STONE DEAD NOW COSTING OVER 1k to fix

[mkhuffman]

So, you are not able to point to a single example of unapplied updates ever causing such battery draw problems. It just "sounds like" that might happen.

I have run a stable software version since 2022. My HVBJB failed in 2023, and was replaced with no issues whatsoever. No battery problems.

I hope that OP's problems are solved via the five (!) TSB's and/or camera alignment that the dealer is now recommending. But I would not bet on it.

You could be right. I am guessing based on the information provided by the OP. So are you.

It could be the Ford technicians are guessing also and don't know for sure what the cause is.

But if the OP's car was up to date, at least Ford couldn't blame that as the cause, right?

As I pointed out before, OTA updates fix problems as well as provide enhancements. So refusing to do them means there is a potential problem waiting to happen. That is just a fact.

When you get a recall notice in the mail, do you ignore it? To be consistent, you should. Wait until the car breaks, then have it fixed.

Sorry, but I don't think that is a good approach.

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[jmw1996]

So, you are not able to point to a single example of unapplied updates ever causing such battery draw problems. It just "sounds like" that might happen.

I have run a stable software version since 2022. My HVBJB failed in 2023, and was replaced with no issues whatsoever. No battery problems.

I hope that OP's problems are solved via the five (!) TSB's and/or camera alignment that the dealer is now recommending. But I would not bet on it.

Same…. For me personally i have OTA set up. If the car was not updating OTA i dont understand how because as stated i have OTAS setup… if OTAS arent going through the car should notify you that they arent and there is an error because as far as i have been concerned updates have been automatic…. It just doesnt make sense to me, i may just be dense here, but still dont understand how this just “happend” totally could see the 12v it was -5 here where i live when it all happend. Everyone said oh its the cold. The dealership, ford roadside, the tow driver. Doesnt seem like its the cold to me…..

 

[o187emdk]

2021 mache purchased mid march of 2025. Back on sunday feb 8th went out to start car and it turned on, but unable to turn to ready mode. All power accessory mode on and all kinds of faults, the charger is now faulting, car ends up going into low battery saving mode and shuts off completely. Monday ford roadside gets it towed to my ford dealership. Dealership says car is stone dead in parking lot. They had to jump the frunk to get in, wont move. They removed 12v in parking lot did a ford battery test and passed. Let sit over night redid a battery test and it passed again. Reinstalled and same thing is happening. 2 days later they finally got it into their garage, but same thing is happening. Faults every where cant turn to ready with a red triangle that says STOP safely now, and wont move. They did a draw test and no draw now running TSB, no new information. My car has been immobile since sunday 2/8/26, and at shop since monday 2/9. Car is still in shop (2/20) just spoke with my service guy. He said they ordered a part for the hvbjb the red triangle stop now is gone, however my 12v is still showing low. No draw before but now showing draws after replacing the hvbjb they are doing a draw test and updating modules which apparently now it isnt covered under warranty for this, and my estimate sits at 1034.00. This just doesnt make sense to me. they said they are looking at reaching back out to me tuesday with a ready date of wednesday 2/25/26 if everything comes back good. What if these module updates dont work? ANYONE KNOWS IF THIS IS ALL STANDARD? id hate to be getting a fast one pulled on me. Im also not super knowledgeable on this aspect of things when it comes to tsb and hvbjb. Ill attach the revised invoices on here so you can actually see what the service department is documenting. ALSO pointing out recall 25s65 was supposedly done on my vehicle back on dec 20th 2025 when the vehicle was in for its inspection. It is still showing it was never done. I brought that up to my service dept just now as to why its showing it wasnt done when it was done. He didnt say much just that the one im seeing that hasnt been done is probably the comp. buckle replacement ford put out… I wasnt referring to that one m. I was referring to the 25s65 with the 12v and rear occupants becoming trapped after last lock out. Now i just checked my updated invoice and the recall update for 25s65 is on here? Under warranty and covered per recall BUT THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY DONE IN DECEMEBER? This is all crazy upsetting tbh. Is this something im always going to have to worry about? HATE to say it. But after said and done is it worth trading in? I cant always have this issue and have to be paying over 1k out of pocket if its a common thing that will keep happening..?

Sound almost like the HVBJB issue I just went through a few weeks ago. I hope it all get resolved for you. My car has been fine since repairs but I have a road trip coming up not sure how much I can trust the car now.

 

[phil]

When you get a recall notice in the mail, do you ignore it? To be consistent, you should.

I read it, confirm that it is not important, and then ignore it. For example, my latest recall is important only for drivers who are in danger of accidentally locking a baby in the car, and are unwilling to break a window if necessary. My youngest is 20, and I have zero need for this.

The only software problems I've ever had with the car occurred when the service department begged me to allow them to do some such unnecessary software patch, and in a moment of weakness, I let them do it. My experience is that Ford's software updates do far more harm than good. If I had a nickel for every time someone on this forum posted about problems occurring immediately after a software update, I would have a very large number of nickels. My software has been rock-solid for three and a half years now. I do not share your faith in the quality of Ford's software management.

 

[jmw1996]

Sound almost like the HVBJB issue I just went through a few weeks ago. I hope it all get resolved for you. My car has been fine since repairs but I have a road trip coming up not sure how much I can trust the car now.

Thats how im feeling…. Always going to be worrying. Mine happened out of nowhere no warnings so its not like there was a sign something weird was going on….

 

[Bayviews88]

I read it, confirm that it is not important, and then ignore it. For example, my latest recall is important only for drivers who are in danger of accidentally locking a baby in the car, and are unwilling to break a window if necessary. My youngest is 20, and I have zero need for this.

The only software problems I've ever had with the car occurred when the service department begged me to allow them to do some such unnecessary software patch, and in a moment of weakness, I let them do it. My experience is that Ford's software updates do far more harm than good. If I had a nickel for every time someone on this forum posted about problems occurring immediately after a software update, I would have a very large number of nickels. My software has been rock-solid for three and a half years now. I do not share your faith in the quality of Ford's software management.

well, I hope you are never transporting or loaning your MachE to someone traveling with a young child or elderly person with mobility issues that could be stuck in your car in a 12V battery failure situation.

Also, as a broader question (not directed at Phil), if someone does sell a car without doing updates and that results in a serious/catastrophic situation, is the previous owner and/or Ford have liability for causing said situation due to not having the vehicle in a properly functioning state with all of the SW updates applied?

 

[mkhuffman]

Same…. For me personally i have OTA set up. If the car was not updating OTA i dont understand how because as stated i have OTAS setup… if OTAS arent going through the car should notify you that they arent and there is an error because as far as i have been concerned updates have been automatic…. It just doesnt make sense to me, i may just be dense here, but still dont understand how this just “happend” totally could see the 12v it was -5 here where i live when it all happend. Everyone said oh its the cold. The dealership, ford roadside, the tow driver. Doesnt seem like its the cold to me…..

If the car is way behind on updates, as it appears yours was, you probably won't get any updates because the car is too far out of date. Once it is caught up by the dealer, you should get future updates.

The problem that "just happened" to you was the HVBJB failure, which Ford did a recall to fix.

Obviously the original owner did not do the recall. Or maybe your model was not subject to the recall. Regardless, there have been many, many HVBJB failures. Yours happened just like the others. It's a design defect.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Perhaps you can find someone locally to do FDRS updates for you at a cheaper cost? Make some posts asking in local forums.

The main thing is to get the HVBJB replaced (sounds like they are doing that) and the 12V battery replaced since it went completely dead several times before the HVBJB was replaced. After resetting everything it should be drivable. The software updates will be optional.

 

[Wallie]

Sound almost like the HVBJB issue I just went through a few weeks ago. I hope it all get resolved for you. My car has been fine since repairs but I have a road trip coming up not sure how much I can trust the car now.

The new HVBJB is way better than the early versions. Mine was replaced (2021 Premium AWD @27000km) two years ago and i made several road trips from Amsterdam to Barcelona without any problems. I drive my Mach-e always in Unbridled mode unless i’m on a road trip.
Until this day i drove 40.000km with the new HVBJB and it’s still fine

 

[jmw1996]

If the car is way behind on updates, as it appears yours was, you probably won't get any updates because the car is too far out of date. Once it is caught up by the dealer, you should get future updates.

The problem that "just happened" to you was the HVBJB failure, which Ford did a recall to fix.

Obviously the original owner did not do the recall. Or maybe your model was not subject to the recall. Regardless, there have been many, many HVBJB failures. Yours happened just like the others. It's a design defect.

But how would i have known that…? Thats all i am trying to say. Im not talking about the hvbjb i got that i understand that. Thats a common thing for 21s i did my research and i see that. i am pissed about the “no updates” that youre referring to. causing me now to have to pay to update the car. you just said earlier only way to know is through forscan. If i purchased the vehicle SUPPOSEDLY all good to go and i have OTAS set up never notified they arent working. I dont understand how i am at fault. The dealership should have made sure it was up to date. Thats just poor on this ford dealership. Here i am OTAS on thinking everything is peachy fucking keen and it supposedly never was from the jump.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

But how would i have known that…? Thats all i am trying to say. Im not talking about the hvbjb i got that i understand that. Thats a common thing for 21s i did my research and i see that. i am pissed about the “no updates” that youre referring to. causing me now to have to pay to update the car. you just said earlier only way to know is through forscan. If i purchased the vehicle SUPPOSEDLY all good to go and i have OTAS set up never notified they arent working. I dont understand how i am at fault. The dealership should have made sure it was up to date. Thats just poor on this ford dealership. Here i am OTAS on thinking everything is peachy fucking keen and it supposedly never was from the jump.

Sadly we're in this weird transition from cars that were (essentially or entirely) mechanical, to cars that are rolling computers. If you bought a used phone or computer, of course you'd check to see what operating system software version is on the device. And if it wasn't up to date, you'd (likely) check to see if what version it could run. But who thinks of that with a car? In the "old" days we would take a used car to our trusted mechanic and get them to look it over before buying it. Buying Certified Pre Owned (CPO) cars is supposed to obviate that need, but if the buyer doesn't know to ask about s/w, and the manufacturer doesn't require that CPO cars be up to date, then the buyer is (potentially) screwed. I don't think you mentioned if the car was a CPO car or not, nor if the dealership was a Ford dealership. If it was and they are, then you might have some recourse here, but it seems a bit unlikely. Ford doesn't appear to have its act together (yet?) on this stuff.

But even if you did know to ask about s/w, the only way to know what versions of software are on the car and whether or not there are updates for it is to connect it to FDRS (not FORScan). That can be done over the air and there are folks here who can do it for you. But of course one would need to know this in advance and why would you? @Ford Motor Company, it shouldn't be this hard!

As for me, I've always assumed that CPO pretty much just means the dealership takes a look at the car and says, "Yeah, I certify that it's pre-owned."

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

if someone does sell a car without doing updates and that results in a serious/catastrophic situation, is the previous owner and/or Ford have liability for causing said situation due to not having the vehicle in a properly functioning state with all of the SW updates applied?

My malpractice insurance does not cover free legal advice. If you’re really curious, though, you can hire a lawyer in your jurisdiction to give you a legal opinion.

On a more pragmatic note, car dealers would have to at least get outstanding recalls done before flipping a used car.

@Ford Motor Company, it shouldn't be this hard

Brian, not Ai, won’t see this until tomorrow. The first post tagging Ford was after the close of business on Friday. Hopefully they can get to the bottom of this and get something done.

CPO pretty much just means the dealership takes a look at the car and says, "Yeah, I certify that it's pre-owned."

This.

 

[mkhuffman]

.
But even if you did know to ask about s/w, the only way to know what versions of software are on the car and whether or not there are updates for it is to connect it to FDRS (not FORScan). That can be done over the air and there are folks here who can do it for you.

Right! FDRS! Replace everywhere I posted FORScan with FDRS.

But how would i have known that…? Thats all i am trying to say. Im not talking about the hvbjb i got that i understand that. Thats a common thing for 21s i did my research and i see that. i am pissed about the “no updates” that youre referring to. causing me now to have to pay to update the car. you just said earlier only way to know is through forscan. If i purchased the vehicle SUPPOSEDLY all good to go and i have OTAS set up never notified they arent working. I dont understand how i am at fault. The dealership should have made sure it was up to date. Thats just poor on this ford dealership. Here i am OTAS on thinking everything is peachy fucking keen and it supposedly never was from the jump.

I guess the answer is to ask the dealer who is selling the car as CPO to check the car with FDRs (not FORScan) and verify if the software is up to date or not.

Or ask a member here who has access to FDRS.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...to-look-up-info-for-others.10230/post-1072425

FYI FORScan VS FDRS.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...olest-stuff-you’ve-unlocked.45775/post-959375

 

[Wallie]

But how would i have known that…? Thats all i am trying to say. Im not talking about the hvbjb i got that i understand that. Thats a common thing for 21s i did my research and i see that. i am pissed about the “no updates” that youre referring to. causing me now to have to pay to update the car. you just said earlier only way to know is through forscan. If i purchased the vehicle SUPPOSEDLY all good to go and i have OTAS set up never notified they arent working. I dont understand how i am at fault. The dealership should have made sure it was up to date. Thats just poor on this ford dealership. Here i am OTAS on thinking everything is peachy fucking keen and it supposedly never was from the jump.

Did you buy the car at a Ford dealership and is the car now in for repairs at the same dealership?

 

[VegStang]

Even my new 23 GT had multiple updates waiting that the dealer didn't take care of before, or right after purchase. Everything went well- with the updates that is, but they probably should have kept it updated after it sat on the lot for months. My car has been in the shop for over 6 weeks now- trying to get the dealer or Ford to give me status.

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