Battery - 12v. No start for the first time

[Red Eyes - Wide Shut]

This is an ancient subject for which Ford cares nothing about or it would have been dealt with by now. They can afford the warranty wait game and move on to the next sector for profit outcomes and poor quality. Many consumers will stay with what they know regardless of the recent history of Recall -itis. After 8 months my battery died and after I jumped it the dealer put in a 470 CCA flooded. Brought in in 3 times before that and they would not replace the battery until it was below 40% capacity at 100% charged. They mentioned the SSM, but that first one has never been addressed. I called Ford customer service and they said yes there is an SSM, but no record of anything beyond that. Customer Service with a grin and a goodbye.

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[okgaz]

Ford will only pay to replace batteries that fail (according to certain battery testers) w/ the battery that the workshop manual calls for.
Ford won't pay a dealership to put a different battery in it.

Some dealers (as mentioned above) may be willing to "cheat" and claim the correct battery, but put the AGM in and have you play the difference. But not all will.

Just mentioning again that, while not ideal, people in this situation should weigh their time versus money.

For about $250 you can put an AGM in yourself.

Is it right that you have to come out of pocket? No. But no more trips to the dealer. No more arguing over a battery being “fine”.

 

[Cherokee]

You aren't going to get an AGM under warranty - since it never came with one.

My 2024 Ecoboost came with a Motorcraft AGM.
Purchased on 12/31/24
Still only 7,300 miles and at rest after 24 hours my AGM has a resting voltage of 12.47.
Not one single electrical throttle down to conserve anything. I’ve turn off nothing.
Checked it one morning after a software update over my internet.
12.47 VDC

 

[rknrbt]

Just mentioning again that, while not ideal, people in this situation should weigh their time versus money.

For about $250 you can put an AGM in yourself.

Is it right that you have to come out of pocket? No. But no more trips to the dealer. No more arguing over a battery being “fine”.

I tend to agree but my hard headed hillbilly ways would make that seem like accepting defeat and letting Ford win. I am old and can be a cranky bastard as my dealership is finding out. Now I am being a cranky old bastard with a national case number on this issue. If enough people complain eventually it will get their attention. As my grandpa used to say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease!"

 

[rknrbt]

My 2024 Ecoboost came with a Motorcraft AGM.
Purchased on 12/31/24
Still only 7,300 miles and at rest after 24 hours my AGM has a resting voltage of 12.47.
Not one single electrical throttle down to conserve anything. I’ve turn off nothing.
Checked it one morning after a software update over my internet.
12.47 VDC

The ecoboost rarely has an issue.

 

[Oscarcat]

My 2024 Ecoboost came with a Motorcraft AGM.
Purchased on 12/31/24
Still only 7,300 miles and at rest after 24 hours my AGM has a resting voltage of 12.47.
Not one single electrical throttle down to conserve anything. I’ve turn off nothing.
Checked it one morning after a software update over my internet.
12.47 VDC

The issue is largely in the hybrid version. Sure, the EB can have battery issues but the deep sleep and no start, and SSM related to an HVAC relay seems to be for hybrids.

I could go out and buy an AGM battery. But other Fords use the same hybrid system and probably the same software and I am not hearing that they have the sleep issues.

I've only ever had one other vehicle with battery issues. My 2006 BMW 530i required a battery tender. I didn't drive it enough so I accepted the issue but I drive my hybrid Mav multiple times a week so I expect in my Goldilocks [mild] climate and being garaged, that it should hold a charge between uses. Shame on Ford.

 

[Red Eyes - Wide Shut]

Just mentioning again that, while not ideal, people in this situation should weigh their time versus money.

For about $250 you can put an AGM in yourself.

Is it right that you have to come out of pocket? No. But no more trips to the dealer. No more arguing over a battery being “fine”.

Ain't doing my own anything but cost Ford money while under warranty. Accepting crap is not an option. In my case the bigger CCA seems to be holding up better, so far. It's battery #3.

 

[Waterick]

Looking at Ford parts I see most regular batteries like the EFB in the hybrid are $199.99 and the BAGM-H4 is $229.99. I would gladly pay $30 difference even though Ford, if they are interested in retaining customers, should replace all of the defective batteries free of charge. Hence, forcing them into a national recall to rectify a situation that has gone on way too long.

The problem here is that an AGM really only "kicks the can down the road" when it comes to this problem as it will eventually return because the BMS does not allow the 12v battery to get adequately charged. The AGM does hold up better, but it's not a real solution. Why would the dealer charge only $30 when they know the customer is just hoping they'll do it for $100? They need to get some of that warranty time (money) back just to help pay their costs.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The aftermarket will solve this problem before Ford will, because Ford does not want to deal with the CAFE implications on everything it has built using this system to date. Come on aftermarket, help us! Market a bolt on BMS or software upgrade to remedy this problem!

 

[okgaz]

I tend to agree but my hard headed hillbilly ways would make that seem like accepting defeat and letting Ford win. I am old and can be a cranky bastard as my dealership is finding out. Now I am being a cranky old bastard with a national case number on this issue. If enough people complain eventually it will get their attention. As my grandpa used to say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease!"

I hear you. Lower class upbringing tells me the same.

But spending my time arguing with idiots, spending time waiting & driving, and still not getting the right solution - not worth it.

Honestly, the same upbringing tells me I can do it better than them anyway.

 

[okgaz]

Ain't doing my own anything but cost Ford money while under warranty. Accepting crap is not an option. In my case the bigger CCA seems to be holding up better, so far. It's battery #3.

Again, totally your call.

I just think I can solve this problem quicker and without all the hassle / time (which is also worth quite a lot).

But if you “trust the process” and just want to make it a visible concern, I get it.

Keep pushing for an AGM. Only thing that (fingers crossed) fixed the issue for me over past 11k.

 

[Ragamuffin]

My 2024 hybrid now with 13,500 miles has been a good match for my needs. Sure, I have the sleep issues; the interior lights etc. But it always started. Until yesterday.

I had to leave the flashers on due to lack of parking and when I came back to start it, I got all sorts of dash screen messages. Too many to digest. It would not start. The trans dial was in "P" and an amber light was blinking slowly on the dial in P positon.

I called Ford roadside service. I had deleted the FordPass app in the belief it contributed to 12v battery drain.

Roadside service arrived in 25 min, hooked up a charging device the size of a brick under the hood. After a few minutes, it started. The check engine light is now lit.

I made an appt with my dealer. My question is, should I have the SSM 53801 for hybrids built before 17 Feb 2025 updated? Also, have people with this issue automatically been given upgraded AGM batteries or do I need to request and insist on an AGM under warranty?

FYI, the 2024 comes with a print owner's manual which was useless as far as guiding me to any solution.

 

[rknrbt]

The "brick" was a jump pack. I bought one to carry in my truck just in case. I would have them do any updates that are needed while it is there. From what I hear they will only replace with a similar battery which will fail eventually, too. I would ask them about putting in the BAGM-H4 though. On the Ford parts page it is $229.99 which is $30 higher than the battery now in it. It would be worth $30 to upgrade if the dealer would do that.

 

[Red Eyes - Wide Shut]

The "brick" was a jump pack. I bought one to carry in my truck just in case. I would have them do any updates that are needed while it is there. From what I hear they will only replace with a similar battery which will fail eventually, too. I would ask them about putting in the BAGM-H4 though. On the Ford parts page it is $229.99 which is $30 higher than the battery now in it. It would be worth $30 to upgrade if the dealer would do that.

My 1st replacement went from the stock 390 CCA to a bigger 470 CCA flooded. Just remember, when you buy most parts at a dealer the price you pay is about 2 1/2 times their actual cost.

 

[Matso]

The dealer should upcharge you at most $100 to replace your stock battery with an AGM. That's what I came away with.

 

[ksh58]

Local dealer just replaced the battery that came with my 2024 Hybrid with the battery that my owners manual says is the correct battery. I told them I was annoyed by the constant Deep Sleep notifications, and that I was worried about my upcoming 3200+ mile road trip. Also told them that the battery in the car did not match what my owner's manual said should be in it. Car has under 10K miles on it now. I have never had any real issues other than deep sleep. Always starts just fine.
They measured 43 SOC, even after the half hour drive there, failed the battery and replaced under warranty.

This is what the truck came with when new:

This is new battery:

I don't believe Motorcraft sells this anymore - Ford Parts website says it has been replaced by BAGM-H4. So I did not get an AGM replacement, but at least I now have a new battery that should have been in there from the beginning, and it should get me through my trip fine. I will get a NOCO G5 to help keep it charged, since I obviously don't drive it daily.
And if they ever get the issue figured out for good...

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