Australia - 24C35 S650 Recall and Service Action Lookup

[Toorak_Guy]

Hi all, extract from the SMS I received from the dealer this afternoon, feeling deflated -

"I've spoken with my manager today and we can confirm your car is among the batch sitting at the port - Ford Australia is waiting on a fix for the recall & will keep the vehicles at the port until such time. There have been no ETAs given at this time".

P.S. - This is Port Melbourne, vessel was Tysla.

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[5.0ALM]

Hi all, extract from the SMS I received from the dealer this afternoon, feeling deflated -

"I've spoken with my manager today and we can confirm your car is among the batch sitting at the port - Ford Australia is waiting on a fix for the recall & will keep the vehicles at the port until such time. There have been no ETAs given at this time".

P.S. - This is Port Melbourne, vessel was Tysla.

One positive... at least it wasn't the Port of Baltimore.

 

[VB50GT]

Some more detailed information about the issue and timeline can be read here:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V802-9220.PDF

Definitely sounds like a software fix. I just wish we knew when they'll have it ready. Not this generic Q1 2025 non-sense.

I don't quite understand how it can be a software issue if it only affects cars built between 10/5 and 20/8 - what, did they upload a different software package for 3 months...???

Wouldn't it then be as easy as changing the software back to what they installed before 10/5, or after 20/8...??

 

[bfets]

I don't quite understand how it can be a software issue if it only affects cars built between 10/5 and 20/8 - what, did they upload a different software package for 3 months...???

Wouldn't it then be as easy as changing the software back to what they installed before 10/5, or after 20/8...??

Yeah I don't get it either. Everywhere I look, it seems that it's just a software update. Seeing there are cars that aren't affected, just flash the same software onto the problem cars.
If only Ford would be transparent and give us clear answers but as usual they are Olympic gold medal winners for poor communication.

 

[prestj1]

It is fair to assume then that the issue is more than likely more than a software issue, it is either
- a batch issue where a component of the screen was faulty
- A part has been substitued with another part (due to a shortage) and the current Ford SW for some reason has an issue and they need to develop a SW fix which is probably the most likely

Hence why they can't just roll back to another SW version.

 

[Twiz]

I work in tech.
My assumption is that there was a minor variation in the hardware which introduced a minor incompatibility with the firmware/software which caused the glitch.
Hence new firmware/software version that fixes the issue by catering for the minor hardware variation.

If this was the case, I would say Ford may not have even been aware. The hardware manufacturer may have thought it was such a minor factory variation that it would not matter.
Just speculating, but that makes sense to me.

 

[VB50GT]

It is fair to assume then that the issue is more than likely more than a software issue, it is either
- a batch issue where a component of the screen was faulty
- A part has been substitued with another part (due to a shortage) and the current Ford SW for some reason has an issue and they need to develop a SW fix which is probably the most likely

Hence why they can't just roll back to another SW version.

I work in tech.
My assumption is that there was a minor variation in the hardware which introduced a minor incompatibility with the firmware/software which caused the glitch.
Hence new firmware/software version that fixes the issue by catering for the minor hardware variation.

If this was the case, I would say Ford may not have even been aware. The hardware manufacturer may have thought it was such a minor factory variation that it would not matter.
Just speculating, but that makes sense to me.

Thanks guys - Sounds much more logical than a mere software glitch.

 

[Brumby5.0]

Well that's just great!
If they are holding these cars at the port for months then that lovely salt spray from the ocean is going to really do a job on the finishes. I can see the rust on the chassis from here!

 

[5.0ALM]

I work in tech.
My assumption is that there was a minor variation in the hardware which introduced a minor incompatibility with the firmware/software which caused the glitch.
Hence new firmware/software version that fixes the issue by catering for the minor hardware variation.

If this was the case, I would say Ford may not have even been aware. The hardware manufacturer may have thought it was such a minor factory variation that it would not matter.
Just speculating, but that makes sense to me.

Agreed.
I worked in electronics manufacturing in a previous life.
You'd expect these cluster screens would have firmware pre-loaded from the supplier before being integrated into the vehicle's dash assembly. They would have been tested in isolation before leaving Visteon.

I'm surprised how a low volts condition could even exist on a regulated 5V or 3V3 rail.
Which is probably resulting in a microcontroller not resetting gracefully.

This is not the first time Visteon have had issues with their cluster screens.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...ective-digital-instrument-cluster-218652.html

Ford's engineering department identified hardware failure caused by poor solder joints in the remote cluster box, with said engineers understanding that the solder joint failures occur early in the vehicle's life. Visteon Corporation's Mexican plant was required to, and duly implemented, solder quality detection processes.

The supplier, however, didn't improve its detection processes enough. Increasingly more field reports and warranty claims were filed with the second-largest automaker of the Big Three in Detroit, namely 36 and 84, for a grand total of 83 Super Duty and Escape vehicles. The numbers don't add up because certain vehicles experienced said issue more than once.

Engineers determined the solder stencil used by the supplier for the digital instrument cluster didn't have the correct thickness. Worse still for the Visteon Corporation, said clusters didn't feature proper coating. It's easy to blame the supplier only for this blunder, but remember that Ford – and every volume-oriented automaker out there – cut costs wherever and however possible. Is Farley aware that contracting a questionable supplier just because it's the most affordable of all options available is a one-way ticket to Recallville?

 

[Twiz]

^ That's wild. smh.

 

[5.0ALM]

Found another previous issue with IPC screens that affected 2019 Mustangs (and other models).
Unfortunately, this is history repeating.

I certainly don't wish to upset anyone waiting on a car, but it does provide some insight on the painfully long wait until "Q1" 2025.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCLRPT-19V076-8698.PDF

Some dates to provide a time line.

Affected vehicles produced:

It took about two months to implement the fix on the production line:

Three months later, and dealers officially notified.

Why it then takes almost four weeks for dealers to notify customers is anyone's guess.
I can only assume they have to consider their own service departments scheduling and work out how they are going to squeeze this burden in.


Let's hope this 24C35 recall doesn't end up dragging out that long.
They have previous experience in dealing with this!

I have an affected VIN, and although the IPC has not shown any signs of misbehaving (997km on the clock), I do feel for the owners who have cars being held.

 

[bfets]

Found another previous issue with IPC screens that affected 2019 Mustangs (and other models).
Unfortunately, this is history repeating.

I certainly don't wish to upset anyone waiting on a car, but it does provide some insight on the painfully long wait until "Q1" 2025.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCLRPT-19V076-8698.PDF

Some dates to provide a time line.

Affected vehicles produced:

It took about two months to implement the fix on the production line:

Three months later, and dealers officially notified.

Why it then takes almost four weeks for dealers to notify customers is anyone's guess.
I can only assume they have to consider their own service departments scheduling and work out how they are going to squeeze this burden in.


Let's hope this 24C35 recall doesn't end up dragging out that long.
They have previous experience in dealing with this!

I have an affected VIN, and although the IPC has not shown any signs of misbehaving (997km on the clock), I do feel for the owners who have cars being held.

I wonder how long after the notifications went out to customers, did they have a fix for the issue.

 

[VapourBlueGT777]

That was exactly my beef with my dealer.
My gate release was on 23 Sept 24 - and my dealer cannot tell me if its sitting the open under snow/rain at Flat Rock or sitting at the docks ion Baltimore rusting away

Either way not happy with communications.

I suspect its more serious than just a software upgrade.

 

[muzzzza]

A list of all affected VINs has been published now, 750 in total.
Recall notice & csv for download can be found here.
Recall notice - Australia

 

[Taff_Oz]

Add myself to the list of mushrooms in the dark regarding delivery of their vehicle. Scheduled for 11th Nov - then pushed to 17th. I have spoken to both the dealer and Ford - Ford have confirmed the delivery block but cannot say where the cars will be stored, for how long etc. A Q1 2025 delivery is likely according to the dealer given Xmas coming up etc - if so, it voids my contract and I will likely look to get a MY2025 vehicle instead. I’m not keen on my current vehicle sitting out in the Australian summer, next to the ocean for several months before delivery is resolved. I’ve read that the paint quality is variable at best already, so who knows what state it will be in if delivered after several months.

I understand issues happen, what I cannot tolerate is the abysmal communication from Ford, the broken promises (someone will phone you, email you blah blah) and the lack of care.

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