Trading in my 2022 and buying a 2023 to ease my contactor anxiety?

[Gene Bank]

I have a 2022 MME GT. Fully loaded. I took delivery last March. Love, love, love this car but I have an obsessive personality and this whole connecter issue is taking some of the enjoyment out of this car. I realize the chance of failure is very limited but I plan to hold onto this car for a long time. I'm retired, not a techy and I'm still waiting for the OTA connecter software update but finally made an appointment to bring it into the dealership this coming week. I know the software update is only a band-aid so it will always be on the back of my mind with road trips etc. I am thinking of just placing an order for the 2023 version of the same car and trading mine in. Has anyone actually done this? I paid $72K for this car, $5K over sticker. I guess I could reserve one and then back out depending on if there would still be the $7500K tax incentive left. Thoughts?

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[JohnnyForensic]

I have a 2022 MME GT. Fully loaded. I took delivery last March. Love, love, love this car but I have an obsessive personality and this whole connecter issue is taking some of the enjoyment out of this car. I realize the chance of failure is very limited but I plan to hold onto this car for a long time. I'm retired, not a techy and I'm still waiting for the OTA connecter software update but finally made an appointment to bring it into the dealership this coming week. I know the software update is only a band-aid so it will always be on the back of my mind with road trips etc. I am thinking of just placing an order for the 2023 version of the same car and trading mine in. Has anyone actually done this? I paid $72K for this car, $5K over sticker. I guess I could reserve one and then back out depending on if there would still be the $7500K tax incentive left. Thoughts?

I think you'd be throwing a lot of money away to fix a problem that 1) hasn't happened yet, and 2) is repaired free by Ford should it happen with the part you'd be buying in the 2023 model anyway. (I'm assuming you mean the HVBJB issue when you say "connecter.")

I too have a bit of an obsessive personality, but even though I know it's a ticking time bomb of an unknown duration, Ford is getting a better handle on these repairs; in most cases now people here are saying it's taking about a week from start to finish, and I can live with that. It's also going to take a long time to get that 23, and by that time, if you're going to have the issue to get a new HVBJB, it will probably happen before you get your new ride.

Honestly, I'd try to take a deep breath and just enjoy what you have without spending another $10K-ish or more on the exact same car.

 

[Howard]

Hello. Same as you but I took a different route. I had my dealership get me the price on the "new" version of the HVBJB for my 2022 MME Select AWD; we then agreed on amount of labor and labor rate for them to replace the HVBJB and I paid for it out of pocket. For my Select, cost of part and labor was $1,951. I dropped the car off one morning and picked it up after work the next day. Part arrived at dealership in about 3 days (ordered it middle of July). Their first opening with battery techs was in mid-August. Maybe one day Ford will recall all original HVBJBs and maybe I will get some of all of money back. I am not really worried whether I see any of the money or not. I love the car. I have a 160 mile round trip commute so peace of mind was important to me.

Just another option you can think about. Advice from @JohnnyForensic is good advice as well.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Overkill.

Unless there’s something tangible you want in the 2023s beyond s different HVBJB connector, I’d pass. But it’s your life, if it’s really bothering you, go ahead.

 

[Sam2084]

*Contactor, not connector.

 

[Ming]

I traded in my 21 MME for a 22 (built after part change).
The contactor issue contributed to my decision. Originally was planning to keep both.

As long as you can sell/trade in higher than your cost, there's no financial loss, unlike before you always have a high loss especially when the car is relatively new.

If you still qualify for 23 tax credit, even better. You get another $7500 paid for by us

 

[Southern92]

I have a 2022 MME GT. Fully loaded. I took delivery last March. Love, love, love this car but I have an obsessive personality and this whole connecter issue is taking some of the enjoyment out of this car. I realize the chance of failure is very limited but I plan to hold onto this car for a long time. I'm retired, not a techy and I'm still waiting for the OTA connecter software update but finally made an appointment to bring it into the dealership this coming week. I know the software update is only a band-aid so it will always be on the back of my mind with road trips etc. I am thinking of just placing an order for the 2023 version of the same car and trading mine in. Has anyone actually done this? I paid $72K for this car, $5K over sticker. I guess I could reserve one and then back out depending on if there would still be the $7500K tax incentive left. Thoughts?

I have to admit I have been thinking along the same lines. My 2022 GTPE was $70530 and if I order one now the 2023 version would be $77,930. (Plus interest rates are higher & incentives are $1,500 lower.
Counter balance, full $7,500 tax credit (point of sale - assumption), Dealer estimates I have $4-7k equity, HVBJB would be the beefier version.

(Edit: Oops, I believe point of sale starts in 2024?)

 

[ARK]

Keep in mind that this warranty repair has to do with an electric vehicle component and is therefore covered by the 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty.

 

[ripperAZ]

I would just drive your car, save the money and not worry about it. If it fails it’ll be repaired at no cost and you’ll probably get a loaner. I will file this under the classic Tom Petty lyric “most of the things we worry about never happen anyway.”

Jes sayin

 

[BigMach-E]

Yeah, just drive it and if it fails, you get it replaced. Get the software though. That's the big deal. My HVJBC failed, but that's because I drive it like I stole it almost every day. It won't really be that likely to happen to you.

 

[RickMachE]

I can't imagine paying $2k out of pocket, but to each their own.

 

[Vulnox]

I have a 2022 MME GT. Fully loaded. I took delivery last March. Love, love, love this car but I have an obsessive personality and this whole connecter issue is taking some of the enjoyment out of this car. I realize the chance of failure is very limited but I plan to hold onto this car for a long time. I'm retired, not a techy and I'm still waiting for the OTA connecter software update but finally made an appointment to bring it into the dealership this coming week. I know the software update is only a band-aid so it will always be on the back of my mind with road trips etc. I am thinking of just placing an order for the 2023 version of the same car and trading mine in. Has anyone actually done this? I paid $72K for this car, $5K over sticker. I guess I could reserve one and then back out depending on if there would still be the $7500K tax incentive left. Thoughts?

I would say if the insurance is worth it to you, the $2k noted makes waaaayyy more sense than trading in. You will likely lose more than that due to the price increases and likely at least partial tax credit loss.

That said, the number 1 reason I absolutely WOULD NOT do this is it’s way too early to even say what Ford did was the fix. Don’t misunderstand me on this, I believe it is the fix. For reasons I’ve said in other threads that it does more harm to Ford to not be sure about this and to keep pumping out cars with the actual failure part. But there’s also that aspect that Ford got it wrong the first time, are you thousands of dollars sure they got it right, now?

If you aren’t, I would give it at least another six months and watch for signs of ongoing issues with cars delivered since June. If nobody has any issues and you’re still worried, trade in then. At least you can feel better that they fixed it for sure and you will know how the tax credit changes have worked out.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Here's a thought - how about turning the problem on it's head - have the software fix done, then find a DCFC close to Ford dealership, charge, floor it repeatedly, repeat. Accelerate your timeline to the new HVBJB.

I'm only half kidding...

 

[DR.J56]

I clicked, I saw, I LOL’d.

 

[machme]

I have a 2022 MME GT. Fully loaded. I took delivery last March. Love, love, love this car but I have an obsessive personality and this whole connecter issue is taking some of the enjoyment out of this car. I realize the chance of failure is very limited but I plan to hold onto this car for a long time. I'm retired, not a techy and I'm still waiting for the OTA connecter software update but finally made an appointment to bring it into the dealership this coming week. I know the software update is only a band-aid so it will always be on the back of my mind with road trips etc. I am thinking of just placing an order for the 2023 version of the same car and trading mine in. Has anyone actually done this? I paid $72K for this car, $5K over sticker. I guess I could reserve one and then back out depending on if there would still be the $7500K tax incentive left. Thoughts?

I have the same MME config and build month as you. My HVBJB failed with SVS warning as I had the recall software. Was not left stranded but for 7 days and counting experiencing Ford’s stellar customer service. Currently not ETA on diagnosis and repair. No rental or loaner car which is being escalated. At some point as many have said I believe your HVBJB will fail. When it’s does you get a better one which should address your concerns. If however it makes financial sense to jump into a 2023, do it. I am waiting for my repairs and a calmer head after dealing with two dealerships to make my decision on a newer model.
A bright spot is before this issue everything worked with not a single problem.

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