Defective Ford Mobile Chargers?

[Logal727]

This is what I started getting this week. I’ve been getting charging faults all week. I’ve noticed the same issues basically since I got the car 2.5 months ago. I only charge 2-3 times a week and only use the FMC as I charge at work during the day.

I might have to get a different mobile charger. If the charger overheats in hot environments I’m screwed since it was only about 80 today and this summer is going to be much worse.

I’d ask your work if you could pay to install a Grizzl-E charger

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[Mach-Lee]

Uh does Ford engineering know about this?

He said Ford has it, I would assume so but who knows if the case ever gets looked at again. They probably sent it to Webasto with an FYI sticker.

 

[RSH]

Anyone had their Ford Mobile Charger (the one that came with your car) replaced under warranty because it was defective? I’ve read a few cases but wanted to put this out for greater input in case this is an emergent issue. Please share the symptoms of what it was doing (or not doing) before it was replaced. Did the issue affect 120V or 240V charging? Any known home electrical issues beforehand (lightning strike, tripped breaker, flickering lights, high/low line voltage)? Also share your vehicle build date if known. This information may be helpful for others experiencing charging issues.

Mine is being replaced right now under warranty. The FMC is my only source for charging (240V). A few weeks ago, I got a red blinking light when attempting to charge. No prior issues at all. FMC lasted just under a year. Build 2/2021, received 4/2021.

 

[RockwallRick]

My FMC never felt hot to touch even when the Amber light was displayed. However when I set up a fan to blow directly on it then it went back to pulsing blue as normal. Build 5/21, received 6/30/21. It still works but I replaced it this week with a GrizzlE.

 

[WJD]

Anyone had their Ford Mobile Charger (the one that came with your car) replaced under warranty because it was defective? I’ve read a few cases but wanted to put this out for greater input in case this is an emergent issue. Please share the symptoms of what it was doing (or not doing) before it was replaced. Did the issue affect 120V or 240V charging? Any known home electrical issues beforehand (lightning strike, tripped breaker, flickering lights, high/low line voltage)? Also share your vehicle build date if known. This information may be helpful for others experiencing charging issues.

I was charging in my garage, 120, with a goal of 80%. The charger stopped at 70%. When I checked it, the amber light was on. I unplugged and replugged the charger and it resumed charging but very slowly, 2 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. I'm worried about when it gets hot here in Tucson. I'll be leaving the Mach-e for about 5 months. I plan on setting the target charge to 50%. Does anyone have any idea how long it'll take the charge to decline from 80% to 50% when the car is just sitting?

 

[Mach-Lee]

Does anyone have any idea how long it'll take the charge to decline from 80% to 50% when the car is just sitting?

About 2-3 years.

 

[WJD]

I was charging in my garage, 120, with a goal of 80%. The charger stopped at 70%. When I checked it, the amber light was on. I unplugged and replugged the charger and it resumed charging but very slowly, 2 miles in an hour and 45 minutes. I'm worried about when it gets hot here in Tucson. I'll be leaving the Mach-e for about 5 months. I plan on setting the target charge to 50%. Does anyone have any idea how long it'll take the charge to decline from 80% to 50% when the car is just sitting?

I took the charger to the dealer, was told that the software had to be re-installed. I was skeptical but it works just fine now.

 

[kungfutea]

I took the charger to the dealer, was told that the software had to be re-installed. I was skeptical but it works just fine now.

Are you saying that they can reinstall software/reset the FMC? Thanks!

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[WJD]

I think that's accurate; they weren't very clear.

 

[OH2AZ2OH]

I just started getting the pulsing blue with yellow light on mine. Ambient temps were between 65F and 80F. Throttling was barely noticeable at cooler temps, I mostly caught it because the estimated charge complete time was bouncing from 3AM to 11AM, depending on when it pinged the car, but the actual charge added to the car looked pretty normal to me. At 80F, it looks like it throttled the charge rate to about 75% of normal. I'm guessing it isn't going to get any better, especially as we enter summer.

 

[MableMachE]

Ford is replacing my mobile charger.

I have a 2022 MME Select. My charger worked great on its dedicated NEMA 14-50 for the first month or two but then the Amber fault became more and more frequent. Ambient temps are about 58°F and the amber fault light next to the pulsing blue would come on withing 5 minutes of starting charging.

I took it to the service center where I purchased it and they kept it for most of a day with my defective charger to try to isolate the issue. They found that the Ford mobile charger was overheating under normal conditions and ordered a replacement. It took a couple of visits and they had to install a NEMA 14-50 outlet into their service center to recreate the fault, but they got it done with me staying on their case.

I decided to take it in because the charging was rate was slowing week by week. I was afraid if I let it continue I would not have enough charge for my daily driving.

If you are having issues take it to your service center with the mobile charger and let them take a look.

 

[Neil4Real]

Ford is replacing my mobile charger.

I have a 2022 MME Select. My charger worked great on its dedicated NEMA 14-50 for the first month or two but then the Amber fault became more and more frequent. Ambient temps are about 58°F and the amber fault light next to the pulsing blue would come on withing 5 minutes of starting charging.

I took it to the service center where I purchased it and they kept it for most of a day with my defective charger to try to isolate the issue. They found that the Ford mobile charger was overheating under normal conditions and ordered a replacement. It took a couple of visits and they had to install a NEMA 14-50 outlet into their service center to recreate the fault, but they got it done with me staying on their case.

I decided to take it in because the charging was rate was slowing week by week. I was afraid if I let it continue I would not have enough charge for my daily driving.

If you are having issues take it to your service center with the mobile charger and let them take a look.

The problem is the charger's design. They're just not robust enough to be a daily use charger, so the problem will just inevitably come back. I was hoping they would have made them better for 2022's, but clearly that isn't the case.

For what it is worth, mine has been throwing amber and blue lights all summer, throttling my charging and causing it to take an insane amount of time to add 10% battery. But now it has cooled down a bit and my charger seems to be back to max speed. I am no longer getting the "car will charge outside charging schedule" messages from FordPass, which I was getting daily when it was hot and my charger was throttling.

I guess I'm trying to say that it seems like the throttling does at least do its job and prevents the EVSE from being damaged.

 

[SV8T]

Are the reported issues on 120v as well or only when using 240v?

Don't have my MME yet but planning ahead.

 

[MableMachE]

The problem is the charger's design. They're just not robust enough to be a daily use charger, so the problem will just inevitably come back. I was hoping they would have made them better for 2022's, but clearly that isn't the case.

For what it is worth, mine has been throwing amber and blue lights all summer, throttling my charging and causing it to take an insane amount of time to add 10% battery. But now it has cooled down a bit and my charger seems to be back to max speed. I am no longer getting the "car will charge outside charging schedule" messages from FordPass, which I was getting daily when it was hot and my charger was throttling.

I guess I'm trying to say that it seems like the throttling does at least do its job and prevents the EVSE from being damaged.

True but my dealership claimed they had never even heard of any issues with the Ford mobile charger.

If more people take their chargers in for replacements Ford may update the design so they aren't losing as much money replacing people's EVSEs.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Are the reported issues on 120v as well or only when using 240v?

Don't have my MME yet but planning ahead.

IIRC, there was one report last summer of an EVSE amber light issue on 120V. The unit generates a lot more heat at 220V because it’s capable of more amperage as well as more voltage, so it’s much more likely to happen at 240V. Each time the EVSE is used and gotten to a high temperature, it runs the chance of damaging itself, making the likelihood of the amber light issue greater the next time the EVSE is used. ??

I still have yet to plug mine into a wall. ?‍?

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