2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands

[Dude]

You might check the vanity mirrors on the underside of the visors…there are lights and if the flaps aren’t completely closed there will be a slow drain…and this is not something techs usually check.

Good tip!

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[johnardsg]

As ridiculous as it seems, the installation of an aftermarket electrical item provides an excuse for a stumped service department. As long as they have that excuse to point to they will not be motivated to find the true problem. I recommend you remove the dashcam--or at least disconnect the power source--to eliminate that as the problem.

While you’re still figuring out the root cause, you can also turn off the headlights manually before you go out of the car. I was doing this until i discovered the autolamp delay which i disabled on my BS.

 

[sajohnson]

They are telling you that you've had 3 bad batteries in a row?

Do you know whether the techs have measured the parasitic draw (current flow with everything turned off)?

It is highly unlikely that you have gotten three (3) bad batteries. It sounds like they are just doing the easiest thing and replacing the battery without checking to see if there is a phantom load and doing the necessary troubleshooting.

Regarding the alternator, that is very easy to check with a basic multimeter. Battery voltage should be over 14 volts with the engine running. There are many YT videos showing how to check battery voltage. Here's one, no doubt there are better ones:


I haven't watched this, but it's specific to Ford:

Which Parasitic Draw Test Method is REALLY the Best?

 

[Magnato1]

I have a 2021 Bronco Sport Badlands. I bought the Bronco in 2023.
Sometimes the lights that circle the headlights stay on for approximately 10-15 minutes after I’ve turned the vehicle off.
I have come out to get in and the doors won’t open and when I try to start it the battery is dead. Most of the time the battery is completely dead. I have been able to jump start a few times. One time I had to have it towed to the dealership.
The dealership has replaced the battery 3 times already. They say they can’t find any other issue other than a bad battery. Now it is dead again.
I’m wonder if it isn’t a computer related issue, bad alternator, and/or bad wiring.
I’m so close to getting rid of it and getting a totally different model SUV other than Ford. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have seen this issue mentioned on the forum before. I remember people saying it is a glitch with the computer. My Big Bend does it pretty often, so I just check it before I walk away. Simply unlocking and locking it again usually turns the lights off. Hopefully it’ll be that simple for you!