Ford Hybrid Reliability - Thoughts?

[Nick1994]

Considering the Ford Maverick, which is based off of the Escape Hybrid. Any word on their reliability of the hybrid components as well as other parts of the car?

I know Toyota has got their hybrid dialed down about as good as it gets, Honda is good too.

 

[ctechbob]

From the research I've done, Ford has licensed something like 20 different things from Toyota regarding the hybrid transmission, so that's probably not a big concern seeing as you don't usually hear about Prius transmissions crapping out. (Granted, this was ages ago) After that, you've got battery and control systems. Both of those SHOULD be fairly mature technologies as well.

Toyota Technology ‘Kick-Started’ Ford’s Hybrid Escape

DETROIT Ford Motor Co. acknowledges it has licensed the rights to about 20 Toyota Motor Corp. hybrid system patents in order to help the American auto maker develop its first-ever gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. A hybrid version of the Ford Escape which is the first hybrid SUV for the North...

www.wardsauto.com

I haven't followed the hybrid scene all that close, but on the surface, it looks like it should be pretty solid.

I just wonder how easy the battery is to replace.

 

[daves87rs]

I still see quite a few hybrid C Maxes floating around- so I’m thinking those trucks will be fine....

 

[The Critic]

Toyota has made their hybrid battery packs relatively affordable. Traditionally, Ford has not. That should be a big factor in your decision.

 

[Best F100]

I had that same 2.5L engine + hybrid in a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. Took it to 205,000 miles before trading it in to CarMax. It showed NO signs of being tired at trade in time. Just time to get something else. There have been other owners in the 300,000 mile range with that model.

In addition, the previous edition of the Ford Escape Hybrid, (when used as NYC taxis), resulted in numerous examples racking up 400,000 to 600,000 miles. (Google it).

I wouldn't loose sleep over longevity here.

 

[JustN89]

I just don't know how well a CVT would hold up in a truck if it's used regularly to do truck things. Then again, I wonder how many of the owners who buy this truck would actually be hauling/towing all that frequently.

 

[IveBeenRued]

My family has had two Ford hybrids.
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Back when it was new it would get around 48-53 MPG depending on the drive. Now that the car is 11.5 years old with 95K miles, it still moves but the hybrid system is nothing more than a very heavy start stop system; as soon as you lift off the brake the engine starts immediately. The dealer says that it needs a new battery pack at a cost of around $4500. Other than that, it has random cylinder misfires that the dealer cannot recreate reliably enough to fix; new plugs, coils, fuel filter, etc. has done nothing and my mom got tired of them just throwing parts at it so she drives it around in town only now.

2013 Ford C-Max Energi. When new, it was great. 30 miles on a charge and I would average in the 70-90 MPG per tank overall. By 7 years old and 88K miles, the range had dropped from 30 down to 9-13 and overall mileage was hovering around 37 (including changing up the plug-in battery). Other than that the car was plagued by suspension, tire wear, spark plug, fuel injector, catalytic converter, and window creaking issues. We sold it and bought a Toyota hybrid.

If you do go for a Maverick (which even I’m considering at their impressive price point), I advise waiting at least two model years.

 

[Cujet]

I just don't know how well a CVT would hold up in a truck if it's used regularly to do truck things. Then again, I wonder how many of the owners who buy this truck would actually be hauling/towing all that frequently.

It's not a conventional CVT. Instead, it's an Ecvt. They are very reliable!

There is no belt, chain or other mechanical way to change gear ratios. The Toyota/Ford hybrid system uses a engine/planetary gearset/motors and generators. The engine is always connected to the wheels. The planetary gearset is managed by motor and generator speed to any given RPM and road speed.

Look in the middle of the two motors in this pic for the planetary gearset.

It is difficult to explain the principle, but if you had a demonstrator in your hand, you'd see the principle immediately. A planetary gearset won't transmit any power unless (for example) the ring gear is held still. What if we could hook that ring gear to a motor/generator and change it's speed without losing energy? We could then provide an infinite number of "gears" to drive the wheels.

Here is a good video that shows how it works. Keep in mind the chains are for the demonstration:

 

[benjy]

manufacturers share modern tech these days, of course not for free as they either exchange "knowledge" or otherwise pay for it, BUT as usual the more complicated anything is the more chance for issues + repairs are $$$ + the mav is new so expect "teething' issues as YOU are the BETA tester so hope their warranty handles EVERYTHING!! the mav is a nice idea but IMO if you use your truck as a truck a bigger box is more important than a second cramped seating are best for kids!

 

[simple_gifts]

IIRC Ford actually designed the idea for the Toyota implemented CVT back in the 1960s except it could not be implemented practically since the "brains" of the unit probably needed to be a microprocessor.

 

[PandaBear]

I just don't know how well a CVT would hold up in a truck if it's used regularly to do truck things. Then again, I wonder how many of the owners who buy this truck would actually be hauling/towing all that frequently.

As Cujet said it is a planetary gear + 2 electric motor system like Toyota. Electric motor usually is reliable, so is inverter driving the motors. Now Ford being Ford, they tends to get 90-95% there and then abandon the last 5-10% of the work and the car will rot near the end of life (I used to have a Taurus and an Escort), so yeah, this will be how I describe Ford in general hybrid or not.

Critics comment on Prius replacement battery economy of scale is true, typically the biggest player will have the best replacement sources and Toyota also does not charge an arm and a leg for its replacement. If replacement part is a concern stick with the biggest player in the market.

 

[PandaBear]

IIRC Ford actually designed the idea for the Toyota implemented CVT back in the 1960s except it could not be implemented practically since the "brains" of the unit probably needed to be a microprocessor.

Story on the street was that they both come up with something similar, and halfway through their projects they concluded that they are better off cross licensing to each other.

 

[supton]

I dunno, what would the plan be? 5 and done, or 20+ years and 500k on the clock? If just going for a few years then I would hazard it can’t be that bad.

 

[meep]

In my previous marriage, we had an 08 escape hybrid. It was this electric CVT bolted to an Atkins cycle Ford motor. It was a superb vehicle in every way while looking like every other boring car out there, not being flashy. She commuted about 2 hours a day and racked the mileage up quick. 44mpg in town and low 30s fast on the interstate. It did not have the early CVT rubber-band effect like so many of the belt-type units. After we divorced, it had one failure, which was the coolant pump for the electrical system. Ford fixed it without issue, but at that point she traded it shortly after, I think just for something different. Zero signs of battery wear or anything like that - I thought it was very well done.

the only nit-pick I could drum up would be brake pedal feel. It obviously used the first pedal pressure to command battery regeneration, and after pressing past that point would engage the master cylinder.

 

[dareo]

My guess is it will be a 90/10 car. 90% will be trouble free and 10% will need a reserved chair in the warranty department waiting room.

 

[DirectRejection]

Escape/Mariner Hybrids are renowned in the taxi world, for efficiency and reliability.

 

[4WD]

150k on our 2014 Fusion Hybrid … seems to have its first issue … not cooling as good as past summers …
Going to check it out Monday …

 

[Ws6]

It's not a conventional CVT. Instead, it's an Ecvt. They are very reliable!

There is no belt, chain or other mechanical way to change gear ratios. The Toyota/Ford hybrid system uses a engine/planetary gearset/motors and generators. The engine is always connected to the wheels. The planetary gearset is managed by motor and generator speed to any given RPM and road speed.

Look in the middle of the two motors in this pic for the planetary gearset.

It is difficult to explain the principle, but if you had a demonstrator in your hand, you'd see the principle immediately. A planetary gearset won't transmit any power unless (for example) the ring gear is held still. What if we could hook that ring gear to a motor/generator and change it's speed without losing energy? We could then provide an infinite number of "gears" to drive the wheels.

Here is a good video that shows how it works. Keep in mind the chains are for the demonstration: