Ford EV replacement battery costs more than the vehicle itself

[Deleted member 89374]

A 17-year-old whose parents spent $11,000 on a used Ford Focus Electric car, which is a 2014 model and had about 60,000 miles when it was bought, had the car for six months before it began giving her issues and the dashboard was flashing symbols.

The car stopped running after taking it to a repair shop, and the family eventually found out that the car's battery would need to be replaced.

The Ford dealership advised the family that they could replace the battery. It would only cost $14,000.

However, the family found out later that there weren't any batteries of that type available anymore because the Ford model is discontinued.

They should probably ask Dave Ramsey for advice on this one.

Full store here: Florida family drives into electric car problem: a replacement battery costs more than vehicle itself

 

[Freischneider]

If you're going to be dumb you got to be tough. Apparently someone didn't do their homework properly before this purchase.

 

[vw7674]

If they had only Googled this, they could've negotiated with the seller, say: 'You pay ME $3k & I'll take it off your hands.'
Like that.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Have you driven a Ford lately?

 

[blufeb95]

Incorrecct it doesn't cost more than car costs, it costs half of what a new one costed.

 

[Torrid]

Incorrecct it doesn't cost more than car costs, it costs half of what a new one costed.

True. What the car costs and what the car is worth used is two completely different things.

 

[dishdude]

They need to do some research, there are companies out there that rebuild these.

 

[MotorFan]

They need to do some research, there are companies out there that rebuild these.

any details as to the warranty , pricing and ETA on delivery or are we blowin' smoke ?

 

[vw7674]

Incorrecct it doesn't cost more than car costs, it costs half of what a new one costed.

it really does cost more than the used car it is (NOT) going into. This is why EVs are deceptive, each charge brings you closer to final reckoning. Better off tank by tank, pay as you go versus make-believe savings.

 

[Dave9]

This is only going to happen more and more in the future. It's funny how people who pretend that they can predict EV adaptation rates, don't want to consider things like science, math, material supplies, etc.

I believe in unicorns, therefore they will multiply. I'm holding my breath because it's going to be SO GREAT. Nevermind that the magic forest, isn't getting any bigger so the # of unicorns has a cap.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

it really does cost more than the used car it is (NOT) going into. This is why EVs are deceptive, each charge brings you closer to final reckoning. Better off tank by tank, pay as you go versus make-believe savings.

Same could be said of an automatic transmission.

I think EVs are "improving," but still generally being "pushed" on the consumer that is perfectly willing to use gasoline, maybe even diesel, not have to upgrade their home house electric then pay for that, etc, electric cars are here but I feel still niche.

The new cool kids toy. The Joneses new car.

It works better for some, and that is great. Hey.

 

[vw7674]

Same could be said of an automatic transmission.

I think EVs are "improving," but still generally being "pushed" on the consumer that is perfectly willing to use gasoline, maybe even diesel, not have to upgrade their home house electric then pay for that, etc, electric cars are here but I feel still niche.

The new cool kids toy. The Joneses new car.

It works better for some, and that is great. Hey.

automatics are not guaranteed to go failure mode inside nine years & I have yet to see a $15,000 repair bill for one.
bad comparison.

 

[Exhaustgases]

That is the whole reason for electric cars. A new car every 4 years, and a never ending car payment. You know its similar to the BMW subscription electric seats.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

Have you driven a Ford lately?

Or in this case pushed one...

 

[JeffKeryk]

it really does cost more than the used car it is (NOT) going into. This is why EVs are deceptive, each charge brings you closer to final reckoning. Better off tank by tank, pay as you go versus make-believe savings.

I think that depends more on the car manufacturer than the EV itself. Nissan and Ford seem to not support their EV products battery wise.
That does not mean all EVs suffer from the same practice.

 

[E365]

GM Ultium seems like the best system for the typical BITOG crowd. Every GMC, Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, Honda, Acura, Brightdrop, etc. will use the exact same, replaceable battery modules. A vehicle uses between 10 & 24 modules. New or used replacement modules should be very easy to get in order to refurbish a “bad” pack.

GM also says the Ultium design technically allows the pack to be upgraded in the future for new chemistries and even solid state modules. The dealer would swap-in new, upgraded modules into the existing vehicle and pack, then reprogram the vehicle to utilize the better modules . Who knows whether they’ll actually offer that service though.

 

[Blinker]

I had no idea Ford built an EV Focus.

 

[dihi22]

6 months, just outside lemon law.

Still with NO battery replacement option they may have a buyback possibility on their hands...

Buying an ev used is dicey, i bet they let the battery brick on the dealer's lot. 60k battery failure is kinda weak even for a ford ev. You have to apply a charge every few weeks or they brick.

 

[Snagglefoot]

automatics are not guaranteed to go failure mode inside nine years & I have yet to see a $15,000 repair bill for one.
bad comparison.

But, it would be a valid comparison if the vehicle was older, such as in a 2008 pickup. A rebuilt transmission could exceed the value of the truck.

 

[fisher83]

They bought an 8 year old compact car that had a terrible reliability rating even when it was new. I think the news source just picked a story that they could slant towards making EV's look bad. One could use this same story to justify a position that Ford just makes bad cars that don't last.