Ford Recalls Mustang Mach-E Due to Potentially Faulty Battery Repair

Key Takeaways

• Ford recalls 86 Mustang Mach-Es due to incorrect battery health reporting.
• Replacement battery controllers may falsely report battery health as 100%.
• Incorrect reporting may lead to power loss and potential fire risk.
• Recall affects 2023-2025 Mustang Mach-Es with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
• Software update will allow BECM to recognize actual state of health.

What’s the Issue with the Mustang Mach-E’s Battery?

The problem lies in the replacement Battery Energy Control Modules (BECMs) installed in the affected vehicles. When a replacement BECM is installed, it initializes the battery’s State of Health at 100% instead of inheriting the actual State of Health from the battery already in the vehicle.

This discrepancy can cause the car to display an artificially high State of Charge on the instrument cluster, leading to unexpected power limitation and potentially a complete loss of motive power.

How Does the Incorrect Reporting Affect the Vehicle’s Performance?

The incorrect State of Health calculation may increase lithium plating within the battery cells as DC fast-charging cycles accumulate. Severe lithium plating can increase the risk of thermal venting and, potentially, a vehicle fire.

Drivers may see a wrench or turtle warning light as the vehicle begins limiting power, and there is a risk of power loss and potential fire risk.

What is Ford Doing to Address the Issue?

Ford is issuing a software update that will allow the BECM to recognize and use the actual state of health that the corresponding battery has.

The software update will be available for the affected vehicles, and owners will be notified by mail to schedule an appointment with a Ford dealer.

What Should Owners of Affected Vehicles Do?

Owners of the affected vehicles should wait for notification from Ford to schedule an appointment with a dealer to have the software update installed.

In the meantime, owners should be aware of the potential issue and monitor their vehicle’s performance for any signs of power loss or unusual behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many vehicles are affected by this recall?

A: 86 Mustang Mach-Es are affected by this recall.

Q: What is the cause of the issue?

A: The issue is caused by replacement Battery Energy Control Modules (BECMs) that initialize the battery’s State of Health at 100% instead of inheriting the actual State of Health from the battery already in the vehicle.

Q: What is the potential risk of the issue?

A: The incorrect State of Health calculation may increase lithium plating within the battery cells, potentially leading to thermal venting and a vehicle fire.