Ford has told US dealers to temporarily stop selling electric Mustang Mach-E crossovers due to a potential safety defect that could cause the vehicles to become immobile.
CNBC reported the automaker, in a notice to dealers, said potentially affected vehicles include 2021 and 2022 Mach-Es that were built from 27 May, 2020, through 24 May, 2022, at the automaker’s Cuautitlan plant in Mexico.
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By GlobalDataNearly 49,000 of the roughly 100,000 Mach-Es produced during that time frame will be part of a recall, Ford spokesman Said Deep told CNBC.
The problem reportedly involves a potential overheating of the vehicle’s high voltage battery main contactors. The issue can lead to a malfunction that could cause the vehicle not to start or immediately lose propulsion power while in motion, the notice said.
CNBC said the recall was notable, as automakers continue to have problems launching new electric vehicles. Ford, in recent years, also has experienced problematic vehicle launches, leading to high recall and warranty costs.
Ford has issued a handful of recalls regarding the Mach-E since its launch, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website [other US reports said this was the fifth]. They’ve ranged from a software error causing unintended acceleration in less than 500 vehicles earlier this year to problems with loose subframe bolts and inadequate bonding for thousands of the vehicles’ glass panel roofs.
Deep told CNBC Ford has submitted a recall petition to NHTSA, which handles such matters. The federal vehicle safety watchdog did not immediately respond regarding confirmation of the filing.
Ford expects to offer a solution for the problem in the third quarter, according to the bulletin. Mustang Mach-E owners will be notified via mail after repair instructions and parts ordering information have been provided to dealers.
Deep told CNBC the company’s remedy would include a software update to the vehicle’s “Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module and Battery Energy Control Module.” It would be conducted remotely, or over-the-air. Customers would also have the option of taking their vehicle to a Ford dealer.