Ford Motors issued a recall on June 13 for nearly all of its Mustang Mach-E models due to “vehicle entrapment allegations,” according to the company’s recall notice.
The recall and corresponding stop-sale notice affects select Ford Mustang Mach-Es manufactured between 2021 and 2025. This makes up around 200,000 vehicles made by the American car manufacturer.
Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles at a Ford dealership in Colma, California, US, on Friday, July 22, 2022. Ford Motor Co. is expected to release earnings figures on July 27. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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The safety recall claims that an unexpected discharge of the electric vehicle’s 12V battery could lead to young children or pets getting locked inside the car.
Once the car battery becomes critically low the doors may not be able to unlock from the outside. The driver can exit the car, but would be unable to retrieve anything from inside that could not use an interior manual release door handle. This includes pets or small children that may be in the backseat.
While the inside of the car has typical car door handles, the outside opens only with the touch of a circular button — which Ford now claims may be inoperable if the car battery is low. This safety recall comes into effect as the hot summer months approach, when it becomes critically dangerous to leave animals or children inside of a locked car.
Currently there is no solution available to solve the known software issue. The recall notice states that Ford Motor Company is working on an update that is expected to be ready in the late summer or fall.
Customers affected by the recall will be notified by mail and via Ford’s mobile app once the update is available. Car owners will need to then schedule a service appointment for a free repair.