HELP PLEASE - Car Starting in Accessory Mode

[pengi00]

Looking for some help or other experiences. This morning was the second day in a row I went to start my 23 Mach E GT and it would only go into accessory mode and not let me put the car in to Drive. It also displayed the "red" battery icon and the "Red- Stop Safely" icon. On the first day I got out of the car, locked it, waited a moment then got back in and it started normally and let me go into drive. Today, it would not go into drive again, I tried the same steps from the day before several times but that did not work. I then went inside for 5-10 minutes, when I came back out the car had gone into it's departure mode and at that point it did let me start the car and enter drive mode. For now I have disabled the departures times as I thought maybe that was causing an issue.

Additional info: The car started and drove like normal the rest of the first day and today after the initial problem on both days.

Anyone else have a similar issue? If so any advice?

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[Ford Motor Company]

Looking for some help or other experiences. This morning was the second day in a row I went to start my 23 Mach E GT and it would only go into accessory mode and not let me put the car in to Drive. It also displayed the "red" battery icon and the "Red- Stop Safely" icon. On the first day I got out of the car, locked it, waited a moment then got back in and it started normally and let me go into drive. Today, it would not go into drive again, I tried the same steps from the day before several times but that did not work. I then went inside for 5-10 minutes, when I came back out the car had gone into it's departure mode and at that point it did let me start the car and enter drive mode. For now I have disabled the departures times as I thought maybe that was causing an issue.

Additional info: The car started and drove like normal the rest of the first day and today after the initial problem on both days.

Anyone else have a similar issue? If so any advice?

Hi Scott, If you’d like further assistance regarding this starting concern, feel free to send us a private message with your VIN and local Ford dealer. Thank you!

 

[GarageWarrior2023]

Looking for some help or other experiences. This morning was the second day in a row I went to start my 23 Mach E GT and it would only go into accessory mode and not let me put the car in to ...

My first thought is the brake switch is sticking, since having your foot on the brake is required to fully start the car and to put it in gear. This is based on knowledge from previous vehicles I have owned. the brake switch was a simple switch that sensed if the pedal was released or being applied. on my previous vehicles it resulted in the brake lights not coming on, flickering, and/or cruise control not engaging.

Not knowing if it's the same kind of simple brake switch on these, I can't say for sure, but that's an idea.

Since these vehicles are so software heavy though, it could easily be some kind of bug as well. These cars can have most issues resolved by ensuring good 12v battery charge level or resetting the system with a 12v battery cycle.

Let me know if you get this figured out. I'm really curious what the root cause is.

 

[Ezrider1978]

pengi00 did you figure out what the issue was ? I have a '25 Mach E premium and has the exact same thing happen today. Unlike your case the car did not become drivable and I have towed it to my the dealer.

Curious if it was a charging issue with the LV battery or something else.

 

[EchoRomeo]

Any updates on what the problem was here? Just had the same thing happen this morning w/ my '22 Mach E.

 

[emichnov]

This happens to me. Every time it happens, if I just take my time, press on the brake pedal a little harder and a little longer, the car starts.

 

[EchoRomeo]

This happens to me. Every time it happens, if I just take my time, press on the brake pedal a little harder and a little longer, the car starts.

Thanks, I did get it starting about a half hour later. I'll keep this in mind. If the issue becomes a nuisance I'll call the dealer.

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