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Ohio man says software update disabled car, leaving $1,600 bill and little options
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this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2026
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It’s happened twice to me in my Mach-E. Bricked and had to be towed from my garage. Luckily under warranty so I didn’t pay anything. I’ve now since turned off all auto updates because it’s ridiculous that an OTA can render your car useless.
Any software update for anything always carries that risk, even with fail safes built in, its just the nature of software.
It sucks, but itll always be the case.
Edit: and even the software can fuck with the hardware. Tesla had an issue once where they were logging to much data and they were burning out the memory before the cars end of life.
They should have to cover the costs if a OTA update is pushed even if the normal warranty is up. Not saying as fact, but it should be. They are the ones that push the updates and the owners of the cars are just doing what makes sense if they see an update is ready to install.
I agree but I know Ford ain’t gonna cover shit once my warranty is up (which is soon). The only way would be to fight in court which isn’t worth the time or money. So I just turned off updates. It’s not like they are adding cool features ever.
Don't buy the first few years of a newly released car. Rules to live by. The Mach-E had all kinds of power train failures including fusing the high voltage battery junction box contacts open and or closed which disables the vehicle.
Dont buy a car past 2013
I can't refute this.
I bought the 4th year of the Mach-E. Mine was after the HVJB and that was primarily only affecting the GT models anyway, which I don’t have.
Nah. The non-GT models were also affected.
And in this case it doesn't matter if you bought a fourth year Mach E when you're buying from an automotive company with the most recalls in the industry year over year for like the last 5-6 years running.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCMN-23V687-5094.pdf
The Mach E has had so many recalls. Axle half shafts causing a clicking while turning, differential pinion shafts that shear off or fracture, a whole litany of infotainment issues, botched updates. I seem to recall something about windshield wiper motors, and a problem with some of the glass by the D pillar.
I usually delay updating until they have more of a chance to fix any bugs.