Neutral tow mode - HELP!

[bobhardy3]

@bobhardy3 - I just got back from a trip from Virginia to Texas and back to Virginia. We were planning on flat towing our 2023 Maverick XLT and were able to tow many miles successfully, but ended up spending time at several Ford dealerships along the way. I had the same issue as you and followed the directions to a tee.

I could invoke “Neutral Tow” mode and tow successfully all day. However, when it came time to take the Maverick out of “Neutral Tow” mode, it was always a crap shoot. We never knew if we would be towing the Maverick the next day or looking for a Ford dealership to try to get them to “reset” it!

Two dealerships had mercy on us and were able to resolve the issue by resetting a module like they did for you. Several other dealerships either refused to give us service because they were too busy or the technician did not understand how to resolve the issue and told us that they had “cleared the error codes” but did not resolve the issue and we had to drive instead of tow the Maverick. Many wasted hours sitting in dealerships and waiting for resolution so we could continue on our journey.

Mixed results. Disappointing! Now we are home and I have an appointment with my primary dealership to have them look at it. I bought the truck to be able to tow it and if they can’t fix it so this does not happen again - I will have to move on to a more reliable tow vehicle (maybe a Jeep?).

The trouble is that I love the Maverick and don’t want to move on to a different vehicle. But if push comes to shove - I will move on.

Oof, not good to read. I should have kept my tow dolly. Like you, love my Maverick but this issue is a deal breaker.

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[kylec]

Sorry @bobhardy3! I hope your trip goes better than mine! I will post the results from my trip to my home dealership next week. Keep us posted on your progress on your journey.

 

[bobhardy3]

Did you happen to see which module and how did he reset it.

The service ticket says IPC configuration. Possible faulty software. I figure the fix required their computer diagnostic drvice.

 

[bobhardy3]

Sorry @bobhardy3! I hope your trip goes better than mine! I will post the results from my trip to my home dealership next week. Keep us posted on your progress on your journey.

Many thanks. Here I was worried about my V10 F53 chassis (2016 Sunstar LX30T) - who knew!

 

[Nw_adventure]

Interestingly, this is my third battery. I checked voltage with my multimeter and it is good. I appreciate the recommendation. I'm an hour early sitting outside a dealer hoping they can scan the truck and maybe reflash the computer. I'll post my results. Fingers crossed!

Cool- I am also part of the 3rd battery club. Seems Ford is having issues with these AGM's that have been supplied to them.

 

[jsus]

The service ticket says IPC configuration. Possible faulty software. I figure the fix required their computer diagnostic drvice.

Sounds like they're saying the instrument cluster glitched - it didn't realize you'd already turned off neutral tow mode, so of course it wouldn't give you the option to turn it back on.

Did they just reset the IPC or did they update the firmware on the IPC to see if that helps?

 

[kylec]

Sounds like they're saying the instrument cluster glitched - it didn't realize you'd already turned off neutral tow mode, so of course it wouldn't give you the option to turn it back on.

Did they just reset the IPC or did they update the firmware on the IPC to see if that helps?

They just did a reset. The computer was then able to allow the enabling of Neutral Tow mode.

 

[Missy3602]

Same thing happened to me on my 2000 mile trip, after 2 service trips and no help on why it was happening. To clear Mav from thinking it was in neutral tow when it was not... the service dept 'rebooted' it. But it happened twice. So then I dug deep and got some help from this forum actually. HOLD ON...
IT WAS MY FAULT. The main problem was that I was watching the info screen when it said remove from neutral... it does not say 'Before changing the dial(transmission) into park - Make sure the key is in Accessory mode (The manual does say step one pg 293
1. Switch your vehicle on in accessory
mode.)
but I was just reading the info screen.
So after towing - get in mav put on the parking break first (a different story), and then place the key in Acc mode. Then follow screen info i.e. brake pedal then move to park. I have been good since then and have unhitched at least 6 times since.
Hope this helps

 

[bbhaag]

Update: Dealer fixed it by resetting a module. It could have been an over the air update gone wrong.

The Maverick does not receive OTA updates for anything other than the infotainment system. The Mach-E and the F-150 are the only vehicles in Fords line up that receive OTA updates for other modules not pertaining to the Sync system.

EDIT:I just noticed you have an XLT so you don't even receive OTA updates for the infotainment system let alone any OTA module updates.

 

[kylec]

Same thing happened to me on my 2000 mile trip, after 2 service trips and no help on why it was happening. To clear Mav from thinking it was in neutral tow when it was not... the service dept 'rebooted' it. But it happened twice. So then I dug deep and got some help from this forum actually. HOLD ON...
IT WAS MY FAULT. The main problem was that I was watching the info screen when it said remove from neutral... it does not say 'Before changing the dial(transmission) into park - Make sure the key is in Accessory mode (The manual does say step one pg 293
1. Switch your vehicle on in accessory
mode.)
but I was just reading the info screen.
So after towing - get in mav put on the parking break first (a different story), and then place the key in Acc mode. Then follow screen info i.e. brake pedal then move to park. I have been good since then and have unhitched at least 6 times since.
Hope this helps

Unfortunately your advice will not help me. I had researched online and in this forum prior to my trip and knew that the vehicle needed to be in accessory mode prior to hitting the brake for seven seconds and then placing the vehicle in park. The Maverick should then no longer be in Neutral Tow mode.

The problem is that this process did not work every time.

I also am not a fan of having to leave the key in the ignition for the duration of remaining in Neutral Tow mode.

 

[Missy3602]

Unfortunately your advice will not help me. I had researched online and in this forum prior to my trip and knew that the vehicle needed to be in accessory mode prior to hitting the brake for seven seconds and then placing the vehicle in park. The Maverick should then no longer be in Neutral Tow mode.

The problem is that this process did not work every time.

I also am not a fan of having to leave the key in the ignition for the duration of remaining in Neutral Tow mode.

Leaving the key in is my most hated part of it all. I do lock the doors if leaving the rigs unattended. The mav just checked off so many of my needs that I'll deal with that. I have never heard of the 7 second, but will research this.

 

[MagnusBjorn]

The entire reason for me ordering the mav is to flat tow. I hope I didn't make a mistake and will have to keep an eye on this before my mav arrives.

 

[kylec]

The entire reason for me ordering the mav is to flat tow. I hope I didn't make a mistake and will have to keep an eye on this before my mav arrives.

@MagnusBjorn i hope that by having more of us talk about this issue, we can force a fix from Ford.

 

[bobhardy3]

Sounds like they're saying the instrument cluster glitched - it didn't realize you'd already turned off neutral tow mode, so of course it wouldn't give you the option to turn it back on.

Did they just reset the IPC or did they update the firmware on the IPC to see if that helps?

The tech said he reset it. Ford hasn't issued any notices regarding this. Apparently I am not alone with this problem.

 

[kylec]

The tech said he reset it. Ford hasn't issued any notices regarding this. Apparently I am not alone with this problem.

Definitely not alone. I PM’d the Ford Account that asked you to PM them. They are opening up a case surrounding this issue. You should PM them. All you have to do is go to the main page and start a new post and then you select the “to” and you can change it to select someone on the board. Just search for that Ford user and give him the VIN, name, phone number, etc. Tell him that you are having the same problem as I am. I’ll give you my name and contact info and we can start this process at the same time to see what resolution we each get.

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