Intermittent shutoff question

[Leon SK]

I drive a 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with the 1.6 turbo in Arizona and the last few weeks the car has cut power for less than a second while cruising. The dash lights up as if it had been restarted and then everything returns to normal. It only seems to happen on hot afternoons after long drives, never first thing in the morning. My brother suggested maybe the fuel pump relay but I'm skeptical since it feels electrical not fuel-related. Has anyone else attempted to chase something similar before throwing parts at it?

 

[Gene Oswin]

Same issue with my 2014 Escape SE. Brief power loss and dash reset after long drives in the heat. Turned out to be a failing body control module (BCM) that was heat-sensitive. Swapping it fixed everything. Before throwing parts at it, you might try checking for stored codes even if the CEL isn't on. Heat-related electrical glitches can be sneaky.

 

[Guardian]

Modern turbo Fords like the 1.6 EcoBoost are notoriously sensitive, electrical gremlins often masquerade as mechanical issues, and chasing parts without a good diagnosis usually just wastes money and time

 

[Leon SK]

The BCM theory aligns with what I've observed. I haven't checked for codes yet since the CEL hasn't come on but I'll run a scan this weekend to see if anything turns up. If heat is the cause, I'm guessing it'll happen again soon with these high temps. I'm waiting to buy any parts until I know more but swapping the BCM might be next if the scan points that way. Did either of you notice any other unusual issues before the module failed, such as problems with the radio or HVAC? I hope to have this sorted out by the end of the month.