Ford Hybrid Battery Service & Replacement Cost near Chicago, IL
Though they have been mass-produced and readily-available for 30 years, hybrid electric vehicles are still new to many drivers around the Chicago area who may be operating their first-ever hybrid. That, of course, leads to many questions around their maintenance, including a very obvious one: what happens when the hybrid battery pack dies?
As the owner of a Ford hybrid, there’s plenty of good news in that regard. For one thing, your battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty. For another, there’s a really good chance it lasts far longer than that, to the point where you’ll need a new vehicle before you need a new battery pack. Regardless, some anxiety about the situation is perfectly normal, and that’s why Joe Rizza Ford put together this explainer, which hopefully answers any questions you may have. If not, let us know, and we’d be happy to help!
How Much Does a Ford Hybrid Battery Replacement Cost?
Unfortunately, there’s really no way around it: replacing a hybrid battery is an expensive proposition, as replacements start around $1,500, all the way up to $8,000, or even more, in some cases.
There are several reasons for those broad numbers. A major one is the specific model of your Ford, though the good news is that — more often than not — popular models like the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion, and Ford Maverick trend towards the lower end of the range. Other factors that determine costs include whether the purchased battery is new or refurbished, and whether it’s a genuine OEM or aftermarket part. Finally, of course, there’s the labor involved with installing the battery, which will typically add a few hundred dollars to the final cost.
Ford Hybrid Battery Warranty
Though you may be worried about the price tag on a battery replacement, it’s actually pretty rare for a Ford hybrid owner to pay the full cost of one. That’s largely thanks to the Ford battery warranty, which covers hybrid batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles from the vehicle’s in-service date. The warranty covers not only battery failure, but also milder problems like excessive capacity loss, and is a robust form of protection against the possibility of a defective battery.
Even if the warranty period has expired, needing a replacement is still unlikely. Ford hybrid batteries are designed to last between 10 and 15 years, and between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, with lifespans beyond those numbers frequently reported. In other words, you may very well be ready for a new Ford before your battery dies.
Can My Ford Hybrid Battery be Serviced?
In many cases, yes. Sometimes issues can be fixed by simply deep-cycling the battery, discharging all of its energy before recharging it. On other occasions, depending on the specifics of the issue, trained technicians might be able to recondition the battery, which involves disassembling it and replacing any defective individual cells. If successful, this procedure has the potential to not only extend the battery’s lifespan, but save money (not only the cost of a replacement, but through improved fuel efficiency as well), and protect the environment.
Long before things get to that point, though, it’s important to keep up with service involving the crucial system components around the battery itself. Heat is the primary factor that degrades battery cells. Particularly if you live in a warm climate, be sure to clean out the cooling intake air vent every few months to ensure that it does its job effectively. On the Ford Fusion and Escape hybrids, this is located at the base of the rear passenger seat, inside the cabin (the fan and blower housing are just behind that, in the trunk). The Ford Maverick is a bit different, as its battery is liquid-cooled, with components under the hood.
Along with that, make sure that you install any Ford software updates as they become available. Many are optimized to help your battery last as long as possible.
How Do I Know if My Ford Hybrid Battery Needs to be Replaced?
Sometimes, the demise of your Ford hybrid battery is extremely obvious: your dashboard will display a “Service Hybrid System” message, or one of several warning lights. However, other times, a bit of attention to detail might be required.
Here are a few telltale signs of a dying hybrid battery:
- Decreased gas mileage. Simply put, if the hybrid battery isn’t working properly, the gasoline engine will have to do more work.
- Sluggish performance or weak acceleration. Without the electric components working properly, a major driver of your vehicle’s performance is compromised.
- Erratic charge levels or rapid discharge. If the battery meter fluctuates wildly, or empties quickly (even right after recharging), that’s a surefire sign of a failing battery.
- Loud cooling fans. Dying batteries tend to overheat a lot, placing a constant strain on the cooling system in your Ford.
Of course, it’s important to differentiate between issues involving your high-voltage hybrid battery pack, and those affecting the traditional 12-volt battery used for other functions. It’s common for people to incorrectly diagnose issues as hybrid system failure, when all that’s really needed is a standard battery replacement. If the 12-volt battery is near the end of its 3 to 5 year lifecycle, it can often cause error messages, startup or boot-up issues, and other failures.
Service Your Hybrid at Joe Rizza Ford
Whatever may be going on with your vehicle, it’s important to have it serviced by professionals. Hybrid battery packs are high-voltage systems, and safely working with them requires the proper safety gear, insulated tools, and an appropriate level of expertise. Fortunately, you can find all of those things at Joe Rizza Ford, proudly serving drivers in Orland Park, Tinley Park, and all across Chicagoland. Not only that, but our factory-trained technicians exclusively use original OEM parts, and — if your battery pack is still under warranty — you can rest assured that any repairs performed will be covered. Stop by or schedule service with us today, so you can get your issue addressed as quickly as possible.