Diagnosis confirmed — 5/20 (faster than expected)
Primary repair: Positive Battery Junction Box (HVJB) inside HV battery
100% covered under 8/100k EV Component warranty. Matches my earlier failure-mode taxonomy rank #2 ("HV contactor stuck / welded inside HVJB"). NOT the 25S18 cell defect — so the inclusion-review path is moot.
⏳ Parts ETA: next week
HVJB part on order. Aria's earlier research said "1 week to 3+ months" for HV-side parts — coming in at the fast end is a win.
🚗 Loaner: Hertz at Byers Toyota
Byers set this up — pickup TBD. Reply to advisor with a pickup time. Bring your driver's license + a credit card for Hertz hold.
⚠ 12V battery: failed test — $342.27, NOT auto-covered
12V LVB (Motorcraft BHAGM-H3 AGM) is under expired NVLW (3yr/36k). At 40k mi / 3.5 yr the original is at normal end-of-life — these AGMs typically last 4–6 yr. $342 is fair dealer price (parts ~$250 OEM + labor).
Ask before approving: "Since the HVJB failure stopped the DC-DC converter from charging the 12V, was the 12V drained/damaged as consequential damage of the HV-side fault? Can it be claimed under the same warranty?" — sometimes yes, sometimes no, but the answer is worth the 30-second ask.
If they say no: approve it. The $342 isn't worth the hassle of declining + driving home + AutoZone + re-coming back. The 12V is at end-of-life anyway — get it done in the same visit.
📧 Suggested reply to advisor
Thanks for the quick turnaround. Two things: 1. 12V battery — approving the $342.27 replacement to get it done in the same visit. Before you bill it though, can you check whether the 12V damage was consequential to the HVJB failure (DC-DC converter offline → 12V deep-discharge)? If so, ask BEV CRC whether it can be added to the warranty repair. If not, no problem, bill me. 2. Loaner pickup — I can be at the Hertz/Byers Toyota location at [TIME]. Please let me know what they'll need from me (license + credit card I assume). Also please confirm the three open recalls are bundled into the same RO: rear lightbar inspection, 25C69 Integrated Park Module, 26C10 Trailer Module reprogramming. Will you email me the RO PDF showing the HVJB diagnosis + parts on order? Thanks, Topher
📋 Pre-appointment timeline (collapsed — historical)
Recall Case # CXH-08001486 · Roadside Ref # 6144993575 (KC dispatch, 5/19 8am pickup) · Byers Service (833) 567-3928 · Appointment 5/20 7:00 AM (truck arrived early via tow on 5/19)
Appointment confirmed — Byers Ford
✓ Recall Case #: CXH-08001486
Use this number at drop-off + on every dealer email. It's your independent paper trail.
🚛 Tow scheduled — Tuesday May 19, 8:00 AM pickup
Dispatcher: KC · Roadside Ref #: 6144993575 · Destination: Byers Ford
⚠ Truck will arrive at Byers ~21 hours before the 7 AM Wed appointment. Call Byers (833-567-3928) to give them a heads-up so they're expecting it and can put it in the service queue / overnight storage without surprise.
📞 Call log + recalibration — 5/18 BEV call (Ursula)
What Ursula said: (1) Can't open a BEV case until truck is at the dealership; will work with dealer when it arrives. (2) "No way" to get included in 25S18 since VIN isn't in scope. Rude tone.
Reality check:
- Pre-tow BEV case: Other owners report being able to open one pre-tow, but it varies by agent. Not worth fighting Ursula on — the Recall Case CXH-08001486 IS the pre-opened paper trail. BEV case will open Wednesday when Byers takes possession. No real loss.
- 25S18 inclusion: Ursula was partly right + partly pessimistic. The OWNER can't request inclusion through a CRC phone call — that part is true. But if Byers' diagnostic surfaces P0B24 (cell voltage instability) or P0AA4 (HV isolation fault), the dealer tech can escalate through Ford's internal engineering channel for campaign expansion review. The lever is the dealer's DTC + escalation, not a CRC call. Don't waste energy fighting Ursula; redirect the ask to Byers on Wednesday.
What to tell Byers on drop-off: "Reference Recall Case CXH-08001486. Please pull all HV-side DTCs. If P0B24 or related cell-voltage codes appear, please escalate through Ford engineering for 25S18 inclusion review."
⏳ Two days to appointment — punch list
Now (today, May 18)
- Call the Ford Recall Assistant Team: 866-436-7332. CRC routed you here. Ask them to verify all open campaigns against your VIN, flag for 25S18 inclusion review based on symptoms, and confirm CSP-23B57 isn't applicable. Get a separate Recall Case # if they open one.
- Call Byers (833-567-3928) back — confirm:
- Loaner / rental vehicle availability for 7am drop-off
- Are they handling the tow logistics, or do you call Ford Roadside (1-800-241-3673) for the flatbed?
- If you arrange the tow: drop-off the night of May 19 (after-hours key drop) or 6:30 AM May 20?
- Confirm they'll bundle the three open recalls: rear lightbar, 25C69 (park module), 26C10 (trailer module)
- Get the service advisor's name + direct line + email — you want the write-up scheduled in advance
- Open a Ford CRC BEV case if not already at 1-800-392-3673 → request BEV team transfer. Even with Byers handling it, a CRC case is your independent paper trail.
Tomorrow (May 19)
- Photograph the truck — dash with "Stop Safely Now" message, exact odometer, charge port LED state, exterior + interior condition. Timestamped folder.
- Photograph the door-jamb VIN sticker with build date visible — confirms in-service date for warranty clock.
- Email the Byers service advisor before drop-off with: VIN, mileage, in-service date, symptom statement verbatim, CRC case #, Recall Assistant case # if you got one, list of bundled recalls. Subject line: "2022 F-150 Lightning VIN ending V1NWG07810 — May 20 7am appointment — HV system failure under 8/100k EV coverage." Body should ask them to email the RO PDF before any work begins.
- Arrange the tow for either May 19 PM (after-hours drop) or 6:30 AM May 20.
- If you find your OBD2 dongle and it's an OBDLink EX or MX+ — scan all modules, screenshot every DTC, do NOT clear. Hand the screenshots to Byers at drop-off. (If it's a generic ELM327 clone, skip it — module corruption risk.)
Day of (May 20, 7:00 AM)
- Truck is on a flatbed — don't drive it. Confirmed BECM veto + risk of cell damage on contactor-close attempts.
- Use the Xtime check-in link if you want to pre-fill:
c.xtime.com/ifIRS-N9LggA2DftXX - Dictate the RO write-up verbatim — "Customer states: Vehicle displays 'Stop Safely Now' and will not start. Failure is persistent. Customer requests full HV system diagnostic under 8-year / 100,000-mile EV Component warranty. Bundle: rear lightbar inspection, 25C69, 26C10."
- Read the RO before signing. Verify "persistent" is written. Verify no "$X diagnostic fee" line item — diagnostic on warranty claim is on Ford.
- Get advisor full name + direct line + email + service manager name on the RO copy.
- Take a loaner if offered — even gas-only. Call BEV CRC after to swap to Ford-product if you want.
Truck spec / warranty / recall summary
📞 Part 1 — Action Pack
Open this on your phone while you dial. Scripts, dealer list, gotchas, all in order.
📋 The call sequence (in order)
Lock the dealer destination FIRST. Then CRC for the case number. Then Roadside with both. Dealer service advisor while truck is en route.
Dealer #1 — Byers Ford Delaware (740-971-0485)
NOWVerify EV cert + capacity using the 7-question script. If yes, lock destination. If no, ask who they refer to → next call.
Dealer #2 — Germain Ford Columbus (380-227-5027)
NOW (in parallel if Byers punts)Same script. Strong forum reputation. Likely to accept.
Dealer #3 — Mathews Ford Marion (833-390-5784) OR Ricart Ford Groveport (614-836-6607)
IF neededMathews if northbound is easier; Ricart for the highest-confidence HV work in Ohio.
Ford CRC — 1-800-392-3673
After dealer lockedOpen BEV case, get case number, request loaner + parts pre-auth + 25S18 inclusion review. Use the verbatim opener.
Ford Roadside — 1-800-241-3673
After CRCFlatbed to the locked dealer with CRC case # referenced. Insist on EV-certified destination even if farther than nearest.
Chosen dealer's Service Advisor
While tow is en routeDictate the symptom statement verbatim, request RO emailed before any work begins, get advisor name + direct line + email, confirm loaner.
🗂️ Info packet — have this in front of you
| Item | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| VIN | 1FT6W1EV1NWG07810 | Last 8 (V1NWG07810) speeds up CRC intake — they ask for this first |
| Year / Trim | 2022 F-150 Lightning Platinum Extended Range | 580 hp / 131 kWh / SuperCrew / 4WD |
| Built at | Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, Dearborn MI | Confirms BEV plant if CRC needs to verify config |
| Mileage | ~40,000 mi (read exact off cluster) | Inside 8 yr / 100k EV Component coverage |
| In-service date | Pull from FordPass → Vehicle → Service → History | CRC asks for this; sets your warranty clock |
| Symptom statement | "Vehicle displays Stop Safely Now and will not start. Failure is persistent, not intermittent. Vehicle is currently inoperable in driveway." | Say PERSISTENT. "Intermittent" kills lemon-law leverage. |
| Already tried | Manual BMS reset (high-beam 5x, brake 3x — icon flashed 3x). Overnight 12V trickle charge. Jumpstart attempt. None resolved the fault. | Describe symptoms only — don't diagnose for them |
| Charge behavior | Plug in → charge port airs out, red ring fault within ~10 seconds | Diagnostic clue — HV precharge/isolation test failure |
| 12V data | Bench post-trickle: 13.5V. At rest: 12.5V. Under attempted start: 12.3V flat (no droop) | Flat-under-load proves BECM never closed contactors — not 12V starvation |
| Open recalls | Rear lightbar inspection, 25C69 (park module), 26C10 (trailer module) | Bundle into the same RO while truck is in shop |
| 25S18 status | NOT flagged on this VIN per Ford.com + FordPass | Still ask CRC to flag the case for inclusion review during diagnosis |
| CSP-23B57 status | NOT flagged ("No customer satisfaction programs" per Ford.com) | Possible BECM reflash under standard warranty if codes point there |
🏢 Dealers near 43015 — call in this order
⚠️ No central Ohio dealer publicly displays Model e Certified Elite. Ford softened the program in 2023-24. Cert verification is now a phone-call exercise — use the 7-question script below.
#1 Byers Ford (call first)
~2 mi1101 Columbus Pike, Delaware OH 43015
740-971-0485
EV cert: UNCONFIRMED — markets as "one of the top EV dealers in Ohio" but no public Model e Elite badge
Local convenience. 50/50 odds they accept the HV-side work. If they punt, ask who they refer to.
#2 Germain Ford of Columbus
~22 mi S7250 Sawmill Rd, Columbus OH 43235
380-227-5027
EV cert: Likely Model e Certified (sells Lightning, no-ADM dealer per forum naughty/nice list)
Strong forum reputation — Lightning sales-active + good actor on pricing. Best Columbus-area Lightning HV candidate.
#3 Mathews Ford Marion
~25 mi N1155 Delaware Ave, Marion OH 43302
833-390-5784
EV cert: Stocks new Lightnings — verify HV cert by phone
Closest northbound Lightning-sales dealer. Worth a call as a parallel option to Germain.
#4 Ricart Ford (Pro Elite)
~40 mi SE4255 S Hamilton Rd, Groveport OH 43125
614-836-6607
EV cert: Ford Pro Elite — only Pro Elite dealer in Ohio (commercial flavor; full Lightning + E-Transit HV competence)
Highest-confidence HV capability in central Ohio. Customer-service reviews mixed (fast tech, weaker comms). Worth the tow if Byers/Germain both punt.
#5 Krieger Ford
~20 mi S1505 W Dublin-Granville Rd, Columbus OH 43229
Check kriegerford.com
EV cert: No public EV-cert claim — general Ford service
Backup only. Closest Columbus dealer to 43015 but lower confidence on HV work.
7-question cert verification script
- "Are you a Ford Model-e EV-Certified dealer?" — yes/no, no waffling
- "Do you have a Ford-trained EV technician on-site THIS week?" — not next week
- "Do you have a Mongoose Pro Ford cable and FDRS access for HV battery diagnostics?" — this is the real filter; non-EV stores will say "we use IDS" or get vague
- "My 2022 Lightning threw Stop Safely Now and won't start. Can you diagnose the high-voltage side, or do you refer that out?" — listen for "we refer that to Ricart"
- "Do you stock or have rapid access to BECM, HVJB, and contactor parts?" — Cert Elite stores keep some; non-Elite means weeks of waiting
- "What's the current wait for a Lightning HV diagnosis appointment, and do you provide a loaner for warranty work over 3 days?" — loaner policy is a tell
- "If you can't take it, who in central Ohio would you refer me to?" — free intel
☎️ Call: Ford CRC / BEV Team — 1-800-392-3673
No separate public "BEV Hotline." Start at 1-800-392-3673 and ask for BEV transfer. Insist on transfer before going deep on symptoms — Tier-1 opens a "ticket," BEV opens a "case." You want a case.
Opening line (verbatim)
"Hi, I have a 2022 F-150 Lightning with a high-voltage system failure — "Stop Safely Now," vehicle is inoperable, currently in my driveway. Please transfer me to the BEV team to open a case. VIN ending V1NWG07810. The vehicle is at approximately 40,000 miles and is in the 8-year / 100,000-mile EV Component warranty."
Asks on the same call:
Case Number
"Please open a BEV case and provide the case number — I want to write it down and have you email me a confirmation."
Loaner / rental pre-authorization
"Given this is a high-voltage system failure under 8/100k coverage, and parts lead times on BECM/HVJB historically run weeks, please note in the case that rental reimbursement is pre-authorized and extended beyond the standard 5-day default."
Parts pre-authorization
"Please flag this case for expedited parts review. If the dealer diagnoses BECM, HVJB, or HV battery module, I'd like Ford to begin parts staging immediately rather than waiting on dealer order submission."
25S18 inclusion review
"Even though my VIN isn't currently in 25S18, the symptom profile matches the HV cell-defect pattern. Please flag this case for inclusion review under 25S18 in case diagnosis surfaces the same defect signature."
BEV agent contact
"What's your name and direct line on this case, and if the dealer needs Ford engineering support during diagnosis, how should they reach you?"
Phrases that work
- • "high-voltage system failure" — routes to BEV team correctly
- • "the vehicle is inoperable" — triggers loaner/rental urgency
- • "I want this documented in the case" — forces written record
- • "8-year / 100,000-mile EV Component coverage" — signals you know what's covered
- • "Please flag this case for 25S18 inclusion review" — plants the campaign-expansion flag
- • "Persistent, not intermittent" — protects lemon-law leverage
Phrases that backfire
- • "Lemon law" / "buyback" — flags the case as legal/cold. Save it for after Ford has had a reasonable cure attempt.
- • "It's been doing this off and on" / "intermittent" — kills lemon-law leverage AND signals "can't reproduce."
- • "It's probably just the 12V" — never diagnose for them. Describe symptoms, let them diagnose.
- • "My buddy who works on Teslas thinks it's..." — credibility hit.
RCSM escalation (if BEV stalls)
"I'd like to escalate this case to the Regional Customer Service Manager. Please provide the regional contact or assign this case to RCSM review." Trigger: 5 days no diagnosis, 14 days no parts ETA, or dealer-refused-warranty.
🚛 Call: Ford Roadside — 1-800-241-3673
Opening line (verbatim)
"Hi, I have a 2022 F-150 Lightning that is inoperable with a "Stop Safely Now" high-voltage warning. I need a FLATBED — no wheel-lift, no hook tow — to a specific EV-Certified Ford dealer. The truck is at [address]. VIN ending V1NWG07810. The destination dealer is [dealer name + full address]. My Ford BEV case number is [case # from CRC call]."
Coverage facts + tactics:
- Coverage: 5yr/60k mi standard Roadside, plus 8yr of EV-specific roadside on EV-certified program (you're covered)
- If destination dealer is >35 mi: "This is a high-voltage system failure; the nearest non-certified dealer cannot diagnose or repair it. Routing me there will just generate a second tow at Ford's expense. Please authorize the direct tow to [dealer name]."
- Get from dispatch: Roadside reference number (separate from CRC case), destination on the tow ticket (read it back), driver ETA
- Get from driver at pickup: photo of truck on flatbed, photo of tow ticket, photo of destination on ticket
- If after-hours: ask driver to drop key in dealer's overnight key drop, photograph the drop envelope with VIN written on it
- Pro tip: Transport Mode (Settings → Vehicle → Transport Mode) if you can wake the truck. If you can't, tell the driver — they have a procedure.
🔧 Call: Service Advisor (while tow is en route)
You want a named advisor expecting your truck — not "whoever's at the desk at 4:55pm."
Opening line
"Hi, my name is Topher Otten. A 2022 F-150 Lightning is being flatbed-towed to your service drive [today / this afternoon / tomorrow morning] — VIN ending V1NWG07810. Ford BEV case number is [case #]. I need to speak with a service advisor to set up the write-up before the truck arrives."
Dictate this for the RO write-up
"Customer states: Vehicle displays "Stop Safely Now" and will not start. Failure is persistent. Vehicle was towed in inoperable. Customer requests full HV system diagnostic under 8-year / 100,000-mile EV Component warranty. Ford BEV case [case #] is open. Customer also requests bundled service of three open recalls: rear lightbar inspection, 25C69 Integrated Park Module software, 26C10 Trailer Module reprogramming."
Then say: "Please email me the Repair Order PDF before any work begins so I can confirm the complaint is written verbatim." ← Biggest gotcha owners hit.
Get on record, same call:
- Service advisor's full name + direct line + email
- Service manager's name (for escalation later)
- Estimated diagnostic completion time
- Written confirmation that initial diagnostic is warranty-covered with no out-of-pocket diag fee
- Loaner / rental policy + Enterprise partner name
📧 Email follow-up to advisor — same day as drop-off
Send after the dealer call. Creates the paper trail. "Please reply to confirm" forces written acceptance.
Subject: Lightning VIN ending V1NWG07810 — towed in [date] — BEV case [#] — confirmation of write-up Hi [Advisor Name], Confirming our call this [morning/afternoon]: • Vehicle: 2022 F-150 Lightning Platinum ER, VIN 1FT6W1EV1NWG07810, ~40,000 mi • In-service date: [from FordPass] • Symptoms: Vehicle displays "Stop Safely Now" and will not start. Failure is persistent. Charging fails with red ring fault ~10 seconds after plug-in. • Already tried: manual BMS reset, overnight 12V trickle charge, jumpstart attempt — none resolved. • Ford BEV Case #: [case number] • My understanding from our call: – Initial HV diagnostic is covered under 8-year / 100,000-mile EV Component warranty with no out-of-pocket diagnostic fee – Loaner / rental is authorized through BEV – You will email me the Repair Order PDF before any work begins so I can confirm the complaint is written verbatim – Open recalls (rear lightbar, 25C69 park module, 26C10 trailer module) are being bundled into the same RO Please reply to confirm. Best reach: this email or [phone]. Thanks, Topher Otten
⚠️ Five gotchas that cost owners leverage
Verbal diagnostic fee authorization
Never agree to "$X diag fee, refunded if warranty." If it's HV-warranty-covered, there's no fee. Get the no-fee confirmation in writing or refuse.
"Intermittent" written on the RO
Once written, almost impossible to unwind for lemon-law. Read the RO before signing — or have it emailed to you before any work begins.
No written warranty acceptance
"We'll take a look" ≠ "Ford accepts this as warranty." Insist on written confirmation before drop-off is complete.
No parts pre-auth through BEV
Dealers can sit on a parts order for days. BEV team can flag the case for expedited review — only if you ask.
Letting Roadside pick the dealer
Default is "nearest" — usually NOT EV-certified. Insist on the cert dealer up front; you almost never get a free re-tow later.
🛠️ At the dealer — by phase
Drop-off
- Read the RO before signing — confirm symptom statement is verbatim "persistent, will not start"
- Get advisor full name, direct line, and email — write it on the RO copy
- Get service manager's name in case of escalation
- Confirm in writing (email or text): diagnostic is warranty-covered, no diag fee
- Loaner or rental — what's the policy, what's their Enterprise / rental partner
- If gas-only loaner offered: take it day 1, call BEV after to swap to Ford-product rental
- Note current odometer + interior/exterior condition (photos)
- Hand them the recall bundle list (rear lightbar, 25C69, 26C10) so they're scheduled in
During repair
- Daily check-in by text/email — keeps the case warm and gives a paper trail of days-out-of-service
- If wait > 5 days: call BEV team again, reference case #, ask for status escalation (RCSM)
- If wait > 14 days: file BBB Auto Line (1-800-955-5100). Ford participates. Free, no-attorney lever.
- Keep every RO update / text / email in a dated folder. Evidence packet if Magnuson-Moss enters.
- Ask dealer to share DTCs found during diagnosis — if P0B24 / cell voltage instability surfaces, ping BEV CRC for 25S18 inclusion review.
Pickup
- Get the final RO with all complaints + diagnostic findings + parts replaced + labor performed — printed
- Confirm the warranty work shows as $0 to you on the printed RO
- Drive the truck on-lot before leaving — verify Stop Safely Now cleared, charging works, drive engages
- Pull DTCs with FORScan that night if you have an adapter — confirm no pending codes
- Set a reminder 30 days out to re-verify no recurrence (lemon-law repair-attempt counting matters)
🔬 Part 2 — Diagnosis Reference
Background research on what's wrong and why. Useful at the dealer to ground-truth their diagnosis.
🔬 What your symptoms mean (technical)
"Stop Safely Now" on a Lightning is raised by the BECM (Battery Energy Control Module) or SOBDMC when the HV safety logic concludes that closing the main contactors is unsafe. The truck is making a deliberate choice, not failing mechanically.
Three consequences cascade:
- No torque available → can't shift to Drive
- No HV bus → SOBDM can't hand off to the pack → charging aborts
- DC-DC converter offline → 12V can't be replenished by the pack
The 10-second charge abort is diagnostic. On plug-in:
- 0–2s: SOBDM handshakes with EVSE
- 2–8s: BECM commands precharge contactor closed, ramps HV bus through precharge resistor
- ~8–10s: BECM checks bus-vs-pack voltage delta + runs insulation resistance (isolation) test
- If iso test fails OR pre-charge can't reach threshold → abort, open everything, red ring
12.3V "flat under load" is the second clue. Healthy ICE crank = 9–10V momentary droop. Lightning has no crank — 12V's only start-time load is energizing contactors (a few amps). If BECM never commands contactors to close, 12V never sees real load. Confirms HV-side veto, not 12V problem.
🧪 Failure mode taxonomy
| # | Failure mode | Signature | Warranty | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HV battery module internal short | BECM P0B24 / P0AA4. Charging aborts in seconds. Drive blocked. SOC may freeze. | Recall 25S18 (free) — but VIN not flagged; standard 8/100k path | HIGH |
| 2 | HV contactor stuck / welded inside HVJB | P2BC5 / P2BC7. Same Stop Safely Now. Can't shift. Charging fails ~10s in. | 8/100k EV component | HIGH |
| 3 | BECM firmware corruption | Phantom Stop Safely Now that clears on 12V reset. No hard DTC. | CSP-23B57 (reflash) — but VIN not flagged; standard warranty | MEDIUM (reset didn't clear it) |
| 4 | HV thermal / coolant cascade | Stop Safely Now + dead AC + low coolant. | 8/100k EV component | LOW (no AC/coolant symptoms reported) |
| 5 | SOBDM on-board charger failure | Charge port red ring but truck still drives. | 8/100k EV component | RULED OUT (truck doesn't drive) |
| 6 | DC-DC converter failure | 12V drains during charging. AC accessories die. | 8/100k EV component | RULED OUT (12V healthy) |
🔍 DTCs to look for (if you can FORScan it)
| Code | Meaning | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| P0B24 | HV battery "A" voltage unstable — individual module failure | 25S18 territory |
| P0AA4 | HV battery isolation fault | HV-side veto, thermal or cell-level |
| P0AA6 | HV battery system isolation fault | Insulation leak (often coolant intrusion) |
| P0A0D / P0A0E | HV system interlock open | HVIL loop or service disconnect issue |
| P0AA1 / P0AA4 | Contactor stuck (welded / open) | HVJB contactor module replacement |
| P2BC5 / P2BC7 | Precharge / positive contactor close failure | Matches the 10-sec charge abort signature |
| P1A0D | Pre-charge timeout | Pre-charge resistor or contactor logic |
| U0293 / P1A43 | BECM comms loss / no-start (TSB-documented) | CSP-23B57 reflash territory |
🔌 OBD2 dongle + FORScan on the Lightning
FORScan + Lightning: PARTIAL coverage. Can read DTCs from BECM, SOBDM, SOBDMC, HCM, BCM. Cannot run contactor self-test, BMS hard reset, or HV programming — those are FDRS-only (dealer tool).
If you find your old 2018 dongle and it's an OBDLink EX/MX+: scan all modules, screenshot every DTC, don't clear, hand screenshots to the dealer. 10-minute head start for the service writer.
| Adapter | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OBDLink EX (USB) | ✓ RECOMMENDED | Official FORScan partner. If your old 2018 dongle is this, plug it in. |
| OBDLink MX+ (Bluetooth) | ✓ WORKS | Same chipset family. Fine for reading codes. |
| Vgate vLinker FS | ✓ WORKS | Cheaper FORScan-compatible option, FD-CAN aware. |
| Generic ELM327 clone | ✕ DO NOT USE | Documented module-corruption cases on Lightning BEV networks. If your dongle is one of these, buy an OBDLink EX (~$60). |
| Mongoose Pro Ford + FDRS | ○ OVERKILL but ideal | ~$300 cable + $50/3-day pass. Only tool that runs contactor self-test + full BMS reset. |
Setup: Need FORScan beta build 2.3.52+ for BEV module access. 30-day free trial covers one car.
🛡️ Warranty status at 40k mi
| Coverage | Term | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper (NVLW) | 3 yr / 36k mi | EXPIRED |
| Powertrain | 5 yr / 60k mi | ACTIVE — ~18 mo / 20k mi remaining |
| EV Component Coverage | 8 yr / 100k mi | ACTIVE — covers HV pack, BECM, HVJB, DC-DC, on-board charger, ISC, motors |
| HV battery capacity | 8 yr / 100k mi (≥70% retention) | ACTIVE |
| Roadside Assistance | 5 yr / 60k mi | ACTIVE — free flatbed to nearest Ford dealer |
| 12V LVB (BHAGM-H3 AGM) | 3 yr / 36k under NVLW | EXPIRED — but a 12V-caused no-start diagnosis still falls under EV-side coverage |
On the 12V swap (Magnuson-Moss): Ford cannot legally condition warranty on OEM 12V battery use. They cannot deny a claim for an aftermarket AGM unless they prove the aftermarket part caused the failure. But — if you swap now, before diagnosis, you hand Ford an excuse. Leave the OEM Motorcraft BHAGM-H3 AGM in. (H3/Group-48 AGM — NOT BXT-65, that's the ICE F-150 battery.)
🚨 Stop trying to start or charge it
If this is a cell-defect pack (the 25S18 failure mode — even though your VIN isn't flagged), every contactor-close attempt is the BECM correctly refusing a shorting pack. The 25S18 recall investigation cites 5 vehicle fires and 1 injury.
Repeated start/charge attempts will not clear a real pack fault. They can exacerbate it. Conservative move:
- Leave it parked
- Plug not inserted
- Don't roll it on its own wheels for more than the minimum
- Flatbed tow only
📈 Escalation ladder (if dealer stalls)
Day 5 — no diagnosis
Call Ford CRC, reference case #, request Regional Customer Service Manager (RCSM) escalation
Day 14 — still out of service
File with BBB Auto Line: 1-800-955-5100. Ford participates. Mediation/arbitration binding on Ford if you accept the award, not on you. Free, no-attorney lever.
Day 21+ or 3 repair attempts
Consult PA Magnuson-Moss attorney. Fee-shifting (Ford pays attorney fees if you win, cash-neutral to you). Beck Law and Kahn & Associates surface most on Lightning cases.
📚 Sources
Recalls / official:
- ford.com/support/recalls
- nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Ford Authority — 25S18 coverage
- 2022 Ford BEV Warranty Guide (PDF)
Owner forums:
- "STOP SAFELY NOW" master thread
- 25S18 master thread
- CSP-23B57 BECM firmware thread
- HV contactor stuck thread
FORScan / OBD2:
Warranty / consumer protection: