Ford recalls Mustang Mach-E due to battery module error

The United States (ANTARA) - Ford is recalling 86 units of the 2023-2025 Mustang Mach-E equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries due to an error in the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). The faulty replacement module may cause the vehicle’s system to read the battery’s condition and capacity as higher than its actual state.

Carscoops reported on Saturday (19/9) local time that when the replacement BECM is installed, the module initialises the battery’s State of Health (SoH) at 100 per cent, as if the battery were brand new from the factory, rather than using the actual health condition of the battery already installed in the vehicle. This error is far more significant than a mere difference of one or two per cent.

This discrepancy can ultimately lead to unexpected power restrictions and subsequently cause the vehicle to lose all propulsion. Drivers may see a wrench or turtle-shaped warning light when the vehicle begins to limit power.

Severe lithium plating could increase the risk of heat release from the battery and potentially lead to vehicle fires. Fortunately, there have been no indications that the problem has reached that stage.

In its recall filing, Ford stated that it is not yet aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to this issue. Ford has also not found any field reports specifically related to the problem of overestimated SoH.

While this recall involves a very small number of vehicles, it serves as a notable reminder of how heavily modern electric vehicles rely on software to accurately monitor internal battery conditions.