Ford recalls some 300,000 Mach-Es warning it could lock out occupants

• Ford is recalling nearly 300,000 Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs due to a 12-volt battery issue.
• A software update will be released soon to address the recall.
• This is one of several recalls Ford has issued this year, continuing a trend of quality issues.

Ford Motor Co. said it is recalling more than 300,000 Mach-E all-electric SUVs after discovering a battery problem that could leave customers locked out of the vehicles and trap anyone left inside who is unable to use the interior door release handle to exit.

The automaker this week ordered its dealers to stop demonstrations and deliveries of the 316,911 Mach-E EVs worldwide that are being recalled. In the United States, the recall impacts 196,911 Mach-E’s from model years 2021-25. About 120,000 Mach-E vehicles are affected outside the United States. In Canada, about 32,569 Mustang Mach-Es are affected.

Ford spokesman Mike Levine told the Detroit Free Press that in any safety recall Ford does, it puts a “do not deliver” out no matter how many vehicles are impacted. In this case, the problem came to Ford’s attention after “a small number of customers” had the issue arise and Ford investigated the problem and decided to do a recall.

Ford has struggled with quality issues in recent years, and it has led the industry in total recalls three of the past four years. According to Automotive News, Ford again leads the industry this year with 76 recalls so far.

More: 5 new Ford recalls announced: See impacted models

Levine said the Mach-E issue stems from the 12-volt battery. If that battery is discharged below 8.4-volts at the time the car is turned off and if the driver or front passenger exit the front doors using the mechanical inside release handles, the doors may remain locked when they are re-closed.

Levine said the result could be that a driver or passenger are unable to immediately unlock the vehicle’s doors.

While there have been no injuries to date due to this problem, Levine said, the concern is that a person who has gotten out of the car and shut the door, may not be able to quickly retrieve an occupant who remains inside the vehicle who is unable to use an inside handle to open the door, such as a small child, a handicapped person or even a pet. That could result in that occupant being seriously injured especially in hot weather.

“A software update is coming soon to address this recall,” Levine said.

In a different recall issued June 16, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Ford is recalling 276 Mach E vehicles due to a rollaway risk. NHTSA said the park rod in the model year 2025 Mach-Es may fail to engage when the vehicle is placed in park.

NHTSA said Ford dealers will replace the transmission park rod free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on Sept. 22 or owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 866-436-7332 for this recall, which is number 25C25.

More: Actor Bryan Cranston’s ties to Ford go way back. Plus what he really thinks of the Lions

Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.