"Check 12-Volt Battery" alert in FordPass now enabled

[MargaritavilleNH]

Based on reports I'm seeing from a few owners, it looks like Ford has enabled the "Check 12-Volt Battery" message in FordPass! This is the message to replace your 12V battery when it is getting old and weak before you have a dead car or lockout, which is something we've been asking about for a long time. Glad to finally see it working, we now have some warning about pending 12V failure. This was announced back in September.

As far as I can tell, the message is triggered when the detected 12V battery capacity (in amp-hours) has declined below a threshold (unclear on the exact Ah number), which occurs when the battery has aged sufficiently. If you get this message, it means your 12V battery is unhealthy and should likely be replaced ASAP. This is a different message than the previous "Plug in to Maintain 12V Battery" and "Electrical System Drain Service Required" messages, which are based on 12V system drain (rather than battery health).

I'm not 100% clear if this is enabled for all Mach-E's yet (or just a subset), but the current recall may have something to do with it. For now, I'm still going to recommend 12V battery replacement every 3-5 years to mitigate risk.

So is this the solution to the recall? Can I pick up my new car which is due in next week?

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[Mach-Lee]

So is this the solution to the recall? Can I pick up my new car which is due in next week?

No.

 

[MargaritavilleNH]

No.

What are you thinking may be a solution to the recall/liability fears? This possible problem has been there since day one, right?

 

[bbulkow]

Good. Ford’s documentation says to test the battery, and if it’s bad then the battery needs to be replaced and the BMS reset in order to clear the warning message.

I expect It will take some time for dealers to learn what to do when encountering this message.

Because, you know, 12v systems in cars are pretty new tech!

I jest. It is the message and the new system of having lvb and hvb in one car that confuses them, and admittedly is slightly complex. I have not found a good dealer yet in my area and don't intend to keep looking.

Being new to fords, i was confused about customer sat vs recall, and spent 350 bucks at a dealer to learn the difference (they stated i didn't really spend it because ford points, to me that's real money that i intend to spend on tires). Color me livid, that's an expensive education. I will be avoiding dealers as much as possible and don't intend to "random walk" though my dealers to find one.

Would love if the 12v soh pid is in car, and can be accessed? You point out it might not be cloud accessible.... but i have the car.... Bms system should have a pretty good view....

 

[DYohn]

What are you thinking may be a solution to the recall/liability fears? This possible problem has been there since day one, right?

The recall situation is completely separate from the FordPass notification. The recall will be a fix (or at least a mitigation) to the problem, and the "stop sale" notice is so dealers can avoid selling cars that have not been fixed yet. The FordPass notification is simply information letting users know they may have an imminent problem with their LV battery.

 

[MetalCord]

I took my car to the dealer two days ago specifically to check the battery because it’s approaching 4.5 years old. They said it was fine, and I was skeptical and prodded, but they were insistent. Yesterday I got the push notification. I’m confused and frustrated how that happened. On the plus side, they’re sending a mobile tech to replace the battery at my house this afternoon for no extra charge (just the battery cost).

2021 Job 1, 10.1.1 non-EA

I had a 12V battery that was dying in my PowerBoost F-150 from the day I bought truck. It kept going into low power mode but the dealership said the battery "tested fine". I don't remember the last straw that prompted more dealership involvement but they finally acknowledged that I was right in my complaints about the battery since the day I bought the truck. I couldn't get the truck into the shop that day so I had the wife do it. That was a mistake. She got bored and started shopping for a replacement for our Escape because it was too boring and she convinced me to test drive a Mach-E GT. ...and the rest, as they say, is history.

Also the moral of the story is that whatever method they use to test 12V batteries seems to be inadequate. Battery in the truck was replaced under warranty and I haven't had a power issue since.

 

[DYohn]

Just got the "check your battery" notice on FordPass. Not going to mess with it. Called dealer, appointment to change it out set for tomorrow morning.

 

[KAustin]

Just got the "check your battery" notice on FordPass. Not going to mess with it. Called dealer, appointment to change it out set for tomorrow morning.

I just got the same thing. Odd that they add the capability and now we're getting the warning. Now I have that and need new tires which is why I jumped on here to check recommendations in the first place.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I just got the same thing. Odd that they add the capability and now we're getting the warning.

That's exactly the expected behavior. As this gets turned on, everyone that's been driving around with a bad battery for months or years and has no idea will start to get notified. So expect a surge of people getting this warning in the coming weeks and months.

 

[the golden eel]

I guess the million-dollar question is if this new notice will be robust enough that I can wait to replace my 12V battery until I receive the notice? Or do I preemptively change my battery at 3 years?

My car is a Sept '22 build and I took delivery end of Oct '22. I was planning on replacing my 12V before winter. Still am thinking I will, but now that I should get notified makes me wonder just a bit on how necessary that might be.

 

[DYohn]

I guess the million-dollar question is if this new notice will be robust enough that I can wait to replace my 12V battery until I receive the notice? Or do I preemptively change my battery at 3 years?

My car is a Sept '22 build and I took delivery end of Oct '22. I was planning on replacing my 12V before winter. Still am thinking I will, but now that I should get notified makes me wonder just a bit on how necessary that might be.

I would wait. I've had my car for a bit over four years with nary a problem. I got the message today and decided to be proactive about it rather than have the dealer simply "check" it. But if I had not yet gotten the notice I'd just keep on motoring until I did.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I guess the million-dollar question is if this new notice will be robust enough that I can wait to replace my 12V battery until I receive the notice? Or do I preemptively change my battery at 3 years?

Ideally we'd be able to rely on getting the alert, but it's untested and I don't think it's been enabled for everyone's vehicle yet. I would expect a staged rollout, otherwise there would be a huge run on 12V batteries all at once. Therefore, I would not assume the alert has been enabled for your vehicle yet, and I would not use it as justification for delaying a 12V battery replacement at this time. Stick to a 3 year replacement cycle for now.

Most of the 12V batteries will fail in the 3-5 year timeframe depending on conditions and use. Replacement at 3 years is a safe bet if you can't tolerate a lockout situation.

If you do get the alert, then count your lucky stars you got early warning and get it replaced ASAP.

 

[Vgkfan]

My take on this is I‘m really happy we might get a heads up before the 12v just dies and strands us somewhere. If the battery is somewhat less than 3 years old, I’ll have the battery checked. If it’s 3 years or more, will most likely just replace it.

 

[JamFly]

Imma say this is a false positive now. After taking the car in and getting a new battery, the alert has returned

 

[dallowev]

Imma say this is a false positive now. After taking the car in and getting a new battery, the alert has returned

Well that isn't great.

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