Maxy

Hi.  I just joined this forum Nov. 9. 

 

Our 2013 has had 4 failures, so far, none of which have been "operator error"!!!  It's back in our local dealer's shop now, for their 4th try to fix it!  So far, the first three were within the first 12,000 miles.  The 3rd try to fix it was in March, so this time, at least, their "fix" lasted till November.  Each time, Ford has blamed it on some sort of programming error (that they didn't find each time they looked and didn't fix the same way or the correct way each of the first 3 attempts).  In two of the first 3 tries, they said they swapped out the starter battery.  As of yesterday morning, no help! I had to call roadside assistance AGAIN and have it towed back to the local dealer AGAIN! 

 

We are seriously pissed at Ford.  SC has an automobile lemon law that might give us some relief, but since the 4th failure was >12,000 miles, even though the 3 tries to fix it were all <12,000, which is what the law requires, I don't have much hope we will be able to do much better than to rely on Ford's "good nature"

 

:rant:

 

My real reason for this rant is to ask if anyone else who has had this much trouble with this particular problem has in fact gotten some substantial relief from the company, not just a local dealer/repair shop.  Like, for instance, "We'll buy back your crappy cmax and give you a good deal on a new one, assuming you dare trust Ford to make the new one any better than we did the one we're buying back from you because it's a piece of ****"

Theseeleys,

Feel your pain! Don't wait any longer. Request a buy back. It is obvious there is something wrong with your car as well as mine. I am in progress of a buy back / replacement as we speak. Read your state's lemon law. Usually it does apply to new cars while under warranty.

I hope you have been reporting to Ford all your battery failures . You need to document every problem with them as well, so your record is clear. It is a pain in the behind, but documentation speaks volume. I am very surprised to read about other posts as well who had more than 5-6 12V failures and still have not requested a buy back. Those cars are obviously having some mystery problems.

So far I have had mostly good experience speaking with ford reps. Other than some service personals, who had acted like my battery failure was the first they've ever heared. Ofcourse I am still in the process of replacement, but hopefully it will go smoothly.

Good luck in this learning lemon curve.....

 Thank you Salman for the great, detailed info on going through with the lemon law. I am currently waiting to hear from my assigned dealer representative about replacing my c-max. So far my experience has been pretty straight forward. I did exactly what salman suggested. I had all my documents in order and after 4 weeks of my request I received the buy back offer. I am giving the c-max another try, because I really like the car. I hope I will not regret it! This time I will get the upgraded one since it seems like the basic ones with the small screen have the most problems. If the dead battery problem will remain I will just have to look somewhere else. Time will tell.

UPDATE concerning my 2013 C-Max SE dead battery: about a week ago, dealer performed the CSP I described in my earlier post . (BTW, I have 27,000 miles on my car, and other than having had this dead batt problem, I LOVE this car.). So far, so good. Hopefully this will resolve the issue.

The Jeaner,

Are you referring to 13B12 CSP? If you are I am sorry to say that I had that done on my c-max in April and I have had 2 dead battery since than and 12V battery replaced twice:(

Very frustrating for sure. I know Ford is trying to find this mistarious drain but after almost 2 years of waiting and hoping for a cure with no definite solution I have requested a buy back.

The Seattle tow truck driver says he jump starts several C-maxes per day?!   I find that very, very hard to believe.

 

Last month, when I took my C-max in for its first service in Vancouver, BC's largest Ford dealership, none of the service guys had heard of any C-maxes having any battery problems.

It is not in their best interest to admit it.

Just got a call from the service department. They found dead battery, replaced it. Monitored it it for the two days and found no other problems, ready to pick up. Second battery replacement in 4 month, obviously something is a miss.....

On the day before the battery failed when the radio was not working, I ran a vehicle health report.

It sure seems that at this point the vehicle health report should have some status that the system was shutting down certain components to savor the last few cycles in the battery.

 

In fact I am kind of disappointed in the information in the vehicle health report.

 

Has anybody ever seen anything useful in it?

I've run report too after failure and always says "in perfect health". I think it's just supposed to make us feel better:(

To be far it has only been a year and a half since we have known about 12v dead batt. problem and FORD has come up with a number of fixes for some of the problems. I believe that some of the dead 12v batt. are owner caused because I have done it once. Little hard for FORD to solve that one. IMO :)

 

Paul

Hi Paul

I sure admire your positive feedbacks on the 12V battery problems. I think you are absolutely right about having a jumper handy, I have one, but only want to use it if I absolutely have no way of getting Roadside out to jump my c-max. We need the documentation even from Roadside, so Ford can see that the car had to be jumped. As we "speak" my car is back at service for my 6th dead battery. I am pretty simple, do not use any USB or CD devices other than my basic cell phone. No extras in the car, it is the 2013, SE 201A. All TSBs are up to date. Recalls are done, other than the most current one they are working on.

In May battery was replaced, and obviously did not help.

 After this service visit (at a different dealer, hoping for better results) I will request a buy back. I have my documentation in order, and sadly I just don't think there is a solution and I don't think I should keep waiting for the next dead battery, so I can use my jumper. I paid a lot of money to have a new car I can rely on. Wondering every morning or night if my car will start or not is a big deal!

 Sounds like you are a battery guy, you know a lot about that stuff and it is easy and enjoyable for you to brainstorm on the hows and whats. And like you said you had no battery failure. Do you know how frustrating it is when you have to get somewhere on time and the car says NO! Jumper or not…. A lot of us just simply want to sit and drive our nice new car without worrying and stressing about that darn 12V thing:)

 Having said that, you have given me some great ideas and I thank you! 

Maxy

Got my 12V battery replaced today. They did not found anything else wrong. They also did the latest recall 14S04. I just really hope this would be it, but reading other posts after battery replacement failure, I am not too optimistic.... I agree, they do not have a clue what is going on:(

Purchased a C-max SEL(302a)  2013 on April 7 of 2014 (built on Nov 24, 3013).  Mon, May 12, went out to start car and everything was dead.  Called Ford and got a jump start.   Called the dealer I got it from and they said to get it in to service ASAP to have it checked out.  Service said they could get the battery to fail for  them also and they ordered a new battery.   Did not have one in stock and  will have it installed on Monday.

 

Have had a problem with the radio not coming on using the dash button, since the car was new.  This usually happens first time I use the car for that day.  Have to go through voice command to get it to work.  Many times after that, on same trip, the dash button  might work.  The Service manager said the radio worked fine for him.   This is because I had had it on when I drove there.  Service does not seem to believe about the radio unless he can get it to not work also.   When I drive it in to get a new battery, I will be sure to not turn the radio on so they can become believers.  I know this is very minor, but wonder if it could be connected to the battery problem, somehow. 

 

Anyway after reading all these posts about the battery problem, I am feeling mighty discouraged about the battery being the 'final" fix.  Has anyone had the battery problem fixed with just a change of batteries?  

 

My husband and I are in our 70's and not "handy" with cars, so all the information from these posts has helped big time.

I have a 2013 C-Max SEL....bought new in October of 2012 because the transmission went out on my 2007 Escape that I purchased new in 2006. This past Friday makes the third time I have experienced a dead battery.  The first time my dealer was replacing the battery and blew a module (or something) and I was without the car for four days. Several months later had another battery put in and now am having to deal with a car I can't drive for the third time. While I have grown to like the C-Max (it was more at my husband's suggestion that we got it), we are almost to the point of getting rid of it. I have been fortunate that all three times this happened my car was at home in the garage, but it also happened when I needed to get to work. The most important thing a car can be is dependable and unfortunately this car doesn't seem to fit the bill. I am also disappointed that the dealership acts like they aren't aware of this being a 'problem' with the C-Max, when obviously it is from what I'm reading here and on other sites.  I don't like being lied to and also don't like that the first thing they say when it is taken in is to accuse me of leaving something on.  I rarely use the USB port and am afraid to charge my cell phone as I fear it will drain the battery.  They have also suggested that I don't drive it enough to re-charge the battery.  While I don't drive great distances very often, I do drive it to work and back five days a week and run errands.  The only day the car might not be driven is on a Sunday.  All I want is a car that is dependable and I don't want to have to be a mechanic to drive it.

I have a 2013 C-Max SEL....bought new in October of 2012 because the transmission went out on my 2007 Escape that I purchased new in 2006. This past Friday makes the third time I have experienced a dead battery.  The first time my dealer was replacing the battery and blew a module (or something) and I was without the car for four days. Several months later had another battery put in and now am having to deal with a car I can't drive for the third time. While I have grown to like the C-Max (it was more at my husband's suggestion that we got it), we are almost to the point of getting rid of it. I have been fortunate that all three times this happened my car was at home in the garage, but it also happened when I needed to get to work. The most important thing a car can be is dependable and unfortunately this car doesn't seem to fit the bill. I am also disappointed that the dealership acts like they aren't aware of this being a 'problem' with the C-Max, when obviously it is from what I'm reading here and on other sites.  I don't like being lied to and also don't like that the first thing they say when it is taken in is to accuse me of leaving something on.  I rarely use the USB port and am afraid to charge my cell phone as I fear it will drain the battery.  They have also suggested that I don't drive it enough to re-charge the battery.  While I don't drive great distances very often, I do drive it to work and back five days a week and run errands.  The only day the car might not be driven is on a Sunday.  All I want is a car that is dependable and I don't want to have to be a mechanic to drive it.

Sorry to hear and a sad welcome to the growing list of battery problem fused c-max owner's club. Incase you've not read further back on this forum, it is most likely the 12V battery failier issue not the main battery.

I've had so far my 6th dead car event last Thursday. 2 weeks after my 12V battery recall repair, that was supposed to fix this annoying problem! Has an appointment again for service and I hope they will investigate a little further this time, but I am pretty hopeless at this point. BTW when they test my 12V battery it had checked out fine, was not replaced.

Sadly I aggree, they make me feel like I am the only one who has battery complaints. I really like my car, but starting to think about the lemon law.

Thank you guys! Also just another quick note. For the first time, after roadside jump start. My clock and settings were correct. I did not have to reset anything. But interestingly my AC came on at "75*". I know I did not have the AC on this morning when I was driving to work. There was no reason for it.

How do I send Ashley a PM?

Well, did not have to wait too long. Two weeks after the battery recall check I have a dead battery. Waiting for roadside assistance right now. Getting a little bit annoyed. This is my 6th dead battery event. Tomorrow morning I will be calling Ford customer service to get a new case number yet again!

Mikeg's service department seems on the ball.

 

I'm not so sure that Maxy's is. Had they called into the hotline they would have been advised to check electrical connectors, look at and maybe replace the coolant pump, and same with the shift lever. And they would not have said that reprogramming the entertainment display module will fix the problem, but it has not had a good track record of fixing the problem

 

Some service departments are better than others. Some, maybe many, will do a better job if you bring them information, such as TSB numbers and information about other repairs being done for the same problem on other cars. Ask them if they have called the service tech hotline. If they haven't called (well, it's is actually e-mail) and won't contact the hot line, then you know you need to take your car to a different service department

Thank you salman for your input. I totally agree with you that my service department is not following as they should nor do the Ford Customer Service. I cannot say I do not try to make my point every time I go there. Take my notes, print out infos from the forum and my roadside assistance slips. I even got a name of my local Ford Customer Representative who I've told again about my case and give her the date and time I was taking the car in. She was supposedly making sure that things were taking care of. But I think it was only to the extent to the actual recall 13B12 and obviously nobody "looked beyond" the 12v battery. She called me to follow up on "how was my service visit"? Even after I've mentioned about the complaints that the new "fix" is not working for everybody, they all assured me it will fix my problem.... I can tell the way they talk to me they just have no clue what is really going on. And this dealership supposedly is the best around here. I have to say everybody has been super nice and seems like they really want to help, but.... So, I am not even sure if going to another department would change that, but next time I willing to try.

Update on Recall 13B12. I had this done this week on my c-max, after another dead battery. Battery checked out fine, was not replaced. They also " reprogram the front control / display interface module". They said it will fix the problem. I try to be positive and now the waiting game begins.

Salman,

 

Thank you for your advice. 

 

To your questions, the shop says that they tried all of the above and that Ford told them to look for an "outside cause" which we translated as something taking "too much power" via the USB port, but obviously that's not it. I agreed with the service advisor that I would bring it in on Monday, but he said that he has not heard back from Ford on what else to try, so the will get me a rental, and keep it there for a few days again, and then say that they couldn't find anything / replicate the problem - unless something changed in the car in the last 3 weeks, but somehow I doubt that. In other words, I feel hopeless and helpless. I have read above that the same stuff is happening with 2014 models, so obviously Ford hasn't identified what the source of all these problems is. The guy that was jump starting it said again, "I am getting a lot of these for some reason." After the car was jump-started, the clock in the car was at 9:28AM... Is this the time when the car died? We drove back in the late evening, and the drive was a lot of downhill, and the lights were on. Then the next morning, we didn't drive anywhere. The car was sitting in the garage until the late afternoon when we discovered that it was dead. In other words, I feel like if we had driven my daughter to school in the morning, then this last jump starting would have been prevented.

 

I offered to let them add some "debugging" device to the car and watch the battery and other systems until it happens again, and then they would know if something didn't turn off, but obviously that's not an option - I find it weird that Ford has not asked for volunteers for such a program. I am sure that most of us would agree to having their car monitored just so they can find out what's going on and get it fixed. The car is awesome when it drives.

 

Once I get it back, I will stop using bluetooth audio as well. In other words, i will be driving a hybrd car without any perk (bluetooth, usb, or electicity plug). Is there anyone whose car has been jump-started 2-3 times and hasn't had the problem for over 3 months since the last occurrence?

 

Michal

"Dead battery in the morning. This is my 5th at 6000 miles. Car is a year old. Last dead battery was 10 month ago. Prior to that every 4 weeks. Done all the updates required to solve problem, except the recent 12 v replacement which is next on my list. I do have the Stanley Simple Start, but does not seem to work. How and where is the best way to plug it in? How do you open the trunk when car is dead?

Thanks for any new info! " - this was my posting to another battery related forum. Since than, thanks to Paul I have some more knowledge on the jump starting. However, I have owned 2 cars previously for over 10 years each and never had to jump start! So a bit frustrated. I am not too optimistic about the battery replacement recall, since it has not worked to several others. Taking it back to the dealer is a hustle, even more when the solution is not there. Now I don't use anything other than my Bluetooth for the phone, trying to narrow down the problem. But realistically it is a pain in my behind for buying a new car with all the special features I am afraid to use. Although obviously it doesn't make a difference. And strangely I still love my car....

Got my new case number. Super nice customer rep. He said that the battery replacement should put an end to my dead battery problems. I know he only tries to be positive... Obviously mxanotcar as you have experienced, it is not the case :(( Crap! And you are right my clock was off as well. Are you following up with the Ford Customer Service? Now just waiting to the next no picture no sound start.

Thank you both for your reply, will do. I have read some postings on the 12 v battery recall. Sadly, sounds like even the battery replacement has not solved the problem....... What the heck is going on? How is that possible that after all this time FORD still cannot fix this problem? I should not worry about how to jump start my new car every couple of weeks or month. It is frustrating. I call Ford Customer Service every time it happens and they give me a new "case number", but no follow up or nothing. They act like this is the first time they hear about such a problem! Just by reading the posts it is obvious there is plenty of complaints, I am not the only one. Maybe they need some media attention.

Dead battery in the morning. This is my 5th at 6000 miles. Car is a year old. Last dead battery was 10 month ago. Prior to that every 4 weeks. Done all the updates required to solve problem, except the recent 12 v replacement which is next on my list. I do have the Stanley Simple Start, but does not seem to work. How and where is the best way to plug it in? How do you open the trunk when car is dead?

Thanks for any new info!

I had my last dead battery, the 4th one, at the end of June. This was 6 weeks after the recommended TSB updates back than. Because of the battery issues, I've been making mental notes what did I use or did different that might've caused the dead battery. Since the last dead, I have not used my CD player. So, I am wondering, and hoping, that maybe the Cd player does not shut down properly..... I will be taking in my c-max soon for the first 5000 miles check up and will mention it. But since it has been working great I am hesitant to do the recalls as well. BTW I am getting 39.8 right now, mostly city driving.

How long is it sitting unused?

Interestingly enough, I had the car sitting once for 10 days and twice for 3 days and it has started just fine. All three dead battery problem occurred during regular use over night or end of the day, approximately 4-6 weeks apart. It is coming up 6 weeks, so I am a bit nervous every morning before I am getting ready to go to work.

Sorry to say mczajka, I had the latest updates to my C-MAX in May. TSB13-4-13 and TSB13-5-1.  3 weeks ago battery was dead again:( Did not have the time to take car in, but reported it to ford customer service and they gave me a new case number. They had no new recommendation about the battery problem. It is frustrating to say the least....

I was just about to ask, if anyone knows, can I get out of the car if battery dies while I am in it?

Or, can I open the lift gate, back doors other than driver door without power. With my previous VW I was able to with key turning twice, when remote did not work.

Well, sadly I had my third dead battery yesterday morning. In May I had the latest TSB updates done and everything checked out fine.

As most of the postings in this battery problem, I had nothing unusual happening, just dead on the driveway. Roadside to the rescue...

Reported it to Ford, but have not have the chance to take it in for service. Dead battery seems to reoccur every 4-6 weeks. Ford customer service told me there is no new updates or recalls, so I'll just wait for the dead morning or night again:( Kind of a bummer, since otherwise like he car, but for 30K having a new car with problems is not cool! The least Ford could do is offer a loner car to all of us who are trying to be patient while they are scratching their head to figure out this mystery. Being without a car for days, since do not want to pay for a rental car on top of my car payment to have transportation is a bit upsetting. It is inconvenience enough to worry everyday if my new car starts or not.

Got my car back today. They did TSB 13-5-1 and 13-4-13. Could not find anything wrong.

Got my car back today. They did TSB 13-5-1 AND 13-4-13. They could not find anything wrong. I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed?