Ford recalls nearly 49,000 Mustang Mach-E's due to battery issue

15 June 2022

Ford is recalling more than 48,000 Mustang Mach-E vehicles due to a battery safety concern. The problem is with the high voltage battery main contractors, which could overheat, resulting in the car losing power and being unable to start again.

The issue reportedly affects Mach E's produced at Ford's Cuautitlan plant in Mexico, between May 27, 2020, and May 24, 2022. The affected cars are nearly half of the estimated 100,000 that Ford has produced.

Ford has stopped shipments of Mustang Mach-E's to customers in a notice to dealers.

Ford doesn't seem to have a ready-made fix for the issue and expects it will have the needed software or parts in the 3rd quarter of this year. This is a potentially huge blow to Ford's ongoing electrification strategy, at a crucial time. Mustang Mach-E sales have elevated Ford to second place in EV sales, behind Tesla, and the F-150 Lightning truck is tentatively rolling out of the assembly line into customers hands.

Regarding the issue, here's Ford's official communication, per Electrek.

"In the affected vehicles, it is possible that the high voltage battery main contactors may overheat, which can result in an open contactor or welding condition. Should the contactors weld closed while driving, a powertrain malfunction warning light will be illuminated on the next drive cycle, along with a no start condition. If the contactors open while driving, a powertrain malfunction warning light will be illuminated, the vehicle will display Stop Safely Now in the instrument panel cluster, and the vehicle will experience an immediate loss of motive power. The vehicle will coast to a stop, and all 12V systems including power brakes and steering will remain functional."

Ford hasn't yet told Mach-E drivers to ground their cars. Here's Ford's notice to dealers.

Via