So 45,000 Miles In, My Ford Dealership Asks for $695 To Replace My Mustang Mach-E's 12v Battery, Which It Said Was Healthy at 94%

A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner was hit with an unexpected $695 bill for a 12V battery replacement, despite being told it was 94% healthy. Now she is raising serious questions every EV driver needs to ask before their next dealership visit.

Navigating the world of electric vehicles (EVs) comes with many unexpected experiences, some of which can be unlikeable surprises. One such situation recently emerged for Shannon Drayton, a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E owner, who found herself in a perplexing and frustrating scenario.

Shannon shared her story in the Mustang Mach-E Owners Facebook group:

"The dealership is wanting $695 to replace my Mustang Mach-E’s 12V battery. Last week, my car got stuck in an update and had to be towed. Ford that day said remotely my 12V battery was healthy at 94%. What’s up with this, and what’s up with the cost of this new battery? Seems excessive. I’m not sure I trust what’s going on. My Ford Mustang Mach-E is above 45,000 miles and is a 2021 model."

This situation brings to mind another frustrating dealership ordeal, where a 2019 Chevy Colorado Z71 owner was left without his truck for nearly three weeks over what should have been a one-day repair - only to have it break down again on the way home. Just like the Mach-E owner's unexpected battery bill, this Chevy owner's experience highlights how dealerships can sometimes turn straightforward fixes into prolonged, costly headaches. If you've ever found yourself at the mercy of a service department that keeps pushing back timelines or handing you bills that don’t add up, you'll definitely want to see how this story unfolded.

An Ongoing 12V Battery Problem in EVs

Shannon's case isn't an isolated incident. Many EV owners, from the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, have reported frustrating experiences related to their 12V battery systems. If you've ever wondered how a dead 12V battery could leave you stranded in an EV with no clear way to jump-start it, you'll relate to this owner’s experience with the ID.Buzz, where a hidden battery location made a simple fix an absolute nightmare.

This raises an important question: Should EV owners be more cautious about how they manage their vehicle’s battery health? Some Mustang Mach-E drivers have been left wondering whether they're unintentionally causing long-term battery degradation. A debate rages on about what charging habits are best, and this deep dive into whether keeping your Mach-E at 90% or 80% is truly the best practice might change your perspective.

This whole ordeal raises an even bigger concern—how much are Mach-E owners really paying just to keep their EVs running smoothly? Beyond battery replacements, some Mach-E drivers are finding themselves unexpectedly shelling out for high-priced public charging plans, like one owner who got locked into a $49.99/month deal for just 200 kWh while charging in front of an LA Fitness. These surprise costs can quickly add up, making EV ownership feel a lot less affordable than expected. If you think you're saving money by going electric, this is one story you need to read.

The Mustang Mach-E: A Story Relationship

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been a revolutionary entry into the EV market, but it's not without its growing pains. Some owners initially had doubts about the Mach-E’s performance and overall experience, but after revisiting the vehicle, many found it to be better than they first gave it credit for. If you’re second-guessing your own experience, you might find this long-term review of the Mach-E particularly eye-opening.

For others, however, the Mustang Mach-E is a dream come true: a wild, electrified take on the classic Mustang DNA. Enthusiasts who love the thrill of performance EVs should take a look at how the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT delivers a driving experience unlike anything else in Ford’s lineup.

And if you’re still on the fence about whether the Mach-E can truly live up to the Mustang name, this first-hand account of a test drive might make you rethink your stance.

12V Battery Failures Across EV Brands

The issue Shannon experienced with her Mach-E isn't just a Ford problem. It's something that plagues many EV owners. Hyundai Ioniq 5 drivers, for instance, have reported waking up to a completely dead car because of a faulty 12V system. One Ioniq 5 owner learned a hard lesson when dealing with Hyundai service and shared some crucial advice for fellow EV owners.

Similarly, a 2020 Hyundai Ioniq EV owner faced a recurring 12V battery issue that left them needing a boost every morning, leading to an urgent dealership intervention.

And it’s not just newer EVs either. Even older electric models like the Chevrolet Bolt have had their fair share of bizarre battery-related surprises. Imagine charging your EV overnight, only to wake up and see your full charge reading just 12 miles of range.

Final Thoughts: What Should Mach-E Owners Do?

Shannon’s case is a reminder that, as advanced as EVs are, they still rely on old-school 12V batteries that can fail in the most inconvenient ways. Whether it’s due to a software issue, an update gone wrong, or simply bad luck, these problems can be frustrating and expensive.

If you’re a Mach-E owner, or any EV driver, pay close attention to your 12V battery’s health. Consider investing in a portable jump starter, and if your dealership tries to hit you with an unexpected $695 bill, don’t be afraid to push back and ask questions.

And if you’re still questioning whether the Mustang Mach-E is worth all the hassle, take a moment to read how one owner went from skeptical to impressed after giving the Mach-E another shot. It might just change your mind.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.

Image source: Torque News Mustang Mach-E review, and Grok.