An issue with the high-voltage battery switch on the Mustang Mach-E could cut propulsion power, necessitating a recall on Ford’s behalf.
Ford recalls the Mustang Mach-E due to a potential safety issue, as per notice to dealers seen by CNBC. Notably, at least 48,924 vehicles in the U.S are being recalled from the 100,000 Mach-Es built and produced.
Interestingly, Ford has admitted to safety issues in earlier vehicles, citing an issue on Mach-E EVs produced between May 27, 2020, and May 24, 2022, at its Cuautitlan plant in Mexico.
However, according to Ford’s notice filed with NHTSA, the dealers were informed that the intention of the recall was never to stop sales. Instead, the dealers could still sell the EV without delivering it, which is quite weird.
The reason for the latest recall is the vehicle’s battery high-voltage switch. Ford describes it as “an overheated contactor that opens while driving can result in a loss of motive power, which can increase the risk of an accident,” in its notice filed to the NHTSA.
Ford plans to update Mach-E’s software with an over-the-air fix or set up dealerships to carry out the updates to vehicles brought over. Notably, the patch will update the ‘Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module (SOBDMC) and Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software.’
Ford plans to offer a more permanent solution to the problem by this year’s third quarter. All owners of the Mustang Mach-E will be notified via mail after repair and processing information are provided to the dealers.
Ford has also struggled with many quality and safety issues with new vehicles in the past. Take the Ford Bronco, for example, which has troubled customers with its peeling roofs and an unreliable engine, leading to high recall and warranty costs.
Altogether, including this issue, the company’s position as a mass-market EV producer is surely affected and makes us cautious about how reliable the F-150 Lightning will be. Let’s hope for the best, though, as the F-150 Lightning is perhaps the most important electric truck to arrive on the market.
