Ford Recalls 48K Mach-E Mustangs Due To Vehicle Battery Fault

Ford Mustang Mach-E, battery problem. (photo: MachEclub)

JAKARTA - Ford issued a recall for more than 48,000 Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers. The US automaker said the recall had to be made due to concerns that a safety flaw could render the vehicle immobile.

According to the recall, the malfunction involved potential overheating of the vehicle battery's high-voltage contactor. This fault can cause the vehicle to fail to start or lose power while moving.

"Overheated contactors exposed while driving may result in loss of propulsion, which could increase the risk of an accident," reads the notice, also quoted by The Verge.

Ford said 48,924 Mustang Mach-E vehicles sold in the US were affected by the problem. In fact nearly half of the estimated 100,000 vehicles produced during that time. It's the latest hurdle to impact Ford's mass-market electric vehicle launch that has helped propel the automaker into second place in EV sales behind Tesla.

Affected vehicles include the 2021 and 2022 model years and vehicles built between 27 May 2020, and 24 May 2022, at the automaker's Cuautitlan plant in Mexico. Ford also sent a notice to its dealers, warning them not to ship any Mustang Mach-Es to customers until a software fix was issued.

A spokesman, Said Deep, said a recall had also been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTAS), although it had not been posted on the agency's website. "There is no security investigation currently underway with NHTSA," Deep said.

Ford said the problem could be fixed with an over-the-air software update, due "next month." Mustang Mach-E owners can also take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for faster software repairs.

"Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving this vehicle under this safety recall," Deep said.

The recall comes at a crucial time for Ford's electrification strategy, with the first F-150 Lightning trucks reaching customers in recent weeks. The company reported sales of 6,254 electric vehicles in May 2022. This is a 222 percent year-on-year increase and about 4.2 percent of Ford's total sales volume. The Mustang Mach-E represented the bulk of sales that May, or 5,179 vehicles.

This is not the first speed bump in Mustang's short history. Ford is delayed in launching an EV in the spring of 2021 for an extra quality check. The automaker has also issued several recalls for unwanted acceleration, improperly fastened seat belts, and loose subframe bolts, amid other issues.