After the battery recall

[Me3]

I know it’s only been a month or so, but I’m just curious about how everyone is faring with their new AGM batteries. For me, it’s nice not having a message pop up on my screen and Ford Pass every week telling me the battery is low and the Sport is in battery saver mode.
Having to consider is the car going to start today? Or having to be prepared constantly for if engine quits on the highway. I can sit in the car now and listen to the radio while waiting for my wife without wasting gas. I don’t drive very much, so I had to charge the battery occasionally. Life’s a little less stressful nowadays, I’m glad Ford took care of its little problem.

So, any issues with the new batteries? Did you get reimbursed if appropriate?

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[RSH]

My original 2021 Badlands battery was having issues long before the recall was announced, the battery was replaced under warranty with a Motorcraft AGM.
I have not had any battery related issues since replacent and that was even before the software updates to better monitor the state of the battery were being implemented.

 

[Bonza]

Only got mine today, replaced under warranty recall, but really didn't notice any issues with the old one apart from the occasional 'Battery Saver' message.

 

[DWG]

My 24 came with the EFB battery and wasn't part of the recall but I asked for the battery to be tested since the Auto start/stop was not activating. SOC was 67% so the battery was replaced with an AGM battery after only 10 months. All of my recent Fords have had AGM batteries and I have never had a problem with them. I was originally disappointed when my BS came with the EFB battery so I was glad if failed and was replaced with an AGM battery.

 

[Me3]

My 24 came with the EFB battery and wasn't part of the recall but I asked for the battery to be tested since the Auto start/stop was not activating. SOC was 67% so the battery was replaced with an AGM battery after only 10 months. All of my recent Fords have had AGM batteries and I have never had a problem with them. I was originally disappointed when my BS came with the EFB battery so I was glad if failed and was replaced with an AGM battery.

DWG that’s cool they replaced it even though it wasn’t under recall. 67% doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad. I get the impression Ford is trying to make things right for their customers, whether it’s because it’s the right thing to do or just for PR, it’s good for the us.

 

[Robins21]

Our 21 BS/BB is working fine with the new AGM battery. We got total reimbursement from Ford for having to pay for a new battery.

 

[DWG]

DWG that’s cool they replaced it even though it wasn’t under recall. 67% doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad. I get the impression Ford is trying to make things right for their customers, whether it’s because it’s the right thing to do or just for PR, it’s good for the us.

Yes, at least with my Dealer I agree that Ford and my Dealer were trying to make things right. It is why I have been using the same Dealer for over 30 years. I always feel that the service department is more important than the sales department at the dealer when deciding where to buy a car.

At the time the outside temperatures were in the 30's. I was following the battery voltage using a cigarette lighter volt meter that Dude had suggested. Per the volt meter the battery was operating normally. The battery cranked normally. It was just that it apparently wasn't charging to a level that allowed the auto start/stop to engage no matter how long I was driving around. At the time I was driving almost every day close to 50 miles to try and keep the battery charged. The message on the dashboard for the auto start/stop would not change from "Engine on due to battery charging" when at a stop. My 2019 with a 2 year old AGM battery operated normally including the Auto start/stop engaging a couple of miles from a cold start. A Forman at the dealer did tell me that he was seeing a lot of EFB batteries being replaced under similar circumstances.

Once they replaced the EFB battery with the AGM battery the auto start/stop would engage after a couple of miles of driving from a cold start even in the colder weather.

 

[rocks]

I didn't have an AGM battery in my '23 BS, but I do have one in my '24.

 

[Mark S.]

Prior to battery replacement the ASS almost never activated. I would see occasional low battery notifications, especially if the car sat for more than 3-4 days. No issues since battery replacement.

 

[MAGPLM]

I just replaced my Battery 5 months after purchase. Bought aftermarket AGM Battery right away for the sake of my marriage. lol I would not be good to get a call from her stuck on side of the road somewhere. Happy Wife, Happy life! lol

 

[Bill G]

Replaced my battery w/Ford AGM about a year ago At my cost. It works perfectly and got reimbursed by my dealer last month.

 

[max the dog]

I know it’s only been a month or so, but I’m just curious about how everyone is faring with their new AGM batteries. For me, it’s nice not having a message pop up on my screen and Ford Pass every week telling me the battery is low and the Sport is in battery saver mode.
Having to consider is the car going to start today? Or having to be prepared constantly for if engine quits on the highway. I can sit in the car now and listen to the radio while waiting for my wife without wasting gas. I don’t drive very much, so I had to charge the battery occasionally. Life’s a little less stressful nowadays, I’m glad Ford took care of its little problem.

So, any issues with the new batteries? Did you get reimbursed if appropriate?

AGM is charging at 14.2V, on a long run drops to 13.8. Original bat. charged at 14.8. Original bat never gave a glitch. Service tech did not latch hood and never tightened positive terminal. Dealership never responded, after my complaint, except to ask when would be a good time to come in for normal maintenance. I can't print my reply. Took delivery on the Badlands 29June, 2021.

 

[sajohnson]

My wife is at the dealer getting our OE battery replaced as I type this.

The original (EFB) has been fine. I've been monitoring the voltage and using a Battery Tender (BT) when it gets low, which helps.

Of course, from the description of the issue (poor construction) it could consistently test good for 3 years and then suddenly fail.

I'll keep an eye on the AGM as well. We don't drive the Badlands very much, and the AGM has the same reserve capacity as the EFB, so I imagine it will require some help from the BT.

 

[Robins21]

Of course, from the description of the issue (poor construction) it could consistently test good for 3 years and then suddenly fail.

That is how the battery failed in my wife's 21 BS/BB, she came home from the vet & shut it off, then we went to go out later it was dead. We had to jump start it to get it to the dealership.

 

[sajohnson]

That is how the battery failed in my wife's 21 BS/BB, she came home from the vet & shut it off, then we went to go out later it was dead. We had to jump start it to get it to the dealership.

After reading the recall we were concerned about that (sudden failure).

I was pretty fixated on monitoring and recording the voltage, but we knew that could not predict a mechanical failure.

Fortunately, my wife usually doesn't drive very far, but regardless, to have your car die while in traffic on the interstate is never a good thing.

I wonder what percentage of the recalled vehicles actually had the battery fail while being driven?

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