2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring sudden power reduction and 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning

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Tom H. · rep 0 · May 22, 7:28 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some advice or similar experiences. I was driving my 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring yesterday, just cruising on the highway, when suddenly I felt a significant loss of power. The car wouldn't accelerate past about 40 mph, and a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning popped up on the display.

I managed to safely pull over and restart the car, but the warning persisted, and the power remained limited. It felt like the car went into some kind of 'limp mode.' Has anyone else with a Lucid Air experienced this? What was the cause, and how was it resolved?

I'm planning to contact service, but I wanted to see if this is a known issue or something unique. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

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ClearTheCode admin answer:

Experiencing a sudden power reduction and a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning in your 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. This 'limp mode' is designed to protect the vehicle's critical components from further damage when a significant fault is detected.

Here's what you should know and do:

  1. Immediate Actions: If you are still experiencing this, safely pull over to a secure location. Avoid driving the vehicle if the warning persists and power is severely limited, as this could exacerbate the problem or pose a safety risk.

  2. Potential Causes: For electric vehicles like the Lucid Air, a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' can stem from several complex systems:

    • Inverter Malfunction: The inverter converts the DC power from the battery into AC power for the electric motors. A fault here can directly impact power delivery.
    • Electric Motor Issues: Problems with the motor itself, such as sensor failures (e.g., speed, temperature) or internal component wear, can trigger this warning.
    • Battery Management System (BMS) Fault: While the battery pack might be healthy, the BMS could detect an anomaly (e.g., cell imbalance, voltage drop, temperature excursion) that causes it to limit power to protect the pack.
    • High Voltage System Fault: Issues within the high-voltage cabling, contactors, or other components of the EV's power delivery system.
    • Software Glitch: Modern EVs are heavily software-dependent. A bug or corrupted software update could potentially trigger false warnings or incorrect power management.
  3. Diagnostics: While traditional OBD-II codes might not pinpoint specific EV drivetrain faults, your Lucid Air's onboard diagnostics system will have logged detailed manufacturer-specific fault codes. These codes are crucial for technicians to identify the root cause. The 'Drivetrain Malfunction' message is a general alert indicating a problem within the propulsion system.

  4. When to See a Shop: You should contact Lucid service immediately. Do not attempt to diagnose or repair this issue yourself, as it involves high-voltage systems that can be extremely dangerous. Schedule an appointment for professional diagnosis and repair. Provide them with as much detail as possible about when and how the issue occurred.

  5. Prevention: While sudden failures can occur, ensuring your vehicle's software is up-to-date and adhering to Lucid's recommended service schedule can help mitigate some risks. However, for a critical issue like this, professional intervention is essential.