023 Lightning (Build 08/23) – No Heat / No Defrost Heat – Dealer says “failed heater assembly” (any insight?)

[ZSC100]

Had PTC short on our 2023 XLT SR - needed to tow truck in, truck has 80,000 miles +/- not covered under BEV warranty. Cost ~$2,000 and took 2-3 days, main wait was on the pump/parts.

Considering it a wear item replacement more then weakness/failure, we were regularly running truck at -35 C on overnight routes at that time - the PTC was running at max round the clock trying to keep truck and battery warm(ish).

You also could've got yours replaced under the EV Powertrain warranty, especially with the urgency of using your truck in the climate you live in. But I understand the urgency of getting your vehicle back and the the stress of fighting Ford. Sorry this happened; a resistive heater is not a "wear item". It should last the life of the vehicle.

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[MountainAlive]

You also could've got yours replaced under the EV Powertrain warranty, especially with the urgency of using your truck in the climate you live in. But I understand the urgency of getting your vehicle back and the the stress of fighting Ford. Sorry this happened; a resistive heater is not a "wear item". It should last the life of the vehicle.

Curious if there’s a definitive part list out there of what’s considered “EV powertrain” for this reason. I agree that anything that has to cool or warm the HV battery is to me “Powertrain” but we’d need to know what the Ford lords say.

 

[ZSC100]

The Ford Lords deny, deny, deny. If a hose blows out that connects a drive motor, your fault. If the low voltage connector to the battery has corrosion, keeps the truck from driving, your fault. If the A/C compressor goes out and the truck can't cool the battery and limits driving power to 25% and you happen to live in Houston where it's over 100deg, sorry, your fault.

Basically the only thing Ford will fix/replace under the EV Powertrain warranty with no questions asked is the drive units and battery. Literally anything else that keeps the truck from driving takes careful and precises argument and fighting to get them to cover it, even though it can negatively affect the 3 items mentioned above. It's just the capitalistic nature of a large corporation. If they deny, deny, deny, statistically a HUGE % of people will just give up. But if you are persistent and seek advice from others in the community you can usually get them to do what's right, unfortunately they usually provide a solution that won't set a precedent for others to take advantage. It's terrible in the eyes of the small % of people who have issues, but in reality it's just capitalism moving toward a maximum profit like its programmed to do.

An example is that, one way they will rectify stuff like this (which would've been the next step for the OP) Is to request an ESP after the 2nd dealer refused warranty claim (if that would've transpired). But you see, when covered by an ESP that doesn't set a precedent that it will be covered for anyone else. Most people don't even know about the free ESP and/or what qualifies an EV owner for it. I was told 15days, but I've heard of others saying they were told 30days, maybe there is no magic #'s it's just based on how much you bitch and/or how your state's lemon laws are written. Oklahoma is 30days, if your vehicle is in service for 30days you are eligible for a buy back, no questions asked per law, but you think ford will just hand you MSRP cash on day 31,, LOL. No, it's just like this, you have to fight it for weeks,,, months,, with time and energy that most are not willing to spend.

Thankfully, the Ford Lightning is an EXTREMELY well built truck and even though there are thousands with issues, that's still a very small % of the 100k+ built.

 

[TaxmanHog]

With the vagueness of what is & isn't covered ...... having an extended b2b warranty is in my humble opinion a very comforting safety blanket, YMMV.

 

[Maquis]

Basically the only thing Ford will fix/replace under the EV Powertrain warranty with no questions asked is the drive units and battery.

That‘s not accurate. Here is the from the warranty booklet:

My charge port and associated wiring on my Mach-E was replaced under the EV component warranty. I didn’t even have to ask. When I picked the car up, the service writer told me it was covered. The car was past the 3/36 warranty.

 

[ZSC100]

That‘s not accurate. Here is the from the warranty booklet:

My charge port and associated wiring on my Mach-E was replaced under the EV component warranty. I didn’t even have to ask. When I picked the car up, the service writer told me it was covered. The car was past the 3/36 warranty.

Thanks for posting this, but I have heard of both the DC/DC and SOBDMA both being paid for by customers under 100kmi,, I DO think it has a LOT to do with the dealer. I'm sad that this dealer wasn't interested in helping the OP. If he'd have just had some more time I think he could've got this 100% covered.

 

[Maquis]

Thanks for posting this, but I have heard of both the DC/DC and SOBDMA both being paid for by customers under 100kmi,, I DO think it has a LOT to do with the dealer. I'm sad that this dealer wasn't interested in helping the OP. If he'd have just had some more time I think he could've got this 100% covered.

I agree 100% about the inconsistency in dealer competence. Fortunately, I have a good one.

 

[ZSC100]

I agree 100% about the inconsistency in dealer competence. Fortunately, I have a good one.

Yea, me too, I had a Lightning Loaner no questions asked for 3 weeks, then on my 2nd module failure I had a MachE b/c Lightning was already loaned. Then when my front lightbar was flickering (like you see in videos, but in real life), my service advisor told me about the free ESP trick. This was like at 50kmi and I'm not sure what he did behind the scenes to help me get it, but it took about 3 weeks for it to become active, then he called me and scheduled the headlight module replacement. This isn't the dealer I bought the truck from either, I really don't get this crap of dealers getting pissy about you not buying the vehicle from them. They make the same warranty money either way and get the same loaner reimbursment from FMC.

 

[Joe Dablock]

This probably too late to help you , but here is a photo of my invoice with the heater assembly replacement. Mine was at 36,800 miles and missed recall by one month. Ford showed some mercy and covered 70 percent ($1,740).

 

[Joe Dablock]

Also, your truck should be covered under recall. See attachment:

 

[MountainAlive]

This probably too late to help you , but here is a photo of my invoice with the heater assembly replacement. Mine was at 36,800 miles and missed recall by one month. Ford showed some mercy and covered 70 percent ($1,740).

So it looks like they do indeed do a coolant flush when they replace the heater according to the 2 gallons line item.

 

[RLXXI]

This probably too late to help you , but here is a photo of my invoice with the heater assembly replacement. Mine was at 36,800 miles and missed recall by one month. Ford showed some mercy and covered 70 percent ($1,740).

Geeze, they charge almost double for that heater than what It sells for.

 

[bc1]

It says it found a stored code. Wonder what the date was for the code? Might have been while under warranty.

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