Over 48,000 Ford Mustang EVs recalled over possible battery heating issue

Ford Motor recalls about 49,000 Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers over battery safety concerns; dealers asked to halt production, reports IANS.

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Nearly 49,000 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers were recalled over battery safety concerns. Dealers were asked to temporarily halt selling the popular electric vehicle. The battery safety defect may render the vehicle immobile. The malfunction involves a potential overheating of the vehicle’s battery high-voltage contactors, which can lead the vehicle to fail to start or lose power while in motion.

"An overheated contactor that opens while driving can result in a loss of motive power, which can increase the risk of an accident," according to the Ford notice. The battery issue affects Mach-Es that were built from May 27, 2020, through May 24, 2022, at the automaker's Mexico plant.

Nearly 49,000 of around 100,000 Mach-Es produced during that time frame have been recalled by the Detroit-based automaker, the report said late on June 14. The recall has also been filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The automaker said the problem can be fixed with an over-the-air software update, to be issued next month. "Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving vehicles under this safety recall," a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Ford has issued a handful of recalls regarding the Mach-E since its launch, according to the NHTSA website. The automaker has earlier issued recalls for unintended acceleration, improperly attached seatbelts, and loose subframe bolts.

(With inputs from IANS)