NHTSA Complaint #11456703 — 2014 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

6-2021: Crackling sound on radio, whether on or off. 2 types: Like bare wires rubbed together, or connecting/disconnecting speaker. ·Crackling persists after vehicle shut off. Eventually stops. 12-2021: ·Radio quit working, crackling sound continued, appears random. ·Observed lights on @ distance. Then off. Vehicle was parked overnight, inactive. 2-2022: ·2-year-old battery died. Dead again in a few days. (Parasitic drain) Mechanic said it needed new radio. New radio was > $600.00, required reconfiguration of dashboard. ·Lost many, not all functions, of SYNC System, & it goes to sleep after a few minutes. Backup camera doesn’t work if SYNC system is asleep. Sometimes revived after pushing SYNC button on steering column. ·Auto electrical mechanic said still a drain on electrical system, but not like before. Rebuilt alternator & refurbished the fuse box too. Said electrical drain was from information control module on dashboard. Said take vehicle to Ford, have them reprogram the module where display screen is located & the drain occurring while vehicle is parked, would stop. ·Ford Technician said they had “no updates” on information control module. Took care of recall & transmission issues, returned the vehicle. oParasitic drain & dead battery continued. 3-2022: ·Battery tests as good but dies in 2 days. Engine quit if jumper cables were removed. Then died before they were removed. Appeared dead, no start even though connected to a good battery via jumper cables. ·Asked dealer to reprogram information control module. ·They gave it back, saying, “It’s acceptable”. oThey disconnected an “aftermarket” module. Went from 64 milliamps to 42 milliamps. Drove 90 minutes & parked. 29 hours later battery died. Dlr. said turn off/disconnect everything BEFORE shutting off vehicle: No automatic lights, heater, phone charger, etc. Apparently this is a body control module (BCM) problem. Not “information control module” problem.