Ford announced it is recalling nearly 50,000 electric vehicles in response to a defect with the cars’ batteries, which could lead to a loss of power while driving.
The automotive firm instructed dealers to stop selling Mustang Mach-Es produced between May 27, 2020, and May 24, 2022, that do not have the proper repairs. Ford said it is working to develop a fix for the 48,924 cars that have experienced a loss of power, overheating, and startup problems.
“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,” the company said in a letter.
According to Ford, the issue stems from a battery main contactor that can overheat and may remain stuck open or become welded.
“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,” said Ford.
Ford spokesperson Said Deep told Nexstar the problem specifically relates to the vehicles’ “Direct Current” fast charging, adding that there is a chance the better can overheat, which “may lead to arcing and deformation of the electrical contact surfaces.” That may lead to the car losing power while driving, Deep said, significantly raising the risk of an accident.
Deep added that the repair will be fixed remotely through an “Over-The-Air (OTA) deployment” of a software update starting in July. Owners of the electric vehicle can take their Mach-Es to a Ford dealership for the software update.
Ford’s letter added, “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.”
As of now, Ford dealerships cannot deliver any Mustang Mach-Es and cannot perform test drives, according to the letter.
“A complete Dealer Bulletin will be provided to dealers in the 3rd quarter of 2022 when it is anticipated that software and/or parts ordering information and repair instructions will be available to support this safety recall,” the company wrote.
