Affected models and production years
Ford Motor Company is recalling approximately 272,817 vehicles in the United States due to potential battery failures that can result in a stall of the vehicle and thus become an increased danger of an accident. Included under the recall are certain:
- Â 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs
- 2022-2023 Ford Maverick pickup trucks.Â
Nature of the battery problem
According to NHTSA, internal weld and/or cast-on-strap failures may occur within the 12-volt batteries of these vehicles. If a failure occurs, sudden battery degradation can lead to a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights or a complete loss of drive power. This is very dangerous, particularly if the vehicle stalls unexpectedly while it is being operated.
Previous recall and ongoing concerns
This recall comes just after another one in April 2024 when about half a million Bronco Sports and Mavericks had been recalled over the same issues with batteries. The original fix was a software update meant to improve detecting the battery state of charge and prevent the auto stop/start feature from engaging if power was too low. Subsequent reports, however, revealed that the fix did not fully deal with the root cause of the battery failure; hence this recall for a full solution.
Ford’s response and remedial actions
Ford has agreed to the inspection of 12-volt batteries on affected vehicles for defects and their replacement free of charge. Indeed, the company has come to realize that the previous software update was not good enough, and it’s now replacing faulty batteries to guarantee the safety of the vehicles. Ford added that it was fully cooperating with ongoing investigations by the NHTSA regarding the effectiveness of its recall remedies.
Owner notifications and next steps
Ford will begin mailing owners of the affected vehicles on February 3, 2025. Owners should bring their vehicle to a local Ford or Lincoln dealer for an inspection and possible battery replacement. If an owner has already had a battery replaced, they may be reimbursed by submitting proof of payment. Additional questions can be directed to Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or via Ford’s official recall website.
Regulatory oversight and penalties
This recall isn’t the first move by Ford to appease heightened regulator scrutiny in the US. In November 2024, NHTSA launched two investigations into Ford’s recall practices specifically related to possible ineffective recalls and those that involved too few vehicles. Ford was facing up to a $165 million civil penalty for delaying the recall of pickups with faulty rearview cameras. In that also, the company had not provided NHTSA with correct information relating to the recalls.
Impact on Ford and owners of vehicles
These repeated problems with batteries and subsequent recalls, therefore, underline the challenge which the automobile manufacturers face in ascertaining the safety and reliability of the vehicles. This still underlines that the need for Ford to be more vigorous in quality control opens channels of clear communication with both regulators and consumers. Among other things, owners are called on to be observant of these notices and to take needed repair action as one of their key ways of maintaining safety on the road.
