do WOT.

 

[jbirdzee]

It looks more and more sooner or later the contactor will go bad at some point. My feeling is they go bad over time, it's not it suddenly change from good to bad when you DCFC or climb a mountain or do WOT.

I tend to agree with this - especially considering I've done this trip 100+ times now, and some times with even higher headwinds, heater going in the winter, etc. Hopefully the newest version of the part is more robust? Hopefully.

 

[Ming]

We are now seeing multiple reports every day. I'm glad I traded in my 21 even its RWD SR. it may take longer time to go bad instead of immune to it.

So far no newer build after part update, but it could be just not there yet. The fail may take several months to over a year.

 

[EELinneman]

I'm looking at another 2 weeks for parts for mine. It's going t be very close to our 2 week vacation out of the country! You are spot on in that this will likely happen to everybody due to Ford saving a few pennies by choosing cheaper, lesser parts.

My wife has an Audi Q5 and the dealer/service experience is 180 degrees from what I am getting from Ford. The best way to describe the Audi folks is "chill". Service is always quicker than they set the expectation for, the experience is first class and they are so easy to work with. We have been through a couple of recalls and they are done quickly, competently and with great communications all around. Ford can learn something here.

 

[kennethjk]

Well of course, that’s why there’s a recall

I know they are calling this software upgrade a recall but as we all know, it’s not, they need a real recall to replace the lousy part they gave us

 

[jbirdzee]

I'm looking at another 2 weeks for parts for mine. It's going t be very close to our 2 week vacation out of the country! You are spot on in that this will likely happen to everybody due to Ford saving a few pennies by choosing cheaper, lesser parts.

My wife has an Audi Q5 and the dealer/service experience is 180 degrees from what I am getting from Ford. The best way to describe the Audi folks is "chill". Service is always quicker than they set the expectation for, the experience is first class and they are so easy to work with. We have been through a couple of recalls and they are done quickly, competently and with great communications all around. Ford can learn something here.

They've already demonstrated their unwillingness to learn something here though, haven't they? Interrupt driven HVBJB service is a crap way to say thanks to your customers who've rolled the dice with your brand and product.

When you have cars on the road with known deficiencies like this - it makes sense in my mind to seed some regional inventory so that the parts can be next day air to the service centers. All of the known materials to perform the repairs should be pipelined and ready. HVBJBs in each variant, the sealants and crap for the battery tray, some extra battery covers for the ones that get cracked.

Calls tomorrow, expectations are very very low.

 

[Logal727]

I know they are calling this software upgrade a recall but as we all know, it’s not, they need a real recall to replace the lousy part they gave us

It would be nice

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