2023 BS Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power Message and will not shift into drive

[winn70]

Today my wife got a "Pre-collision Alert Not Available" message as she backed out of the driveway. She thought it might have to do with road film on the camera and headed to the car wash. While driving to the car wash the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up. Also turn signal would not work. At the car wash after placing it in park she could not put the car in drive as the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up again and she was stuck! Needless to say she was panicked! She turned the car off and on and within a minute or two it allowed her to drive again! I just had this thing in 10days ago for another software related update. This is getting old! The last visit the tech showed me how to "connect" our vehicle to our wifi at home so the vehicle can automatically do software updates as needed. I have no idea if this is just that or a mechanical issue! To make it worse the car is 165 miles from our home and dealership. I cannot see myself buying another Bronco or Ford product for that matter.

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[Dude]

Hey @winn70 what is the age in months of your Battery on the 23’ Big Bend and can you look at the battery to see if it says AGM

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/2023-bs-badlands-“shift-system-fault”-message.19329/

 

[JAM486HP]

Right on with @Dude Sounds like weak/failing battery. First off Ford should have been putting AGM batteries from the start. My 25 has an AGM and even then, if not drivin everyday it causes glitches. I keep both my 25 BSBL and 24 Mustang on battery tenders year round and have had zero issues since.

 

[winn70]

Hey @winn70 what is the age in months of your Battery on the 23’ Big Bend and can you look at the battery to see if it says AGM

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/2023-bs-badlands-“shift-system-fault”-message.19329/

I believe I asked the tech the last time it was in about the battery and he said it was an AGM. I don’t have
It here to look at. We bought the car new in August 2023. Will be checking!

Right on with @Dude Sounds like weak/failing battery. First off Ford should have been putting AGM batteries from the start. My 25 has an AGM and even then, if not drivin everyday it causes glitches. I keep both my 25 BSBL and 24 Mustang on battery tenders year round and have had zero issues since.

This vehicle is driven daily about 40 miles
minimum.

Today my wife got a "Pre-collision Alert Not Available" message as she backed out of the driveway. She thought it might have to do with road film on the camera and headed to the car wash. While driving to the car wash the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up. Also turn signal would not work. At the car wash after placing it in park she could not put the car in drive as the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up again and she was stuck! Needless to say she was panicked! She turned the car off and on and within a minute or two it allowed her to drive again! I just had this thing in 10days ago for another software related update. This is getting old! The last visit the tech showed me how to "connect" our vehicle to our wifi at home so the vehicle can automatically do software updates as needed. I have no idea if this is just that or a mechanical issue! To make it worse the car is 165 miles from our home and dealership. I cannot see myself buying another Bronco or Ford product for that matter.

Bronco going in tomorrow. Tech says he can see it "lost communication" with many functions but didn't go into detail. Says AGM battery is at 68%. Said we could try replacing the battery. Will see.

 

[rugedraw]

@winn70 If your Fordpass is connected, message me the VIN and I can pull the codes it reported to see if I see anything useful there.

 

[winn70]

Took

Today my wife got a "Pre-collision Alert Not Available" message as she backed out of the driveway. She thought it might have to do with road film on the camera and headed to the car wash. While driving to the car wash the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up. Also turn signal would not work. At the car wash after placing it in park she could not put the car in drive as the "Powertrain malfunction/reduced power message" flashed up again and she was stuck! Needless to say she was panicked! She turned the car off and on and within a minute or two it allowed her to drive again! I just had this thing in 10days ago for another software related update. This is getting old! The last visit the tech showed me how to "connect" our vehicle to our wifi at home so the vehicle can automatically do software updates as needed. I have no idea if this is just that or a mechanical issue! To make it worse the car is 165 miles from our home and dealership. I cannot see myself buying another Bronco or Ford product for that matter.

Took the BS to the shop today. The said many codes showed up. They cleared the codes, test drove it and of course it did not drop a code again. Told me to drive it and bring it in as soon as code shows up again:/ I brought up if the battery which reads 68% could be the problem. Maybe.

 

[Chiefthepup]

I would be willing to bet it’s a bad ground. Mine was doing the same thing and after tightening the ground from the negative battery cable to the frame, it stopped.
It doesn’t take much for it to have a bad ground. I assumed it was fine cause everything felt solid but they tightened anyways and voila haven’t had an issue for 2 years.

 

[winn70]

I would be willing to bet it’s a bad ground. Mine was doing the same thing and after tightening the ground from the negative battery cable to the frame, it stopped.
It doesn’t take much for it to have a bad ground. I assumed it was fine cause everything felt solid but they tightened anyways and voila haven’t had an issue for 2 years.

I will have that checked! It’s going in for an oil change next week. Thanks!

 

[TheX]

I would be willing to bet it’s a bad ground.

As a former Tomcat Fixer, I say hell yes. I did Avionics and chased ghosts for too many hours.

 

[KD-OH]

I believe I asked the tech the last time it was in about the battery and he said it was an AGM. I don’t have
It here to look at. We bought the car new in August 2023. Will be checking!

This vehicle is driven daily about 40 miles
minimum.


Bronco going in tomorrow. Tech says he can see it "lost communication" with many functions but didn't go into detail. Says AGM battery is at 68%. Said we could try replacing the battery. Will see.

 

[KD-OH]

Pls LMK if a new battery did the trick...I have a 22 Badlands Sport & figures 100 miles over 60k powertrain warranty & I'm receiving the same mult alerts a day after driving thru heavy rain & my Bronco is stuck in slippery mode.

I had the battery replaced under warranty with an AGM. A friend ran the error codes (U011D & U041E) to confirm nothing mechanical since I had to drive to my father's celebration of life. I took it to a Ford dealer & they immediately informed me it would be $189 to confirm the alerts as well as take 4-6hrs if not overnight, so I'm taking it back in 2 days (issue started 5 days ago). I never use the GOAT modes except for slippery & I had a recent Ford oil change+ on 7/10 & everything checked fine.

What I don't understand is that the Ford mechanic said there's no way to easily find a loose connection or wiring issue & that it would take days...I've loved my last 2 Ford's & thought I dodged a lot of recalls/issues with the Badlands 2.0, but now I'm afraid these control modules/wiring issues will continue & so I'm thinking of trading it in, especially if repairs are over $500 for simply driving in the rain.

 

[TheX]

if not drivin everyday it causes glitches.

I drive about once every 7-10 days and after a year never a single issue.

 

[JAM486HP]

I drive about once every 7-10 days and after a year never a single issue.

You live in a warm climate makes a difference

 

[Bill G]

Well, today, after getting gas I got every drive-train and other alerts possible along with the wrench and ABS lights when I started the Sport.
I drove about a mile, stopped for coffee, and shut her off. On restart all the alerts were clear and everything was back to normal (I turned her off-on a couple times and all was well). I drove on home with no problems.
My Sport’s a ‘21 BL, and has been trouble free. They’ve AGM batteries about 2-2 1/2 years old, and shows no abnormalities on my cheap voltage meter. Hopefully the computer(s) just had a “brain fart”.
If I don’t see any more codes I’ll wait for my 45,000 mile service (currently at 44,000) to have Ford check it out as I don’t want the hassle right now. I’m not too concerned as my 100,000 mile ESP should take care of any needed repairs if there is a problem beyond the old “dying battery” syndrome.
Gotta’ admit to the “sinking stomach“ feeling when all those codes popped up one after another. A deep breath and punching the “ok” button brought me back to reality though <lmao>.

 

[KD-OH]

Pls LMK if a new battery did the trick...I have a 22 Badlands Sport & figures 100 miles over 60k powertrain warranty & I'm receiving the same mult alerts a day after driving thru heavy rain & my Bronco is stuck in slippery mode.

I had the battery replaced under warranty with an AGM. A friend ran the error codes (U011D & U041E) to confirm nothing mechanical since I had to drive to my father's celebration of life. I took it to a Ford dealer & they immediately informed me it would be $189 to confirm the alerts as well as take 4-6hrs if not overnight, so I'm taking it back in 2 days (issue started 5 days ago). I never use the GOAT modes except for slippery & I had a recent Ford oil change+ on 7/10 & everything checked fine.

What I don't understand is that the Ford mechanic said there's no way to easily find a loose connection or wiring issue & that it would take days...I've loved my last 2 Ford's & thought I dodged a lot of recalls/issues with the Badlands 2.0, but now I'm afraid these control modules/wiring issues will continue & so I'm thinking of trading it in, especially if repairs are over $500 for simply driving in the rain.

Well, today, after getting gas I got every drive-train and other alerts possible along with the wrench and ABS lights when I started the Sport.
I drove about a mile, stopped for coffee, and shut her off. On restart all the alerts were clear and everything was back to normal (I turned her off-on a couple times and all was well). I drove on home with no problems.
My Sport’s a ‘21 BL, and has been trouble free. They’ve AGM batteries about 2-2 1/2 years old, and shows no abnormalities on my cheap voltage meter. Hopefully the computer(s) just had a “brain fart”.
If I don’t see any more codes I’ll wait for my 45,000 mile service (currently at 44,000) to have Ford check it out as I don’t want the hassle right now. I’m not too concerned as my 100,000 mile ESP should take care of any needed repairs if there is a problem beyond the old “dying battery” syndrome.
Gotta’ admit to the “sinking stomach“ feeling when all those codes popped up one after another. A deep breath and punching the “ok” button brought me back to reality though <lmao>.

FYI my 22' BL alerts started after having service @ Ford (powertrain malfunction +). The battery was replaced 1.5yrs ago as a recall (AGM) & it testet fine even after unplugging, etc (98%) so unfortunately it's not the battery...a friend ran the diagnostics to confirm if it was safe to drive & 2 Antilock brake errors popped up U011D & U041E, both involve the AWD Control Module. I don't have AWD & I never use the 4WD GOAT mode, but the day before the alerts started I drove thru heavy rain & now I can't change drive modes. I've yet to take it back to Ford Service...I was hoping a Ford Rep would reply...

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