How I “Fixed” Battery Drain

[okgaz]

2024 XL Hybrid here!

I don’t have data that shows the issue I had, but many of you are all too familiar with the following evidence of a problem:

Within the first 10K miles:

• Dozens of battery-saver mode notifications. Almost always overnight / very early AM.
• Quite a few resulted in no noticeable issue or change.
• After two of them, woke up to a dead battery. Lucky my jumper pack got me going again.
• The dealer replaced my infotainment system - said this may be causing drain.
• After one of them / after infotainment replacement, my truck had a dead battery. Jumper did not start it and even after a trickle, I was in “limp mode”. Towed to dealer and the battery was apparently just fine and wouldn’t even replace it with another awful stock battery.
• After the last one, had another dead battery but jumper did start it back up.

FYI - I drive pretty much 50 / 50 town and highway. I know for a fact that before one of the dead batteries, I commuted to and from a destination about 1.5 hours away (3 hour round trip).

I took matters into my own hands at this point.

I have had no issues in the past 20K miles (just crossed 31K total) by doing the following:

• Turned off all connectivity. Updates, FordPass, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. Anything that I could turn off - went off. I personally don’t miss any of it. All the application was doing for me was giving me battery-saver notifications! I would try this even if you like the features just to isolate the issue.
• Installed an AGM myself and reset the BMS.

I was also trickle charging with a NOCO 5. Not every day. But probably every week, as it was just so easy. Great little device. Definitely if I knew it would be sitting for 3+ days.

That said, I wanted to see if I needed to trickle. Or if my AGM and turning off connectivity worked. Below is data from the past week:

#	Date / Time (from app)	Voltage	Temp	Condition / Notes
1	Jan 05, 2026 17:38	13.14V	35.6°F	Parked while on NOCO (charging/float)
2	Jan 06, 2026 07:25	12.72V	32.0°F	Overnight NOCO, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
3	Jan 06, 2026 07:27	15.13V	32.0°F	A few minutes after start (active charging)
4	Jan 06, 2026 16:06	12.79V	48.2°F	After ~1 hr drive, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
5	Jan 07, 2026 08:19	12.75V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
6	Jan 08, 2026 09:17	12.63V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight again (locked, fob away)
7	Jan 08, 2026 19:11	12.88V	59.0°F	After driving quite a bit, then ~1+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
8	Jan 09, 2026 06:56	12.74V	33.8°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
9	Jan 09, 2026 13:30	12.74V	53.6°F	PM after long drive, then ~2+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
10	Jan 09, 2026 17:35	12.73V	53.6°F	PM after short drive, then ~3h rest (locked, fob away)
11	Jan 10, 2026 16:54	12.85V	50.0°F	After multiple short trips (errands), then >3h rest (locked, fob away)
12	Jan 11, 2026 12:40	12.61V	44.6°F	AM reading (resting)
13	Jan 11, 2026 18:23	12.81V	51.8°F	After short round trip in town, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)

The point of my post is this - AGM + turn off connectivity seems to work. Further, I believe something in the connectivity is the drain. Anyone have any comments or disagree? Battery seems to be charging itself as it should now. Even after short trips.

Small sample size, I know. But good sign.

I’ll likely still trickle, as I already have it set up in the garage now and it’s so easy to just plug in. But pretty confident now I don’t need to.

Sponsored

 

[SafetyGuy]

2024 XL Hybrid here!

I don’t have data that shows the issue I had, but many of you are all too familiar with the following evidence of a problem:

Within the first 10K miles:

• Dozens of battery-saver mode notifications. Almost always overnight / very early AM.
• Quite a few resulted in no noticeable issue or change.
• After two of them, woke up to a dead battery. Lucky my jumper pack got me going again.
• The dealer replaced my infotainment system - said this may be causing drain.
• After one of them / after infotainment replacement, my truck had a dead battery. Jumper did not start it and even after a trickle, I was in “limp mode”. Towed to dealer and the battery was apparently just fine and wouldn’t even replace it with another awful stock battery.
• After the last one, had another dead battery but jumper did start it back up.

FYI - I drive pretty much 50 / 50 town and highway. I know for a fact that before one of the dead batteries, I commuted to and from a destination about 1.5 hours away (3 hour round trip).

I took matters into my own hands at this point.

I have had no issues in the past 20K miles (just crossed 31K total) by doing the following:

• Turned off all connectivity. Updates, FordPass, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. Anything that I could turn off - went off. I personally don’t miss any of it. All the application was doing for me was giving me battery-saver notifications! I would try this even if you like the features just to isolate the issue.
• Installed an AGM myself and reset the BMS.

I was also trickle charging with a NOCO 5. Not every day. But probably every week, as it was just so easy. Great little device. Definitely if I knew it would be sitting for 3+ days.

That said, I wanted to see if I needed to trickle. Or if my AGM and turning off connectivity worked. Below is data from the past week:

#	Date / Time (from app)	Voltage	Temp	Condition / Notes
1	Jan 05, 2026 17:38	13.14V	35.6°F	Parked while on NOCO (charging/float)
2	Jan 06, 2026 07:25	12.72V	32.0°F	Overnight NOCO, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
3	Jan 06, 2026 07:27	15.13V	32.0°F	A few minutes after start (active charging)
4	Jan 06, 2026 16:06	12.79V	48.2°F	After ~1 hr drive, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
5	Jan 07, 2026 08:19	12.75V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
6	Jan 08, 2026 09:17	12.63V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight again (locked, fob away)
7	Jan 08, 2026 19:11	12.88V	59.0°F	After driving quite a bit, then ~1+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
8	Jan 09, 2026 06:56	12.74V	33.8°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
9	Jan 09, 2026 13:30	12.74V	53.6°F	PM after long drive, then ~2+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
10	Jan 09, 2026 17:35	12.73V	53.6°F	PM after short drive, then ~3h rest (locked, fob away)
11	Jan 10, 2026 16:54	12.85V	50.0°F	After multiple short trips (errands), then >3h rest (locked, fob away)
12	Jan 11, 2026 12:40	12.61V	44.6°F	AM reading (resting)
13	Jan 11, 2026 18:23	12.81V	51.8°F	After short round trip in town, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)

The point of my post is this - AGM + turn off connectivity seems to work. Further, I believe something in the connectivity is the drain. Anyone have any comments or disagree? Battery seems to be charging itself as it should now. Even after short trips.

Small sample size, I know. But good sign.

I’ll likely still trickle, as I already have it set up in the garage now and it’s so easy to just plug in. But pretty confident now I don’t need to.

Hats off to you @okgaz

I get the effort required to think about, trouble shoot and test your theories as to your electrical drain problem.

Thanks for letting others know your thoughts process and steps taken.

Have a good one,

Andy

 

[CurtisB]

I think the disconnecting of all the Fordpass related stuff definitely makes a difference. I put in an AGM battery (installed 05/11/2024) and last week did the Forscan charge rate change to 95% after fully charging my battery. I also reset the BMS. I haven't had a notification yet, since upgraded the charge rate, but if it happens, I know the software is doing its job.

 

[Dad]

2024 XL Hybrid here!

I don’t have data that shows the issue I had, but many of you are all too familiar with the following evidence of a problem:

Within the first 10K miles:

• Dozens of battery-saver mode notifications. Almost always overnight / very early AM.
• Quite a few resulted in no noticeable issue or change.
• After two of them, woke up to a dead battery. Lucky my jumper pack got me going again.
• The dealer replaced my infotainment system - said this may be causing drain.
• After one of them / after infotainment replacement, my truck had a dead battery. Jumper did not start it and even after a trickle, I was in “limp mode”. Towed to dealer and the battery was apparently just fine and wouldn’t even replace it with another awful stock battery.
• After the last one, had another dead battery but jumper did start it back up.

FYI - I drive pretty much 50 / 50 town and highway. I know for a fact that before one of the dead batteries, I commuted to and from a destination about 1.5 hours away (3 hour round trip).

I took matters into my own hands at this point.

I have had no issues in the past 20K miles (just crossed 31K total) by doing the following:

• Turned off all connectivity. Updates, FordPass, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. Anything that I could turn off - went off. I personally don’t miss any of it. All the application was doing for me was giving me battery-saver notifications! I would try this even if you like the features just to isolate the issue.
• Installed an AGM myself and reset the BMS.

I was also trickle charging with a NOCO 5. Not every day. But probably every week, as it was just so easy. Great little device. Definitely if I knew it would be sitting for 3+ days.

That said, I wanted to see if I needed to trickle. Or if my AGM and turning off connectivity worked. Below is data from the past week:

#	Date / Time (from app)	Voltage	Temp	Condition / Notes
1	Jan 05, 2026 17:38	13.14V	35.6°F	Parked while on NOCO (charging/float)
2	Jan 06, 2026 07:25	12.72V	32.0°F	Overnight NOCO, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
3	Jan 06, 2026 07:27	15.13V	32.0°F	A few minutes after start (active charging)
4	Jan 06, 2026 16:06	12.79V	48.2°F	After ~1 hr drive, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
5	Jan 07, 2026 08:19	12.75V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
6	Jan 08, 2026 09:17	12.63V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight again (locked, fob away)
7	Jan 08, 2026 19:11	12.88V	59.0°F	After driving quite a bit, then ~1+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
8	Jan 09, 2026 06:56	12.74V	33.8°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
9	Jan 09, 2026 13:30	12.74V	53.6°F	PM after long drive, then ~2+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
10	Jan 09, 2026 17:35	12.73V	53.6°F	PM after short drive, then ~3h rest (locked, fob away)
11	Jan 10, 2026 16:54	12.85V	50.0°F	After multiple short trips (errands), then >3h rest (locked, fob away)
12	Jan 11, 2026 12:40	12.61V	44.6°F	AM reading (resting)
13	Jan 11, 2026 18:23	12.81V	51.8°F	After short round trip in town, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)

The point of my post is this - AGM + turn off connectivity seems to work. Further, I believe something in the connectivity is the drain. Anyone have any comments or disagree? Battery seems to be charging itself as it should now. Even after short trips.

Small sample size, I know. But good sign.

I’ll likely still trickle, as I already have it set up in the garage now and it’s so easy to just plug in. But pretty confident now I don’t need to.

I'd say to slowly re-introduce your connectivity features and see what happens. Since I replaced the stock battery with an AGM I've had no issues with battery drain, although a few members still did.

 

[okgaz]

I'd say to slowly re-introduce your connectivity features and see what happens. Since I replaced the stock battery with an AGM I've had no issues with battery drain, although a few members still did.

Absolutely was going to be my plan - should have mentioned that. I’m trying to identify the exact drain now.

That said, getting rid of it all makes me realise that I don’t miss any of it at all. Most of it was wasted on me - just sitting there “on” and never utilised. Even Bluetooth is silly when you just plug in to use CarPlay (which I do). And remote start is great in theory - but I never used it. As far as updates go, any important ones will go in at the dealer when I visit. I don’t want the others.

 

[Ray-n-AVL]

2024 XL Hybrid here!

I don’t have data that shows the issue I had, but many of you are all too familiar with the following evidence of a problem:

Within the first 10K miles:

• Dozens of battery-saver mode notifications. Almost always overnight / very early AM.
• Quite a few resulted in no noticeable issue or change.
• After two of them, woke up to a dead battery. Lucky my jumper pack got me going again.
• The dealer replaced my infotainment system - said this may be causing drain.
• After one of them / after infotainment replacement, my truck had a dead battery. Jumper did not start it and even after a trickle, I was in “limp mode”. Towed to dealer and the battery was apparently just fine and wouldn’t even replace it with another awful stock battery.
• After the last one, had another dead battery but jumper did start it back up.

FYI - I drive pretty much 50 / 50 town and highway. I know for a fact that before one of the dead batteries, I commuted to and from a destination about 1.5 hours away (3 hour round trip).

I took matters into my own hands at this point.

I have had no issues in the past 20K miles (just crossed 31K total) by doing the following:

• Turned off all connectivity. Updates, FordPass, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. Anything that I could turn off - went off. I personally don’t miss any of it. All the application was doing for me was giving me battery-saver notifications! I would try this even if you like the features just to isolate the issue.
• Installed an AGM myself and reset the BMS.

I was also trickle charging with a NOCO 5. Not every day. But probably every week, as it was just so easy. Great little device. Definitely if I knew it would be sitting for 3+ days.

That said, I wanted to see if I needed to trickle. Or if my AGM and turning off connectivity worked. Below is data from the past week:

#	Date / Time (from app)	Voltage	Temp	Condition / Notes
1	Jan 05, 2026 17:38	13.14V	35.6°F	Parked while on NOCO (charging/float)
2	Jan 06, 2026 07:25	12.72V	32.0°F	Overnight NOCO, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
3	Jan 06, 2026 07:27	15.13V	32.0°F	A few minutes after start (active charging)
4	Jan 06, 2026 16:06	12.79V	48.2°F	After ~1 hr drive, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)
5	Jan 07, 2026 08:19	12.75V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
6	Jan 08, 2026 09:17	12.63V	37.4°F	AM, no NOCO overnight again (locked, fob away)
7	Jan 08, 2026 19:11	12.88V	59.0°F	After driving quite a bit, then ~1+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
8	Jan 09, 2026 06:56	12.74V	33.8°F	AM, no NOCO overnight (locked, fob away)
9	Jan 09, 2026 13:30	12.74V	53.6°F	PM after long drive, then ~2+ hour rest (locked, fob away)
10	Jan 09, 2026 17:35	12.73V	53.6°F	PM after short drive, then ~3h rest (locked, fob away)
11	Jan 10, 2026 16:54	12.85V	50.0°F	After multiple short trips (errands), then >3h rest (locked, fob away)
12	Jan 11, 2026 12:40	12.61V	44.6°F	AM reading (resting)
13	Jan 11, 2026 18:23	12.81V	51.8°F	After short round trip in town, then ~2h rest (locked, fob away)

The point of my post is this - AGM + turn off connectivity seems to work. Further, I believe something in the connectivity is the drain. Anyone have any comments or disagree? Battery seems to be charging itself as it should now. Even after short trips.

Small sample size, I know. But good sign.

I’ll likely still trickle, as I already have it set up in the garage now and it’s so easy to just plug in. But pretty confident now I don’t need to.

I'm still on the original battery. I was having battery saver issues multiple times per week even when using a trickle charger almost daily. I pulled fuse #11 and have had no issues for months (the interior and cargo lights always come on) and I don't use the trickle charger any more. We live in an area with a very weak AT&T signal (1-bar or no signal) and I think the truck was constantly trying to connect thus draining the battery. Bluetooth should only work when the truck is on and I also use CarPlay but haven't bothered turning bluetooth off.
Ray

 

[Gullzway]

I'm not giving up remote app start, fob doesn't reach from workplace to parking lot, or notifications from my Perimeter Plus Alarm.

My second battery started giving deep sleep notifications at around 11 months, same as the first battery.

Hard wired a loop connector end of a $15 trickle charger to come out through a spot in the fender well. Plug it in once a month or so.

Haven't filled out my rebate yet for buying a PHEV

https://a.co/d/eG4Mujk

 

[Prickly Pear]

The dealer replacing your infotainment system is exactly why I don't want to take mine to a dealer and have them start swapping out parts!

 

[Hapbob]

I am new to this vehicle...600 miles on the Odometer. 25 Hybrid. I think I saw an AGM battery in my vehicle. ? Is this an attempt by Ford to fix this battery drain problem. I find it Odd that there isn't more outrage about this issue If I have to but the Truck on a trickle when I don't drive it every day. As far as disconnecting Connectivity items I am not sure how to do that easily and I again find it odd there isn't a fix that would allow you to use vehicle as it was built and intended. Inform me with short response that will relieve my stress over this.

Hap

 

[ZABSMAV]

I am new to this vehicle...600 miles on the Odometer. 25 Hybrid. I think I saw an AGM battery in my vehicle. ? Is this an attempt by Ford to fix this battery drain problem. I find it Odd that there isn't more outrage about this issue If I have to but the Truck on a trickle when I don't drive it every day. As far as disconnecting Connectivity items I am not sure how to do that easily and I again find it odd there isn't a fix that would allow you to use vehicle as it was built and intended. Inform me with short response that will relieve my stress over this.

Hap

You are surprised that there isn't more outrage? It is the number one complaint about the hybrid Maverick followed by the front axle shafts. Ford is owning up to the axle problem but has gone completely silent on the deep sleep problem. Like you, we paid for and expect every feature we bought in the vehicle to work as advertised. Also, we absolutely will not turn it into a plug in vehicle because of a problem Ford promised to fix but hasn't.

 

[Krazy]

I'm not giving up remote app start, fob doesn't reach from workplace to parking lot, or notifications from my Perimeter Plus Alarm.

My second battery started giving deep sleep notifications at around 11 months, same as the first battery.

Hard wired a loop connector end of a $15 trickle charger to come out through a spot in the fender well. Plug it in once a month or so.

Haven't filled out my rebate yet for buying a PHEV

https://a.co/d/eG4Mujk

Did the same thing except .my charger is under the hood. Did install my own remote they wanted 500 I paid 165 and just plugged in 2 connections and it so far starts pretty good distance. Nice setup u have also

 

[icegradner]

All this does is delay the inevitable. There are so many phantom drain issues, from the LTE modem calling home to Ford and the nearest dealership, along with poor charging software, and a small battery. Even with the app and updates disabled after 4 days even with regular driving (1 hour 5 days a week), I still get battery saver by day four after using a battery maintainer.

Some have said pulling the fuse for the LTE modem helps too. There is also a software update for the AC that supposedly doesn’t shut off sometimes that is supposed to help. I just manually turn off the HVAC system before shutting off the truck, seem to have the same effect and helps a little.

 

[Randorita]

I understand you are having issues, and I sympathize, but having to trickle charge and turn off features to keep from having a dead battery is crazy! You should be able to leave your truck for a couple of weeks and not have to worry about keeping it charged. I haven't had any issues with my 2025 hybrid, but if I did, I would get to the bottom of it, or it would be gone. I would think lemon laws would make Ford eat it if they couldn't fix it. I don't have a garage and it rains 50+ inches a year, so constantly changing would never work.

 

[John R C]

Hap,

Confirming my 2025 hybrid also has an AGM battery. No issues to date though I did put a maintainer on it when I was gone for three weeks in November. Otherwise I just use it.

John C

 

[okgaz]

The dealer replacing your infotainment system is exactly why I don't want to take mine to a dealer and have them start swapping out parts!

Was not fond of the idea. And knew it was silly. But also figured there’s no harm in playing along.

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