2021 AWD Rear Drive Motor Failure after 52,000 miles, not covered under warranty (Almost Solved)

[Hubert]

2 Weeks ago, our Mach-E went into limp mode and would not move. After towing the car to the dealer and full diagnostics, it was determined that the rear drive motor failed. I later realized I had pink transmission-looking fluid in my garage, which was from the motor.
The motor part number is:
LJ9Z7C629A / LJ9P-7P500-AF

When the service adviser entered the part number in the system, it came back that it was not covered under warranty. I separately called Ford and they confirmed that the rear drive motor is not covered under the 5yr/60k powertrain warranty, nor the 8yr/100k battery/eDrive warranty.

The dealer is baffled as am I. We don't understand why Ford does not consider the rear drive motor part of the powertrain.

The service manager has created an escalation case with Ford to see how they respond.

Has anyone experience anything similar with the drive motor and/or regarding its warranty?

Below is the narrative the tech wrote up in the notes to Ford:

"
Needs immediate attention
1 of 1 services
________________________________________
Recommended service
misc: PERFORMED PINPOINT TEST, CHECKED FLUID IN REAR DRIVE UNIT AND FOUND HEAVY METAL DEBRIS CHECKED
FOR CODES FOUND CODES FOR REAR DRIVE UNIT OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR AND REAR DRIVE MOTOR TORQUE PERFORMANCE
OUT OF SPEC, CODES P174E P0C19. TEST LEAD TO REPLACE REAR DRIVE UNIT.
"

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[Tampamike]

Boy, it seems to me that an electric drive motor is both part of the powertrain AND the edrive. It’s the electric component that powers the car right?

 

[grein002]

Well, looking at the warranty docs for my 2023.0 GTPE, I found this:

(1) Your vehicle’s Powertrain components are covered for five
years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The extended
Powertrain coverage applies to all components of the driveline
that are not specifically covered by the Electric Vehicle
Component warranty. Powertrain components that receive
warranty coverage for five years or 60,000 miles may include
gears, differential, shafts, fluid pumps, seals and gaskets,
bearings, mounts, drive shaft, retainers, supports, universal and
constant velocity joints.
(2) The high voltage battery and eDrive systems of your vehicle
are covered by the Electric Vehicle Component coverage for eight
years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. High voltage
battery and eDrive components covered by this warranty include
the high voltage battery assembly, Bussed Electrical Center
(BEC), Battery Energy Control Module (BECM), on-board
charger, Inverter System Controller (ISC), DC/DC converter, and
eDrive. If a covered component requires replacement under the
Electric Vehicle Component warranty, it may be replaced with a
new, factory remanufactured, or factory refurbished component,
at Ford’s discretion. Refurbished battery components selected
for your vehicle will align with your vehicle’s age and mileage and
meet Ford’s requirements and standards.

If we agree that the electric motor is part of the driveline, Part 2 says it covers the "eDrive", which I would think is the the motor. However, Part 1 says it covers everything in the driveline not covered in Part 2 for 5yrs/60K miles. I certainly think the motor is covered under one of these two sections.

Ford and/or dealer saying the motor isn't covered under powertrain warranty is like saying an ICE engine isn't covered under powertrain warranty.

 

[Mach1E]

2 Weeks ago, our Mach-E went into limp mode and would not move. After towing the car to the dealer and full diagnostics, it was determined that the rear drive motor failed. I later realized I had pink transmission-looking fluid in my garage, which was from the motor.
The motor part number is:
LJ9Z7C629A / LJ9P-7P500-AF

When the service adviser entered the part number in the system, it came back that it was not covered under warranty. I separately called Ford and they confirmed that the rear drive motor is not covered under the 5yr/60k powertrain warranty, nor the 8yr/100k battery/eDrive warranty.

The dealer is baffled as am I. We don't understand why Ford does not consider the rear drive motor part of the powertrain.

The service manager has created an escalation case with Ford to see how they respond.

Has anyone experience anything similar with the drive motor and/or regarding its warranty?

Below is the narrative the tech wrote up in the notes to Ford:

"
Needs immediate attention
1 of 1 services
________________________________________
Recommended service
misc: PERFORMED PINPOINT TEST, CHECKED FLUID IN REAR DRIVE UNIT AND FOUND HEAVY METAL DEBRIS CHECKED
FOR CODES FOUND CODES FOR REAR DRIVE UNIT OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR AND REAR DRIVE MOTOR TORQUE PERFORMANCE
OUT OF SPEC, CODES P174E P0C19. TEST LEAD TO REPLACE REAR DRIVE UNIT.
"

Who at Ford did you talk to?

It seems to definitely be covered in the warranty language.

This is something perfect that @Ford Motor Company can help you with.

 

[Ford_orr]

That can't be any kinds of right. Keep communicating with FORD. No way that rear drive motor's not part of the power train. That's like saying the glass isn't part of the windshield.

 

[tuminatr]

I would call the EV team 1-800-334-4375 and open a case.

 

[Hubert]

Who at Ford did you talk to?

It seems to definitely be covered in the warranty language.

This is something perfect that @Ford Motor Company can help you with.

I called the warranty 800 number in the warranty guide

 

[Mach1E]

I called the warranty 800 number in the warranty guide

This wouldn’t be the first time someone on the other end of an 800 number was wrong.

Electric motors are one of the basic components of the eDrive system.

And even if they somehow categorize them differently they would be a part of the “all” coverage in the powertrain warranty.

“
Powertrain coverage applies to all components of the driveline
that are not specifically covered by the Electric Vehicle Component warranty. Powertrain components that receive
warranty coverage for five years or 60,000 miles may include…..”

 

[awp0]

As someone approaching the end of their Ford Options term (and undecided if I'll keep it), I'm very interested in how this resolves. I think it would be ridiculous if Ford claims the drive motors aren't part of the eDrive system.

 

[jay1122]

How is the motor not part of the powertrain warranty. It is literally the "powertrain" itself. The motor costs $3.2K. With labor, you are looking at $5K repair bill. Honestly, this is very disappointing. My car's front camera went out. I am not gonna pay $2K-$3K to change the coaxial cable. I will definitely get rid of the car around 100K miles assuming it doesn't break down before than.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

2 Weeks ago, our Mach-E went into limp mode and would not move. After towing the car to the dealer and full diagnostics, it was determined that the rear drive motor failed. I later realized I had pink transmission-looking fluid in my garage, which was from the motor.
The motor part number is:
LJ9Z7C629A / LJ9P-7P500-AF

When the service adviser entered the part number in the system, it came back that it was not covered under warranty. I separately called Ford and they confirmed that the rear drive motor is not covered under the 5yr/60k powertrain warranty, nor the 8yr/100k battery/eDrive warranty.

The dealer is baffled as am I. We don't understand why Ford does not consider the rear drive motor part of the powertrain.

The service manager has created an escalation case with Ford to see how they respond.

Has anyone experience anything similar with the drive motor and/or regarding its warranty?

Below is the narrative the tech wrote up in the notes to Ford:

"
Needs immediate attention
1 of 1 services
________________________________________
Recommended service
misc: PERFORMED PINPOINT TEST, CHECKED FLUID IN REAR DRIVE UNIT AND FOUND HEAVY METAL DEBRIS CHECKED
FOR CODES FOUND CODES FOR REAR DRIVE UNIT OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR AND REAR DRIVE MOTOR TORQUE PERFORMANCE
OUT OF SPEC, CODES P174E P0C19. TEST LEAD TO REPLACE REAR DRIVE UNIT.
"

Hi there, Hubert. This rear drive motor concern doesn’t sound like something we want you to experience with your Mach-E. Should you need further assistance, please send us a DM with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer and I'd be happy to look into how I can assist you on my end. To send a direct message, just click on our username and select "Send Direct Message".

 

[Options]

Extended warranty would have cost under $3000

 

[GrayWolf]

EDIT on 11-23-2024: This is no longer relevant as per later updates. Leaving this here because it was true at the time that I posted it.

If this turns out to not be covered by the Powertrain warranty, that would influence my interest in maintaining ownership of my own Mach-E. This is crazy. @Ford Motor Company it would be good to make a note to circle back around with this thread to make it clear if this is covered or not.

 

[Michael H. Humphrey]

Please post you results. I also have ‘21 AWD. I totally agree with the posts and suspect a decent attorney would win a case against ford based on these facts. To say the rear drive motor is not part of the power train is ludicrous!

 

[david_quick]

Please keep us updated on the resolution for this. I see @Ford Motor Company has reached out to you and it would be interesting to hear how they helped.

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