Ford EV Recalled Thanks To Battery Problems

Ford is recalling almost 200,000 Mach-E EVs thanks to a battery problem which could leave people trapped inside. Well, the battery is part of the problem, with the other part being just a plan bad design.

Ferrari is delaying the launch of its second EV model.

The recall, which has been issued through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is for 2021 to 2025 Ford Mach-E crossovers. Like what’s been going on with other EVs, the 12-volt auxiliary battery will apparently suddenly die and with almost nothing analog in the bloated pony, that’s a problem.

Instead of having a keyhole on the exterior for emergency use, Ford decided to go all futuristic without realizing old designs have their advantages. When the battery dies, the fancy electronic controls to open the doors don’t work.

The front doors have mechanical release handles, at least, but the rear don’t for some odd reason. What can happen is the driver and/or front passenger get out after the auxiliary battery dies, they absentmindedly close the door behind them, then their kid is trapped in the backseat.

As we’ve covered before, Ford is already dealing with a class action lawsuit over this dumb design. Even first responders can’t get the doors open, so they have to break the glass to get the trapped child out.

It’s a harrowing experience we wouldn’t wish on any parent.

What Ford says it’s doing is developing a software update which will fix this issue. We don’t see how software will allow parents to get a child out of a locked vehicle they can’t unlock, but maybe the Blue Oval has found a way.

In the meantime, can we just say again how tired we are of automakers trying to figuratively reinvent the wheel? It’s like they don’t appreciate over a century of design evolutions, thinking they can do better with one try because of pure hubris. We think a lot of consumers are tired of being guinea pigs in the experiments of automotive designers and engineers.

Image via Ford