2015 MKX shutting down while driving

[chips0000]

I purchased a certified pre-owned '15 MKX about 6-8 wks. ago.  On two separate occasions, while driving, the car has shut down completely and all power was lost.  The 2nd time, I was travelling at 50 mph but was able to "force" the car off the road.  Both times, after stopping the car, I put the car into "park" and it started and ran fine.  I have had the car looked at by a local Ford dealer and they could find nothing wrong.  I'm waiting to hear from the dealer where the car was purchased, but expect the same answer.  To say this is somewhat unnerving is an understatement.  Has anyone out there experienced a similar issue?

 

[enigma-2]

Several occurrences on other Ford's cars, most common diagnostics is either a short in the wiring harness or the connector at the fuse panel was loose.

 

Is there any after market parts added, remote start, etc?

 

What engine do you have? Is this a hybrid?

 

One fella found that his car shorted when he put the tilt steering wheel all the way down, cause a short in the wiring and blew a fuse.

 

Another person found loose fuses in his fuse panel. He pushed on all of them (reseating the loose one's) and hasn't had a problem since.

 

In older 150's, there was a wire rubbing on an ac line that had worn through and caused a short, somewhat common in the early 2000's.

 

People with 2003 Expedition's had burn areas in the fuse panel. Somewhat common from what I've read.

Edited June 13, 2016 by enigma-2

[NOTMY911]

As this could be a major safety problem, I would not give them too much time to get an answer.

[chips0000]

While I have not had any "shutdown" experiences since posting this a few mos. ago, a friend sent me the following regarding Ford / Lincoln recalls:

Ford is recalling 91,000 cars to fix fuel pumps http://a.msn.com/00/en-us/ BBvZPZn?ocid=se

I have not been notified by Ford regarding this recall for my 2015 Lincoln MKX.  

 

"Ford Motor said Wednesday it is recalling about 91,000 vehicles worldwide to replace faulty fuel pump parts that could cause a car to stall without warning.  Ford said it will replace fuel pump control modules in about 88,151 vehicles, including certain of its 2013-15 model year Ford Taurus sedans, Ford Flex crossover utility vehicles,Lincoln MKS sedans, Lincoln MKT SUVs and Ford Police Interceptor sedans. (http://ford.to/2bOOxjg)"

 

 

[akirby]

This only covers D3/D4 vehicles (Taurus, Flex, MKS and MKT).   Edge is on a different platform.

 

Strange that it doesn't include Explorer which is on the same platform.

[Adam]

^ and only 3.5 Ecoboost engines if my memory serves.

[itsjennifer]

I have a 2012 MKX that shuts off when idling for a while in traffic. Anyone else experience this?

[itsjennifer]

I have a 2012 MKX that shuts off when idling for a while in traffic. Anyone else experience this?

[AdamWMcDowell]

I have to post this story as I am in disbelieve on how a customer service situation is being handled by Ford/Lincoln.  I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKX about three months ago.  The body style caught our eye and it drove great.  Over the past three months the car has shut off without warning 6 times in the middle of driving.  When the car shuts off the power steering cuts off and you either coast or brake to a stop and then you can restart the car.  I have found this to be a very serious safety issue if the car shuts off when you are driving in the fast lane or making a left across oncoming traffic.  

 

We took the car to our local Ford dealer (Jerry’s Ford of Leesburg VA) to fix the issue.  They told us the car wasn’t showing any maintenance codes for the issue and they couldn’t do anything about it.  Jerry’s advised me to contact Ford Motor Company directly to see how they could help.  

 

I contacted Ford/Lincoln to discuss the issue with them directly and they opened case# CAS-17221031-Z4L4R3.  I explained to the Concierge contact (Kelly) the issue and how serious of a safety concern I felt it was for whom ever was driving the car.  They told me there was nothing they could do and we should drive the car until it reproduces the issue and to not restart the car as it would reset the system and not log the maintenance code and have it towed back to Jerry’s immediately.  I found this advice to be extremely unsafe and the furthest from good customer service. I emailed many examples of this same exact issue on the Lincoln MKX models found on websites.  I asked Kelly if Ford was aware of any issues like this with other MKX and her response was if there are no maintenance codes found on the car or if there aren’t any recalls on my make, model and year there was nothing Ford/Lincoln could do for me except to follow their guidance and try to reproduce the issue and capture a maintenance code.  I asked for this guidance to be put in writing as I am in awe Ford/Lincoln would risk the safety of one of their customers so we could reproduce the issue.  Below is the message from the email I received from Kelly.      

 

“Hello Mr. McDowell,

      

While I understand your frustration, at this time, until the vehicle’s stalling concern can be duplicated by the service department, there is no repair that can be performed.  I was advised by your service advisor at Jerry’s Leesburg Ford that If the issues does happen again, please try to have the vehicle towed in immediately so the service department may be able to diagnosis the issue.   

 

Regards,

Kelly C.
Concierge Service Manager
Lincoln Client Relationship Center”

 

I have filed a complaint with NHTSA (ID#11182361).  I have found two other NHTSA complaints for the same exact issue with the same make and model (#11047965 & 11055106).  I  can see from doing research online this is an issue with my make and model and other Ford models. Be aware of this before you decide to purchase a Ford.  This is the first Ford I have purchased and good chance the last if Ford doesn’t take a wiser path in problem solving known issues with their vehicles.  Ford would rather put a customer's life at risk than spend money to determine the source of the issue.  

[akirby]

There is nothing they can do if there is no code or existing failure.  There are dozens of things that could cause this, regardless of what you read on the internet.  

 

Would you go to the doctor and say “I felt bad last week but right now I’m fine” and expect them to fix it?   If it happens frequently get the dealer to keep it for an extended test period to see if they can reproduce it.  And just so you know, Ford dealers are independent businesses and Ford doesn’t control how they do business.  If you don’t get a good response from one dealer try a different one.

 

Also, you bought a used vehicle so you have no idea what the previous owner did.

Your best bet is to do exactly as they said and leave it off and get it towed if possible.

 

And if you think another company would do anything differently you’re mistaken.

[Fastfwd75]

I would get a dash cam or gopro or something and start filming the dashboard until this happens and then go to the dealer with this; escalate to Ford if the dealer still refuses to keep the car until the problem is fixed.

 

Last time I had a noise I just filmed it and brought that to the service guy and showed him the video; also emailed him so he could pass it on to the mechanic. Saves a lot of trouble and makes it removes 100% of any doubt that the problem is with the driver.

[BAYLENSMAN]

On 2/28/2019 at 8:07 PM, akirby said:

There is nothing they can do if there is no code or existing failure.  There are dozens of things that could cause this, regardless of what you read on the internet.  

 

Would you go to the doctor and say “I felt bad last week but right now I’m fine” and expect them to fix it?   If it happens frequently get the dealer to keep it for an extended test period to see if they can reproduce it.  And just so you know, Ford dealers are independent businesses and Ford doesn’t control how they do business.  If you don’t get a good response from one dealer try a different one.

 

Also, you bought a used vehicle so you have no idea what the previous owner did.

Your best bet is to do exactly as they said and leave it off and get it towed if possible.

 

And if you think another company would do anything differently you’re mistaken.

  I'm sorry but I have to disagree on all of these points.

 

Todays service department technician are not mechanics. Yes they can't do anything with out a code., however a true mechanic can and often does and things that there is no code for. This particular problem has been found on other sites and in two of the three that I followed the connecter between the ECU and main harness as well as the connect to the fuse panel were both loose from the factory. The connector took over 5 years in one case to move enough to cause the issue, because as most of us know the under dash area and engine compartment are very tight. 5 years of jostling around before the issue became apparent, but a few minutes for a mechanic to lie on his back and use a flash light and screw driver to move some wires!

 

Many true mechanics can find a cause even when tis not doing right now.

 

It doesn't matter what the previous owner did the problem can still be diagnosed.

 

Many of the Honda dealers across the country will find and fix issues with out a real or TSB to back it up and still can it a warranty claim. (No charge to customer) 

Many local dealer also operate differently than mentioned above. I was given a loaner while my used Lincoln was given to the serve department for the Service manager to drive for a few day to replicate an issue. ( it did occur again with no codes or faults. A faulty ground strap caused the issue in that case.

 

I believe the original poster has a valid complaint and the dealer should step up in some manner

[akirby]

I don’t disagree but:

 

1 - Ford is very tight with warranty $$$ and a technician spending time diagnosing something without a code or a failure to go by may not be reimbursed.   This is a Ford problem not the mechanic (in most cases although there are lazy mechanics).

 

2 - without an existing failure or the ability to reproduce the problem it is impossible to tell if you fixed it.  Unless it’s just a loose connection you’ll end up throwing parts at it with no clue as to whether it will fix the problem or not.

[RRivera]

Had this same issue with a 2015 GMC Acadia. Car shut off several times while my wife was driving. Electronics went haywire before going out,. Took car toddler several times, and they couldn't figure it out. Searched for TSB's, nothing. After reviewing the web and reading about dead cells in the battery, decided to change the battery myself.  That fixed the problem, and thankfully it's been solid ever since.