Hybrid Battery drained while in shop and now w/low MPG

[Help My Hybrid]

My 2018 MKZ H normally has approx 37 mpg driving in city. It was in the shop for 3 weeks after a fender bender. I got the car back yesterday and the hybrid battery is showing a very low level of charge and my gas mileage went down to 24 mpg. Does anyone have any idea why? Is there anything I can do to get the battery recharging? The car has very low miles as well.

 

Please help! ?

 

Thank you

Edited March 30, 2023 by Help My Hybrid
Typo

[bbf2530]

2 hours ago, Help My Hybrid said:

My 2018 MKZ H normally has approx 37 mpg driving in city. It was in the shop for 3 weeks after a fender bender. I got the car back yesterday and the hybrid battery is showing a very low level of charge and my gas mileage went down to 24 mpg. Does anyone have any idea why? Is there anything I can do to get the battery recharging? The car has very low miles as well.

 

Please help! ?

 

Thank you

 

Hi HMH. Not completely unusual for a vehicle that was sitting for 3 weeks. Assuming everything is working properly, the battery should recharge with driving time. But your other threads hint at other issues, so that is hard to predict.

 

Keep us updated and good luck.

[Help My Hybrid]

Thank you for your response. Do you know if a hybrid battery has a serial number or any way of knowing if the original battery is in my car? With everything else that happened at that body shop I have to wonder whether they traded it out for an older one. Sounds unlikely but this shop was very unscrupulous. 

[Help My Hybrid]

I wanted to update anyone who may have a similar issue with low gas mileage after the car sits for an extended period. With drive time this past 6 weeks my MPG improved to their normal ranges.