Ford Mobile Charger Issues

[jmyer72]

Bought my 24 Lariat new and it came with the mobile charger. I've used it fairly regularly for the past year plugged into the 50A outlet I had installed at home with no issues. A couple weeks ago I got a charging error and the red light on the charger. The truck still charges fine on Tesla superchargers as well as the other aftermarket charger I bought. I tried the Ford charger in other 50A outlets and got the same result. When I first plug it in the normal blue light comes on but within a few seconds it goes to the yellow light then to the red one.
Since my truck is still under the B2B warranty the mobile charger is also covered so I scheduled a service appointment. They ordered me a new charger and I got it last week. All I got was the charger itself. I had to keep and re-use the 50A plug that goes in it. I've used it a couple since getting it with no problems but last night I got the same charging error and the new charger proceeded to do the exact same thing the previous one did!
I'm now wondering if there's a problem with my truck. But it has no problem with other chargers. I've got another service appointment scheduled for a week from now. Just wondering if anyone else has had these or similar issues.

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[RickLightning]

If your truck charges fine on other level 2 chargers (fast charging is irrelevant), then it's the charger, or the outlet.

If you plug in another level 2 charger to that 220 outlet, and it works fine, then it's the charger.

If it's the charger, make sure to properly seat the pigtail. If it still displays a non-blue light before plugging in, it has nothing to do with your truck...

 

[carys98]

It’s covered under the 3/36 bumper to bumper warranty so if you haven’t hit the mileage you can get it replaced. A lot of these have failed when used heavily.

 

[Zprime29]

As mentioned, frequent use of the Ford branded mobile charger tends to make it crap out. Mine gets infrequent use, maybe 3-4 times a year on level 1 and is still kicking. But I recall several threads where folk who use it daily have it die on them.

If I where in your shoes, I'd get Ford to replace it with one confirmed to work and then stash it for travel/emergency use and rely on an aftermarket solution for daily charging.

 

[Heliian]

As I've suspected for some time now, the dongle is probably the problem. Nobody has even tried a new dongle but seeing as the dongle was carried over and still faulted I would look into that.
Have you tried the 110v dongle?

 

[chriserx]

As I've suspected for some time now, the dongle is probably the problem. Nobody has even tried a new dongle but seeing as the dongle was carried over and still faulted I would look into that.
Have you tried the 110v dongle?

I actually wanted to know this as well, but I suppressed my need to ask questions for once . I noticed on mine which sits exposed to all elements, when I went from L1 to L2, some unknown quantity of water was leaking past the seals of the swappable plug. But in reality I suspect the relay inside that initiates the charge is what failed.

 

[Heliian]

I suspect

There's a sensor and circuitry inside the dongle that I suspect is the cause. Mine is only used occasionally and still works but if it does fail I'll do a full teardown.

 

[techsan97]

I used mine daily as L1 charger and it died and was replaced by Ford. The replacement also has died. I bought an aftermarket charger which works flawlessly. Their charger is garbage and the fact that every lightning in the area came with the mobile charger "option" makes it that much more egregious. I wonder how many you have to return for then to just give you the $500 back?

 

[Joe Dablock]

Me too! My portable charger for both my 22 MME and my 23 Lightning have died for 220v but still work on 110v.

Ford should be recalling these Ford branded pieces of crap!

 

[Oafboy182]

I've been using my mobile charger everyday since I bought the truck last May. One day I'll get around to having a proper charger installed. My charger is just laying on the floor of my garage and if it gets bumped hard enough I have to reseat the pigtail. Sometimes it takes a couple times for it to properly seat. The charger really is pretty crap for what they charge for it.

 

[chl]

Bought my 24 Lariat new and it came with the mobile charger. I've used it fairly regularly for the past year plugged into the 50A outlet I had installed at home with no issues. A couple weeks ago I got a charging error and the red light on the charger. The truck still charges fine on Tesla superchargers as well as the other aftermarket charger I bought. I tried the Ford charger in other 50A outlets and got the same result. When I first plug it in the normal blue light comes on but within a few seconds it goes to the yellow light then to the red one.
Since my truck is still under the B2B warranty the mobile charger is also covered so I scheduled a service appointment. They ordered me a new charger and I got it last week. All I got was the charger itself. I had to keep and re-use the 50A plug that goes in it. I've used it a couple since getting it with no problems but last night I got the same charging error and the new charger proceeded to do the exact same thing the previous one did!
I'm now wondering if there's a problem with my truck. But it has no problem with other chargers. I've got another service appointment scheduled for a week from now. Just wondering if anyone else has had these or similar issues.

There have been a lot of issues with those FMPC (Ford Mobile Power Cord) EVSE's when used every day according to forum posts.

Get it replaced under warranty and then keep it handy for emergencies only.

This table will tell you what the error lights mean:

 

[chl]

One of the problems was with the 240V dongle not seating properly or developing corrosion.

 

[STXLariat]

There have been a lot of issues with those FMPC (Ford Mobile Power Cord) EVSE's when used every day according to forum posts.

Get it replaced under warranty and then keep it handy for emergencies only.

This table will tell you what the error lights mean:

I have a ‘23 lariat extended range and use the 240v mobile charging cord exclusively. It started with the diminished level of charging yellow light within a year or so, but I was able to keep the battery topped off, so no big deal. A few weeks ago it started showing the red light and throwing a charge error and wouldn’t charge. The plug was hot and hard to unplug. I drove to one of the local ford dealerships and explained the situation, and they ordered a complete new set up. Everything works just like day 1 again. The mobile charging cords can’t handle the daily load, please be sure and swap out before warranty expires if you use it regularly.

 

[Maineiac12]

Yeah, these things are junk. I had the one from my first truck replaced under warranty and have the one that came with my new truck on standby as a backup. Once you’re out of warranty, replace it with something else.

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