[M0Par]

Creating this thread to document the following:
• the process from the time you call the dealer for service;
• the outcome for each Z11 PacHY recall and whether your battery gets replaced or not.

For those who had a battery replaced, can you also list the dealership who worked on your vehicle?

EDIT: Added the Recall Service Procedures:

RCRIT-22V077-7110.pdf (nhtsa.gov)

I called my dealer and they hadn't yet heard that parts were available. They are looking into it and will call me back.

 

[Duffman19]

Coincidentally, I already had a service appointment schedule for October 12. I called this morning to see if they would also be able to assess the Z11 recall and they said they would. I was told the documentation for the fix came in only yesterday (September 29). I was told it would take a fair amount of time as they'll need to fully charge the battery and then run diagnostics. The tests will determine whether the High Voltage Battery Pack Control Module software update is sufficient or if a new battery is also warranted. They said the batteries are available but are ordered on an as-needed basis. Not sure how long a battery replacement would take. I'll try to post updates here.

One question I forgot to ask was whether the battery's warranty would be extended whether it was replaced or not. I recall reading somewhere that an additional two years would be added. I like the idea of getting a fresh battery, but also don't want to be wasteful if the current one is guaranteed safe and working.

 

[M0Par]

Coincidentally, I already had a service appointment schedule for October 12. I called this morning to see if they would also be able to assess the Z11 recall and they said they would. I was told the documentation for the fix came in only yesterday (September 29). I was told it would take a fair amount of time as they'll need to fully charge the battery and then run diagnostics. The tests will determine whether the High Voltage Battery Pack Control Module software update is sufficient or if a new battery is also warranted. They said the batteries are available but are ordered on an as-needed basis. Not sure how long a battery replacement would take. I'll try to post updates here.

One question I forgot to ask was whether the battery's warranty would be extended whether it was replaced or not. I recall reading somewhere that an additional two years would be added. I like the idea of getting a fresh battery, but also don't want to be wasteful if the current one is guaranteed safe and working.

Thanks for this information. Will be very interested to hear about the outcome for you.

My dealer didn't provide any of this detail. Any further information on how exactly these tests determine which batteries need replacing and which don't? Wonder if it really is a case by case basis or if it corresponds to build dates. Impossible to say yet but with more crowd-sourced information maybe we can arrive at some answers.

 

[Duffman19]

Any further information on how exactly these tests determine which batteries need replacing and which don't?

No idea. I didn't think to ask and I'm sure they wouldn't have an answer. If I had to guess (and why not? I know absolutely nothing about this kind of tech), the software update will provide the system with more fail-safe opportunities to shut down should it detect irregularities. As for when to replace the battery, who knows? Maybe it is as simple as a certain set of serial numbers or charge cycles. It's probably safe to assume Chrysler wants to keep the number of battery replacements to a minimum, so it will be interesting to see how many of us get one.

What does seem to be apparent is that Chrysler has determined there is no other mechanical or technical issue. You'll get a software update and maybe a new battery, but no other parts will be added or swapped.

 

[TheodoreL]

No idea. I didn't think to ask and I'm sure they wouldn't have an answer. If I had to guess (and why not? I know absolutely nothing about this kind of tech), the software update will provide the system with more fail-safe opportunities to shut down should it detect irregularities. As for when to replace the battery, who knows? Maybe it is as simple as a certain set of serial numbers or charge cycles. It's probably safe to assume Chrysler wants to keep the number of battery replacements to a minimum, so it will be interesting to see how many of us get one.

What does seem to be apparent is that Chrysler has determined there is no other mechanical or technical issue. You'll get a software update and maybe a new battery, but no other parts will be added or swapped.

I called my Svce Dept (Long Island, NY today and was able to get an appt for this Thurs., 10/6. They set an expectation go a day & a half to 3 days to complete the testing and evaluation. Should eval merit a battery inspection, they mentioned the name of another 3rd party company that will follow up. I’ll post if I learn more when checking in.

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

I dont have much hope for Chrysler engineers after seeing the attached PDF.

31:

REALLY???? oy vey......

 

[SKPacHy]

I dont have much hope for Chrysler engineers after seeing the attached PDF.

31:

View attachment 51295

REALLY???? oy vey......

And where I live the number of days where the temperature outside will be warm enough to do this evaluation are running out.

 

[alimey]

I have called a few dealerships in Seattle area and they are not aware of the remedy yet! They say ETA is still unknown!

 

[TheodoreL]

Dropped my car off this morning. I was told evaluation will be completed by this Monday. They said they had only tested one other hybrid so far and it tested ok. The Service instructions appear to be pretty precise as to sequence and time (step 43) alloted. I had asked if I could get copies of the VSR & ECU before and after reports which are to be provided to the STAR center for the HV Battery authorization. For me, I would like to know the criteria they’re using to evaluate the reports, I think having copies would be useful if you can get the master which they’re measured against. The service desk as expected said all I get is a doc saying Z11 recall service completed. I am going to pursue obtaining those reports because at least in my mind, it’s a paper trail, provided you can get the master, otherwise what do get after seven months, a piece of paper saying your battery checked out? Unless my thinking is wrong and unrealistic, I’d like something with more proof than a completed job order.
“If no DTCs are present, remove the wiTECH micro pod II device from the vehicle, return the vehicle to the customer. What is a DTC?


Safety Recall Z11 – Plug-in Hybrid Electric

 

[SKPacHy]

What is a DTC?

Diagnostic Trouble Code. The codes that come up when you attach a scanner to a vehicle.

 

[SKPacHy]

Dropped my car off this morning. I was told evaluation will be completed by this Monday. They said they had only tested one other hybrid so far and it tested ok. The Service instructions appear to be pretty precise as to sequence and time (step 43) alloted. I had asked if I could get copies of the VSR & ECU before and after reports which are to be provided to the STAR center for the HV Battery authorization. For me, I would like to know the criteria they’re using to evaluate the reports, I think having copies would be useful if you can get the master which they’re measured against. The service desk as expected said all I get is a doc saying Z11 recall service completed. I am going to pursue obtaining those reports because at least in my mind, it’s a paper trail, provided you can get the master, otherwise what do get after seven months, a piece of paper saying your battery checked out? Unless my thinking is wrong and unrealistic, I’d like something with more proof than a completed job order.
“If no DTCs are present, remove the wiTECH micro pod II device from the vehicle, return the vehicle to the customer. What is a DTC?


Safety Recall Z11 – Plug-in Hybrid Electric

Good luck trying to get those reports. They could be interesting. Although they could also say absolutely nothing or be in a format that isn’t human readable. Sending those in could just be a fishing expedition to try to nail down the root cause, which they still don’t know. I don’t think those reports are what’s being used to determine if the battery is bad or not. It’s the test procedure as evaluated by the wiTech service computer that is making the decision.

 

[mp24453]

New resource guide doc: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCMN-22V077-7190.pdf

 

[TheodoreL]

Great and thanks!

 

[dlieu]

Interesting. So it would seem all this software flash does is it adds some monitoring for a suspicious (but not necessarily abnormal) condition, and disables charging, or even driving the car entirely, thereby forcing a tow to a dealership again for another unspecified repair (possibly hv battery replacement).

I wonder how many such faults we will start seeing after this "remedy", and how many of those will turn out to be false positives.

 

[mp24453]

Interesting. So it would seem all this software flash does is it adds some monitoring for a suspicious (but not necessarily abnormal) condition, and disables charging, or even driving the car entirely, thereby forcing a tow to a dealership again for another unspecified repair (possibly hv battery replacement).

I wonder how many such faults we will start seeing after this "remedy", and how many of those will turn out to be false positives.

Yeah, just saw this in the FAQ:

 

[PacDave]

Interesting. So it would seem all this software flash does is it adds some monitoring for a suspicious (but not necessarily abnormal) condition, and disables charging, or even driving the car entirely, thereby forcing a tow to a dealership again for another unspecified repair (possibly hv battery replacement).

I wonder how many such faults we will start seeing after this "remedy", and how many of those will turn out to be false positives.

It’s hard to say exactly how the new software will work. But from what I read, Chrysler expects to determine if you have a faulty battery pack or not by merely monitoring a single charge/discharge cycle. Apparently after performing the diagnostic at the dealer they will “ok” the van to be used as intended with overnight charging and parking in a garage.

 

[tlyons]

... the software update will provide the system with more fail-safe opportunities to shut down should it detect irregularities.

...You'll get a software update and maybe a new battery, but no other parts will be added or swapped.

RCLRPT-22V077-6946.PDF (nhtsa.gov)

1. You're getting a software update that now disables the car if Chrysler thinks it's needed rather than sending a letter and hoping you will stop driving. (How many people ignored the current recall? Would anyone really park at the back of the supermarket to avoid being next to other cars as the recall says?)
2. You might get a replacement battery but the odds of it being new are little or none. The recall fix does not say "new."

Chrysler has been very clear that after 13 months, "The defect has not yet been identified and the root cause of these fires is still being investigated." This is not a fix but a quick patch to try to turn the car off if it thinks it is about to catch on fire.

 

[PacDave]

RCLRPT-22V077-6946.PDF (nhtsa.gov)

1. You're getting a software update that now disables the car if Chrysler thinks it's needed rather than sending a letter and hoping you will stop driving. (How many people ignored the current recall? Would anyone really park at the back of the supermarket to avoid being next to other cars as the recall says?)
2. You might get a replacement battery but the odds of it being new are little or none. The recall fix does not say "new."

Chrysler has been very clear that after 13 months, "The defect has not yet been identified and the root cause of these fires is still being investigated." This is not a fix but a quick patch to try to turn the car off if it thinks it is about to catch on fire.

I agree. I’d like more information on this “remedy”. Also, if this new software in the BPCM can prevent a fire by shutting things down before it happens, wouldn’t it be prudent to also apply it to other PacHys (2019-2022)?

 

[SKPacHy]

I agree. I’d like more information on this “remedy”. Also, if this new software in the BPCM can prevent a fire by shutting things down before it happens, wouldn’t it be prudent to also apply it to other PacHys (2019-2022)?

Possibly if they think there is a risk to those model years. We don’t know what they are planning internally, so that could happen. They might want to let this new BPCM software exist out in the wild for a while to make sure it’s doing what they want it to, and isn’t triggering unnecessary battery swaps or missing actual fires. The lab and the real world never act the same. Prudence would dictate that they handle the customers actually under the recall as well before other model year owners are filling up service slots. They could eventually roll this out across the model years as a service campaign or a RSU like they now have for the ECH fix. But I would expect that wouldn’t happen for a while.

 

[dlieu]

It’s hard to say exactly how the new software will work. But from what I read, Chrysler expects to determine if you have a faulty battery pack or not by merely monitoring a single charge/discharge cycle. Apparently after performing the diagnostic at the dealer they will “ok” the van to be used as intended with overnight charging and parking in a garage.

Yes they will do one test cycle in the shop. But the bulletin is also very clear imo that the software will also do some form of it afterwards and will disable the car under some unspecified conditions.

What makes me unhappy is that these conditions are not straight abnormal, otherwise they would have programmed that fault in long ago, including the new year models as well. Yet in 5 years that passed since I own the car, these cars are to get this new fault analysis only now.

The next logical step in this reasoning is that since the condition is not outright abnormal, it will likely cause false positives when the battery fire is not imminent and the battery does not require replacement.

That is, it is not too far fetched to assume that instead of 3 fires per year we will get 50 faults per year maybe more, hopefully without fires (but I wouldn't bet on it), depending on how much faith we are willing to put in this fix.

I am not putting much because nobody have ever had any tests on the population and figured the false positive rate when these conditions did happen without fires.

If I have my car disabled, knowing my dealership, it will probably take them two weeks just to squeeze me in for another 2day battery test, and who knows how much longer if they actually need to replace the hv battery. I imagine month overall is not entirely out of question at all. All the while the car is undrivable. We've seen similar things happen during this car launch already, cars ordered and built and in some cars even already paid for, held without clear cause or remedy for months.

If it happens while the car is in the garage, I am not sure the tow company will be even able to pull it out since the car does not have manual release.

Also, it is not that they never issued a software update before on this car that they had to issue another recall for just to revert some of its bugs.

No way I am playing this game this time. If I am getting this fix, it is either if it checks out on the population for a year or so, or to sell the car to make it recall free on paper .