2018 FFE Wrench codes and battery capacity loss

[Anti_Climax]

The number of mail pieces that are "regarding your loan with XXXX" after you refinance... Man.

[hoprocket]

I finally got the dealer to take a look at my car. The prognosis was not good. Surprise, surprise, it needs the HV battery replaced. I didn't hear about it from the dealer, actually. I got a call and an email from Ford corporate customer service. They gave me two options. 1) They will replace the battery under warranty. The replacement would be a refurbished battery and would take 10 to 12 days to install. The refurbished battery comes with a 2 year warranty. or 2) They offered to buy me out for $12.5k. A little bit of a low ball offer, but considering the current state of plummeting EV prices it could be, and will continue to get, worse. I'm considering taking it. What do you all think? Replace the battery or take the buy out? I have 7 days to decide.

[spirilis]

That's a hard one. Depends on how much else is wrong with the car I guess. Bushings, shocks, etc... all fixable but with what hassle..

I'm getting more interested in PHEVs nowadays, I'd probably take the buyout and look for a plug-in hybrid using it as a down payment. TBH I might be in that boat soon as I'm taking my 2017 in next week for wrench light/capacity loss (determined cell 25 is going bad- that will need HV battery swap)

[Heima]

I finally got the dealer to take a look at my car. The prognosis was not good. Surprise, surprise, it needs the HV battery replaced. I didn't hear about it from the dealer, actually. I got a call and an email from Ford corporate customer service. They gave me two options. 1) They will replace the battery under warranty. The replacement would be a refurbished battery and would take 10 to 12 days to install. The refurbished battery comes with a 2 year warranty. or 2) They offered to buy me out for $12.5k. A little bit of a low ball offer, but considering the current state of plummeting EV prices it could be, and will continue to get, worse. I'm considering taking it. What do you all think? Replace the battery or take the buy out? I have 7 days to decide.

I am thinking that most likely it would be a newly made battery, as there is no means of storing an HV battery this long, (since 2018) without it having degradation. And how much time is left on your battery warranty? If 3 years are left, then they are obligated to provide those 3 years of warranty. What if you asked for $15k buyout?

The reason for the buyout is because they do not want to have to deal with your car anymore. And who knows, after they buy you out, they may ask if you want to buy the car back. Of course under a salvage title.

So you could tell them, that you have been talking to a lawyer, and they have advised you that such options are not equitable, and that litigation might be necessary for Ford to provide a satisfactory solution. 7 days is insufficient time to make a determination of their offerings. Do not do this unless you have actually talked to a lawyer. lol

[scottt]

I finally got the dealer to take a look at my car. The prognosis was not good. Surprise, surprise, it needs the HV battery replaced. I didn't hear about it from the dealer, actually. I got a call and an email from Ford corporate customer service. They gave me two options. 1) They will replace the battery under warranty. The replacement would be a refurbished battery and would take 10 to 12 days to install. The refurbished battery comes with a 2 year warranty. or 2) They offered to buy me out for $12.5k. A little bit of a low ball offer, but considering the current state of plummeting EV prices it could be, and will continue to get, worse. I'm considering taking it. What do you all think? Replace the battery or take the buy out? I have 7 days to decide.

Try selling your car to Carvana, Vroom, etc. See how much they'll give you. Use that as a counter to Ford. I was getting $17k for my 2017 about 9 months ago, but supposedly used EV prices are dropping.

[hoprocket]

Thanks all for the feedback. Ford customer service used the terminology 'Final offer', so I doubt they'll negotiate. They also offered to replace the battery pack, which is really all they are obligated to do under warranty, so I'm not sure a Lawyer is warranted. After browsing new EV models and prices, and driving both the Mach-E and Ioniq 5, I'm now leaning toward having the FFE battery replaced. Sure, the newer cars are a nice, a little bigger, and a little quicker off the line, but at the end of the day I don't drive much and the FFE meets my low mileage commuting needs. $0 out of pocket to have the battery replaced is sounding better the more I think about it.

[hoprocket]

I pulled the trigger on the battery pack replacement. 7 to 10 days for the battery delivery and I expect another week or so for the dealership to get it scheduled and installed. So a couple weeks out.

[hoprocket]

So, I got the car back yesterday. Guess-o-meter was showing 130 miles when charged fully. I'm sure it won't go that far, but all seems well with the refurbished replacement battery pack. They even refilled and bled the coolant. I'm happy. Hopefully I can get another six years out of it this one!

[Heima]

Congrats!