2023 Ford Bronco Sport shut off while driving + steering locked. No codes. Dealer can’t find issue. What now?

[coopny]

@badlander23 The ‘21 to ‘24 models do have a method to get the transmission into neutral, on my 2022 there’s a pull cord but I don’t know if the 2023s use the more difficult method via a special tool included with the vehicle - check your owners manual or ask the dealership service dept - at least you would be prepared if there is another need to get the transmission into neutral.

The manual basically says call for help; Maverick forums document use of the tool here.

Technically nothing stops you from using the tool and putting the vehicle in neutral without an external 12V power source, but you risk injury/death from vehicle rollaway if you don't use an external power source to ensure the parking brake is on while you put the vehicle into neutral (with the manual pin tool) and then once it is to release it.

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[Dude]

The manual basically says call for help; Maverick forums document use of the tool here.

Technically nothing stops you from using the tool and putting the vehicle in neutral without an external 12V power source, but you risk injury/death from vehicle rollaway if you don't use an external power source to ensure the parking brake is on while you put the vehicle into neutral (with the manual pin tool) and then once it is to release it.

Good point! That roll away also applies to the earlier models with the neutral release pull cord:

 

[badlander23]

Get any and all recalls done particularly for the battery.

Personally I would say disable automatic start/stop either with a defeat device (Autostop Eliminator/4DTech/etc.) or reprogramming with FORScan. The manual advises against needless inverter load (nightlight trick in AC outlet in the cargo area) and remembering to press the button on each start of the car is error prone.

If you don't have an AGM battery already and you weren't included in the recall, just replace your battery. My battery was regularly dropping to <12V within seconds of ignition off, still tested as "good, please recharge", but these things were not built to take EFBs and AGMs function more reliably (voltage consistent at lower states of charge) and charge more quickly, making it much less likely you end up in a scenario where the vehicle does not have adequate electrical power... I wasn't in the recall and replaced my battery with an EverStart Platinum AGM (4 year free replacement warranty) a week ago.

So the vehicle already had the recall completed in 08/2023. It has the AGM battery. They have no idea why it shut off while driving still. Very frustrating but it looks like I will have to drive it for now, hope for the best, and look for a new vehicle. Unfortunately this has completely made me lose trust in Ford products.

 

[jkernitzki]

So the vehicle already had the recall completed in 08/2023. It has the AGM battery. They have no idea why it shut off while driving still. Very frustrating but it looks like I will have to drive it for now, hope for the best, and look for a new vehicle. Unfortunately this has completely made me lose trust in Ford products.

I suppose a GM 6.2 complete engine failure is at least more definitive.

 

[Ozzy]

So the vehicle already had the recall completed in 08/2023. It has the AGM battery. They have no idea why it shut off while driving still. Very frustrating but it looks like I will have to drive it for now, hope for the best, and look for a new vehicle. Unfortunately this has completely made me lose trust in Ford products.

Did they do the update to the computer? It will still be crap without the update

 

[rugedraw]

If your Ford app is set up, message me the VIN. I find it very hard to believe that an event like that occurred and it reported no codes. Possible, but unlikely.

 

[Dude]

So the vehicle already had the recall completed in 08/2023. It has the AGM battery. They have no idea why it shut off while driving still. Very frustrating but it looks like I will have to drive it for now, hope for the best, and look for a new vehicle. Unfortunately this has completely made me lose trust in Ford products.

Although I did not experience the problem you listed in your original post, I did get a new Motorcraft AGM Battery July 2024 (and had the BCM/PCM Programming completed), and that AGM Battery failed in only 18 months

Your battery was replaced a year before mine and could still be the battery is the cause

Of course the BCM/PCM Programming was supposed to solve the issue with the engine dying but I have had doubts how perfect of a solution that will turn out to be

And running with Auto Stop Start disabled or always turned off is what I do and recommend

If you already decided to move to another vehicle it’s understandable

 

[RSH]

So the vehicle already had the recall completed in 08/2023. It has the AGM battery. They have no idea why it shut off while driving still. Very frustrating but it looks like I will have to drive it for now, hope for the best, and look for a new vehicle. Unfortunately this has completely made me lose trust in Ford products.

What recall was actually performed, was it just the battery replacement because recall 24S24 wasn't available until May of 2024

This is the recall info
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCMN-24V267-9251.pdf

You can check here if your VIN is included

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/recall/recalls-and-faqs/24s24-bronco-sport-2021-2024-and-maverick-2022-2023-loss-of-power-recall/?srsltid=AfmBOorBt_OM0w-CFaieeMEnYIVjuJBc7WADlOgnL9MMJvhDHmnTMAZ8

 

[badlander23]

If your Ford app is set up, message me the VIN. I find it very hard to believe that an event like that occurred and it reported no codes. Possible, but unlikely.

What recall was actually performed, was it just the battery replacement because recall 24S24 wasn't available until May of 2024

This is the recall info
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCMN-24V267-9251.pdf

You can check here if your VIN is included

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/recall/recalls-and-faqs/24s24-bronco-sport-2021-2024-and-maverick-2022-2023-loss-of-power-recall/?srsltid=AfmBOorBt_OM0w-CFaieeMEnYIVjuJBc7WADlOgnL9MMJvhDHmnTMAZ8

Yes I have checked on Ford site and NHTSA site. No active recalls for my vehicle.

 

[rugedraw]

Yes I have checked on Ford site and NHTSA site. No active recalls for my vehicle.

I was not referring to open recalls. I want see the DTC's it reported to Ford's cloud.

 

[badlander23]

If your Ford app is set up, message me the VIN. I find it very hard to believe that an event like that occurred and it reported no codes. Possible, but unlikely.

I was not referring to open recalls. I want see the DTC's it reported to Ford's cloud.

Sent you my VIN

 

[rugedraw]

Sent you my VIN

Got it. I'll check it out tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

Edit: The dealer is right. The vehicle did not report any data to the cloud between 3/8 and today. Seems like when they started today, it reported codes for the CCM (cruise control module) and IPMA (image processing module) citing an obstruction to the front facing sensors and/or the front facing camera on the windshield. This would not cause the vehicle to shut down while being driven, though. The other code for the PSCM is an old stored code and not relevant.

Open FSA'sfor your VIN are below:

Your BS has a build date of 9/6/2023. Recall 25S02 only applies to 2023 BS with build dates between 6/14/2022 through 8/12/2022, so you should have an AGM battery already. In this case, there is no useful info I am able to provide remotely. Maybe a loose ground somewhere or loose connection on the battery? For a vehicle to shut down abruptly while being driven, logic tells me it has to be something like that. I was hoping there would be some clue in the codes, but I can't see anything helpful.

 

[coopny]

Recall 25S02 only applies to 2023 BS with build dates between 6/14/2022 through 8/12/2022, so you should have an AGM battery already. In this case, there is no useful info I am able to provide remotely. Maybe a loose ground somewhere or loose connection on the battery? For a vehicle to shut down abruptly while being driven, logic tells me it has to be something like that. I was hoping there would be some clue in the codes, but I can't see anything helpful.

They built BS' with EFBs after 8/12/2022, my 2023 BS BL is one of them.

25S02 instructs dealers to check for an AGM if the vehicle falls in the build date range and replace it if it's not an AGM, but this is likely to make the safety recall determination easier for the dealer to not have to get in the intricacies of trying to figure out if the EFB in a 25S02 recall population vehicle was manufactured by Camel or a different OEM putting the Motorcraft stamp on it.

NHTSA Campaign RQ24014 (Loss of Motive Power) summary on NHTSA.gov states:
Additionally, Ford removed the existing 12V Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) as both a service component for the subject vehicles and original equipment for newly built Bronco Sport vehicles (during MY 2024 production), replacing it with a more robust absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery. The same AGM battery had been incorporated into Ford Maverick production in late 2022.

So AGM batteries were not standard in BS production until some point of production for the 2024 model year. It is possible that Ford could have used AGMs in the 23MY and prior, but there are 23MY/24MY vehicles that are not subject to recall 25S02 and have an EFB instead of an AGM.

OP states they have an AGM battery from 8/23 recall, but the recall in 2023 did not explicitly replace all subject population vehicles with AGMs proactively. It may have been replaced if the battery tested bad in the bumper to bumper (or maybe niche chance that Ford chose to use an AGM during production, but again this was not replaced as a standard factory line component/removal of EFB as a service/factory assembly install component until during 24MY production.)

 

[rugedraw]

They built BS' with EFBs after 8/12/2022, my 2023 BS BL is one of them.

25S02 instructs dealers to check for an AGM if the vehicle falls in the build date range and replace it if it's not an AGM, but this is likely to make the safety recall determination easier for the dealer to not have to get in the intricacies of trying to figure out if the EFB in a 25S02 recall population vehicle was manufactured by Camel or a different OEM putting the Motorcraft stamp on it.

NHTSA Campaign RQ24014 (Loss of Motive Power) summary on NHTSA.gov states:
Additionally, Ford removed the existing 12V Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) as both a service component for the subject vehicles and original equipment for newly built Bronco Sport vehicles (during MY 2024 production), replacing it with a more robust absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery. The same AGM battery had been incorporated into Ford Maverick production in late 2022.

So AGM batteries were not standard in BS production until some point of production for the 2024 model year. It is possible that Ford could have used AGMs in the 23MY and prior, but there are 23MY/24MY vehicles that are not subject to recall 25S02 and have an EFB instead of an AGM.

OP states they have an AGM battery from 8/23 recall, but the recall in 2023 did not explicitly replace all subject population vehicles with AGMs proactively. It may have been replaced if the battery tested bad in the bumper to bumper (or maybe niche chance that Ford chose to use an AGM during production, but again this was not replaced as a standard factory line component/removal of EFB as a service/factory assembly install component until during 24MY production.)

Easy enough to check if that's the case. I did not read through the entire recall, so popping the hood and taking a look at the sticker on the battery to make sure would be the thing to do.

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