Missing SOC icon 2019 Mkz Hybrid

[daboss54]

I just leased my third Mkz  Hybrid.....16..17 and now a 2019. As a longtime hybrid owner i  have noticed that every year we seem to lose something. I also had a 2014 Fusion Hybrid. My 2014 Fusion and 2016 Mkz hybrid in the instrument cluster had the blue battery SOC icon showing the high voltage battery level in real time with arrows above and below the blue battery showing charging or below to indicate discharging. The 2014 and 2016 also had EV+.  In my 2017 Mkz Hybrid the indicator arrows were gone with no explanation. Now my 2019 mkz hybrid Reserve 2 has no arrows no SOC blue battery and EV+ is now gone!! There is a generic looking regen battery but it disappears after regen stops. Please advise.

Edited January 14, 2020 by daboss54

[scn101]

I hear you!  I just picked up a new 2019 MKZ Hybrid RS2 on Monday, trading in my 2014 Fusion Hybrid Titanium (eerily close to what you did, ha) and I've also noticed the SOC display is gone...BUT it is listed as available in the Owner's Manual, page 118 (Battery Display, ON or OFF).  So I'm hoping it can be enabled at the dealer, which I strongly doubt (eyes rolling).  EV+ is gone too, but I never used it, so I don't really miss it.  But I really do miss the SOC battery display!!!

 

Another thing missing is the % of oil life remaining.  You can reset it but you cannot view the remaining oil life as I could on the Fusion.  Another valuable thing missing.

 

I just drove it about 450 miles and mostly like it.  I did notice that there was some wind noise above my head above ~65MPH and if I closed the sunshade it greatly diminished.  No water leaks but some noise is getting in.  I guess I'll need to go to the dealer for that one as I never heard any noise on the Fusion with the same moonroof.  Friend of mine with a 2017 MKZ Hybrid doesn't have the moonroof noise and he has the SOC and oil life remaining display.
 

[drolds1]

From a Ford engineer:

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Ford has found that the SOC display has been getting too many complaints, confusing people who don't really understand how hybrids work. So they are taking it away. The 2020 Explorer hybrid doesn't have a SOC display at all. If the OP really wants it, then it can probably be enabled with ForScan, but it's probably not something the dealer will be trained to do. It's a configuration thing, not a software thing, so updating software/replacement won't change it.

 

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[daboss54]

If anyone finds a tweak let me know thanks Everyone!

[scn101]

I did notice that the % oil life remaining is shown within the Lincoln app on your phone.  So that is good.  Still hoping to get the HV battery SoC display turned on.  Have the car going in next week to the dealer.

[scn101]

I really miss the SoC display that I had in my 2014 Fusion Hybrid.  As such, I've been digging into this quite a bit.  The SOC is present in early MY2019 MKZ and Fusion builds (built in 2018) but was removed from later builds (built in 2019).  By comparing "as built" module configuration between early and later builds I've concluded that it cannot be enabled by FORScan (not just a simple set or clear a bit in the IPC or other module).  My dealer's tech really tried to find a way to enable it but could not.  It looks like Ford changed the code in one of the modules, the IPC is my guess.  The newer code deprecated the display of the SOC battery gauge.  

 

This seems like a bait and switch.  Document the feature in the owner's manual and quick start guide and then remove the feature, is that even legal?  I'm not sure what can be done now.  See correspondence between my Dealer's tech and Ford.  If there's enough of an outcry from 2019 owners, maybe Ford will reconsider. 

 

Edited February 12, 2020 by scn101

[scn101]

I spoke to Lincoln customer service and although they confirmed that the state of charge battery display is shown in both the vehicle's Owner's Manual and Quick Reference Guide, Ford made the decision to remove it mid-year.  I asked if there's anyway this decision can be escalated and their response was that there's absolutely nothing they will do.  Every vehicle has pluses as minuses, but never have I had a vehicle where a documented feature was deleted mid-model year build, acknowledged as such by the manufacturer with a too bad it is your car now attitude.  When Ford revised the MPG rating of my Fusion Hybrid from 47/47/47 to 42, they sent me a check.  I was disappointed but at least they made amends.  After buying Mustangs, five Taurus, one Sable, two Focus, and a Fusion Hybrid, this MKZ is my last Ford product my family will purchase.  I now totally regret not buying my other choice vehicle, the Lexus 300h.    

[drolds1]

Car makers make running changes all the time.  They're under no obligation, legal or otherwise.  If you look for the online owners manuals on Lincoln Owner, you'll find that there's often 2 or 3 versions for any particular model year. This accounts, in part, for added, deleted or revised features.  Every related publication from Lincoln carries the following disclaimer: 

Quote

Lincoln makes no warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to, accuracy, currency, or completeness, the operation of the information, materials, content, availability, and products. Lincoln reserves the right to change product specifications, pricing and equipment at any time without incurring obligations. Your Lincoln Dealer is the best source of the most up-to-date information on Lincoln vehicles.

Eliminating the SOC display is in no way analogous to Ford financially compensating 200,000 Hybrid owners for the downward revision in MPG estimates.  I sincerely doubt anyone based their decision to buy an MKZ Hybrid on the presence of a SOC display in the menu.