Stop Safely Now (HVBJB): Mach-E Owners Biggest Fear - Facts and Info Thread

[Plutoman15]

I think mine finally blew. Mine is a gtpe 2021 September build, 16,000 miles. I never go above 80 and generally travel at 72 on the interstate. It blew 2 miles from home after leaving in the morning. Did not have it on the charger.
How long are the repairs taking these days? Parts easy to get?

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[AKgrampy]

I think mine finally blew. Mine is a gtpe 2021 September build, 16,000 miles. I never go above 80 and generally travel at 72 on the interstate. It blew 2 miles from home after leaving in the morning. Did not have it on the charger.
How long are the repairs taking these days? Parts easy to get?

It appears. parts come in fairly quick these days; however, getting in and getting it diagnosed seems to take some time for some people.

 

[Plutoman15]

It appears. parts come in fairly quick these days; however, getting in and getting it diagnosed seems to take some time for some people.

I have a great dealer, they just called, went through the checks and confirmed it needs the HVBJB replaced. They said they can have the part tomorrow and maybe fixed tomorrow depending if the one ev approved mechanic can get it all done. Worse case finished Monday or Tuesday. Not bad considering I just dropped it off this morning with no notice. (I will add our company does a decent amount of business with them so that may be helping me out)

so parts seem in good supply and it comes down to your dealers schedule. Hoping the newest parts are more reliable for this issue.

 

[AKgrampy]

I have a great dealer, they just called, went through the checks and confirmed it needs the HVBJB replaced. They said they can have the part tomorrow and maybe fixed tomorrow depending if the one ev approved mechanic can get it all done. Worse case finished Monday or Tuesday. Not bad considering I just dropped it off this morning with no notice. (I will add our company does a decent amount of business with them so that may be helping me out)

so parts seem in good supply and it comes done to your dealers schedule. Hoping the newest parts are more reliable for this issue.

Newer parts are more reliable. Some failures it seems but very few.

 

[Perrin]

I need advice. I have a 2021 mach e which has had several computer glitches in the past. About a year ago I had 3 separate incidences of the turtle showing up but after turning off the car for 5 minutes it disappeared and behaved normally. Now, about 3 weeks ago I had a wrench show up and service soon message. I made an appointment for a couple of days later but the morning of the appointment it had disappeared. I brought it in anyway but was told that if it had gone then there was nothing they could do about it. So, a few days ago I went to head to an appointment and the car had a wrench, a turtle and a pull over now indication. I had the car towed to the dealer and they tell me that there was a code which required something to be reprogramed and was told that now it's fine, come get your car. I told them that I am not comfortable taking the car until they are sure the high voltage junction box is not the problem. I have 6 months left in my "option plan". I got a case number on the day the car died. What now? Take the car and try to get them to end the option early? Should I get a new Mach E (I love my car) or should this be enough to say Ford is not a good idea?

 

[dtbaker61]

I need advice. I have a 2021 mach e which has had several computer glitches in the past. About a year ago I had 3 separate incidences of the turtle showing up but after turning off the car for 5 minutes it disappeared and behaved normally. Now, about 3 weeks ago I had a wrench show up and service soon message. I made an appointment for a couple of days later but the morning of the appointment it had disappeared. I brought it in anyway but was told that if it had gone then there was nothing they could do about it. So, a few days ago I went to head to an appointment and the car had a wrench, a turtle and a pull over now indication. I had the car towed to the dealer and they tell me that there was a code which required something to be reprogramed and was told that now it's fine, come get your car. I told them that I am not comfortable taking the car until they are sure the high voltage junction box is not the problem. I have 6 months left in my "option plan". I got a case number on the day the car died. What now? Take the car and try to get them to end the option early? Should I get a new Mach E (I love my car) or should this be enough to say Ford is not a good idea?

your dealer probably should not have cleared the codes and called you fixed.
get a copy of the DTC codes they pulled, and have them check against the known indicators for the HVBJB SSM

 

[heisnuts]

I need advice. I have a 2021 mach e which has had several computer glitches in the past. About a year ago I had 3 separate incidences of the turtle showing up but after turning off the car for 5 minutes it disappeared and behaved normally. Now, about 3 weeks ago I had a wrench show up and service soon message. I made an appointment for a couple of days later but the morning of the appointment it had disappeared. I brought it in anyway but was told that if it had gone then there was nothing they could do about it. So, a few days ago I went to head to an appointment and the car had a wrench, a turtle and a pull over now indication. I had the car towed to the dealer and they tell me that there was a code which required something to be reprogramed and was told that now it's fine, come get your car. I told them that I am not comfortable taking the car until they are sure the high voltage junction box is not the problem. I have 6 months left in my "option plan". I got a case number on the day the car died. What now? Take the car and try to get them to end the option early? Should I get a new Mach E (I love my car) or should this be enough to say Ford is not a good idea?

If it was a HVBJB code the light would not go away by itself. If it were me, I would first try another dealer if the SVS light were to come on again. If that doesn't work, I might be tempted to drive it for the 6 months you have left on the options plan and turn it in at that time (assuming the light keeps going out by itself).

 

[mkhuffman]

I need advice. I have a 2021 mach e which has had several computer glitches in the past. About a year ago I had 3 separate incidences of the turtle showing up but after turning off the car for 5 minutes it disappeared and behaved normally. Now, about 3 weeks ago I had a wrench show up and service soon message. I made an appointment for a couple of days later but the morning of the appointment it had disappeared. I brought it in anyway but was told that if it had gone then there was nothing they could do about it. So, a few days ago I went to head to an appointment and the car had a wrench, a turtle and a pull over now indication. I had the car towed to the dealer and they tell me that there was a code which required something to be reprogramed and was told that now it's fine, come get your car. I told them that I am not comfortable taking the car until they are sure the high voltage junction box is not the problem. I have 6 months left in my "option plan". I got a case number on the day the car died. What now? Take the car and try to get them to end the option early? Should I get a new Mach E (I love my car) or should this be enough to say Ford is not a good idea?

I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, but it sounds like you've got a really crappy dealership to work with. If you are getting errors like that, there is a problem. They didn't fix anything. Maybe try another dealership? At least I would ask them for exactly what they reprogrammed and why that fixed the problem. If all they did was update a few software modules, that wouldn't fix it I don't think.

 

[mjkeen51]

Right now I am about evenly split between (1) the original and replacement HVBJB's being defective, (2) some other underlying defect with the car, or (3) the GTPE simply drawing too much power for the HVBJB to handle. I do drive it like a Mustang ought to be, not like some granny car so I am definitely putting some power through the box. If it burns out a third HVBJB after this visit, or displays some other defect in the electrical system I will be leaning strongly on the side of misdiagnosis of the root cause by dealer and/or poor engineering by FORD. TBD

based on my experience it seems to be number 3. 2023 GTPE had for less than 2 days. Took it on a 180 mile trip planning on spending the night and heading home tomorrow. Used DCFC to go from 30% to 80% then about 45 minutes later ended up driving it like a mustang for 20 minutes. Wound up with SVS message along with high voltage and power train issue. Now I’m 2 states away from home and trying to determine if it’s worth the risk to baby all the way home or try to have it towed home so it doesn’t brick on the highway. As of now can’t get to dealership for 2 weeks, but will call the rep tomorrow to see he can get it in sooner.

 

[DevSecOps]

based on my experience it seems to be number 3. 2023 GTPE had for less than 2 days. Took it on a 180 mile trip planning on spending the night and heading home tomorrow. Used DCFC to go from 30% to 80% then about 45 minutes later ended up driving it like a mustang for 20 minutes. Wound up with SVS message along with high voltage and power train issue. Now I’m 2 states away from home and trying to determine if it’s worth the risk to baby all the way home or try to have it towed home so it doesn’t brick on the highway. As of now can’t get to dealership for 2 weeks, but will call the rep tomorrow to see he can get it in sooner.

2 states away... At the very least be mentally prepared for it to brick on you if you attempt to drive it home. While it might make it, I wasn't so lucky and only got about 250 miles on my car trying to get home from about 500 miles away. Some people get lucky, others don't. Be prepared and know how to tow it etc. Instructions are in the first post.

 

[mjkeen51]

2 states away... At the very least be mentally prepared for it to brick on you if you attempt to drive it home. While it might make it, I wasn't so lucky and only got about 250 miles on my car trying to get home from about 500 miles away. Some people get lucky, others don't. Be prepared and know how to tow it etc. Instructions are in the first post.

Aghh that sucks but at least now I can justify trying to get ahead of it and trying to get it towed from where I am instead of being stock on the side of the highway.

 

[DevSecOps]

Aghh that sucks but at least now I can justify trying to get ahead of it and trying to get it towed from where I am instead of being stock on the side of the highway.

Yeah that's just a personal risk assessment on your behalf. No one can make that call for you. You might very well be able to make it home, you might not. It's a toss up. But if you do elect to try, just be aware of the possibilities and be prepared.

 

[dtbaker61]

based on my experience it seems to be number 3. 2023 GTPE had for less than 2 days. Took it on a 180 mile trip planning on spending the night and heading home tomorrow. Used DCFC to go from 30% to 80% then about 45 minutes later ended up driving it like a mustang for 20 minutes. Wound up with SVS message along with high voltage and power train issue. Now I’m 2 states away from home and trying to determine if it’s worth the risk to baby all the way home or try to have it towed home so it doesn’t brick on the highway. As of now can’t get to dealership for 2 weeks, but will call the rep tomorrow to see he can get it in sooner.

Your problem may not be a HVBJB at all.... I don't think there have been many '23 show that failure since they all have the re-designed HVBJB.

Do you have an OBD2 adaptor and CarScanner app so you can see and export your DTC error codes? Do NOT clear them, but it can be very informative to look as see what codes are there before you get to the dealership.

If it is the HVBJB, and your car threw the SVS alert, chances are 'pretty good' that the internal software clamps will cap your max output to about 125kw, and you 'should' be able to drive until you can get to you dealership, verify the DTC, and they order the part. You will note this by the (lack of) usual power.

I drove several hundred miles after my Alert while waiting for the part. If Dealership orders thru correct channels, they should be able to get the part in 3-5 days. Hopefully this is not their first experience with a failed HVBJB ?

 

[stealthytolkien]

HVBJB modules need to be use replaceable.

 

[mjkeen51]

Your problem may not be a HVBJB at all.... I don't think there have been many '23 show that failure since they all have the re-designed HVBJB.

Do you have an OBD2 adaptor and CarScanner app so you can see and export your DTC error codes? Do NOT clear them, but it can be very informative to look as see what codes are there before you get to the dealership.

If it is the HVBJB, and your car threw the SVS alert, chances are 'pretty good' that the internal software clamps will cap your max output to about 125kw, and you 'should' be able to drive until you can get to you dealership, verify the DTC, and they order the part. You will note this by the (lack of) usual power.

I drove several hundred miles after my Alert while waiting for the part. If Dealership orders thru correct channels, they should be able to get the part in 3-5 days. Hopefully this is not their first experience with a failed HVBJB ?

Don’t have the car scanner but going to get one asap. Pretty sure it is HVJB. Made it home ok but definitely has way less power so feels like it’s being throttled back.

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