Some Ford Mustang Mach-E Owners Encountering Battery Bug

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

All-new vehicles are bound to have bugs and issues, as automakers work out problems and get up to speed with manufacturing the new vehicle. Unfortunately for new owners, this means that they have to deal with teething issues that others haven't encountered. Ford has had numerous issues with the Mustang Mach-E, including multiple delays and recalls over loose bolts. Now, a few early consumers are facing a unique issue where an electric bug won't let owners start the electric vehicle, even if the car has a full battery.


Mach-E Facing Battery Issues


As The Verge reports, this an issue that only affects a few early Mustang Mach-E SUVs and it centers around the way the SUV's 12-volt battery gets charged. Just like other electric vehicles, the Mustang Mach-E's 12-volt battery gets its charge by slightly draining power from the larger lithium-ion battery pack. According to owners that have taken to forums and one that has spoken to the outlet, the issue with the Mustang Mach-E is that the 12-volt battery doesn't sip power from the lithium-ion battery pack when the EV is plugged in to charge.


Without any juice from the larger lithium-ion battery pack, the 12-volt battery runs out of electricity. Since it powers a lot of the EV's systems, the Mustang Mach-E can't be started when the 12-volt battery runs out of power. This has become a large issue for Ford owners that live in cold climates, as the automaker encourages them to leave their SUVs plugged in when not in use so the EV can use power from the grid to warm up before being driven. When the 12-volt battery runs out of juice, owners report that the FordPass app says the vehicle is in "deep sleep" mode, turning the vehicle into an "electric brick."


A Fix Is Available


In a response to owners, Ford has filed a technical service bulletin with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that confirms the problem has to do with the Mustang Mach-E's software. More specifically, the issue is with the electric SUV's powertrain control module. The automaker stated that EVs built before February 3 are included with the bulletin. Since Ford delivered 7,000 Mustang Mach-Es in the first three months of 2021, we're sure there are quite a few SUVs that have the problem.


Despite offering over-the-air updates with the Mustang Mach-E, Ford claims a fix will require owners to bring their EVs to a dealership. In a statement, Ford told The Verge that it was coming out with a wireless update to fix the issue later this year. Mustang Mach-Es that the automaker is currently building will not be affected by the issue.


"We are aware that a small number of Mustang Mach-E owners have had their 12V battery reach a low voltage condition," a Ford representative said in a statement to The Verge. "We proactively worked with early owners experiencing this issue to identify the root cause and a fix. In the rare instances where this still occurs, customers can now contact their local EV-certified Ford dealer to have the matter resolved."

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods