Ford’s quality issues continue to be problematic as the automaker recalled 456,565 compact SUVs and pickups due to a battery issue that could cause the vehicles to lose power.
The recall covers 2022-2024 Bronco Sport SUVs and can result in a loss in motive power.
The recall covers 2022-2024 Bronco Sport SUVs, and 2022-2023 Maverick compact pickup trucks, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
According to NHTSA documents, an undetected low battery charge can lead to electrical accessories, such as hazard lights, to function improperly. The issue could also lead to a loss of “drive power” in the affected vehicles.
“An insufficient calibration strategy for detecting sudden battery degradations during a drive cycle can lead to (a) a vehicle that is unable to restart after and auto start/stop event or (b) experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights,” the agency noted in a report.
Next steps
Complaints about the issue on 2021 Bronco Sport models resulted in 29 instances of the vehicle’s issues being resolved by replacing the vehicle’s 12-volt battery. Ford continued to investigate the issue.
Ford has issued 21 recalls in 2024, affecting 2.7 million vehicles.
Ultimately there are 917 warranty reports, 11 field reports and 54 customer complaints regarding the issue. There are also three unverified reports of fire and two property damage claim as of Feb. 8. As of the same date, Ford said it is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.
Dealers will recalibrate the body control and powertrain control modules to resolve the problem, according to the NHTSA. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the work done at no cost.
More Ford News
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- Ford Delays Production of Electric SUV, Readies More Hybrids
- Ford Celebrates Simultaneous Launch of 2024 F-150 and Ranger Pickups
Ford problems
This action comes on the heels of a smaller recall March 8 involving more than 42,000 vehicles. Those vehicles suffered problems with cracked fuel injectors. According to NHTSA records, Ford has issued 21 recalls in 2024 covering 2.7 million vehicles.
The recall covered more than 456,000 vehicles, including 2022 and 2023 Ford Maverick compact pickups.
The company’s actions account for 17% of all recalls, which is the highest total. Chrysler, or FCA U.S. LLC, has the next highest total at 17 recalls, or 14%. Those recalls have affected just over 1 million vehicles. BMW, Kia, Hyundai and Mercedes are next at eight recalls, or 7%.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has been working to improve the company’s quality issues, admitting it takes a big chunk out company’s bottom line to have to conduct these repairs. The company halted deliveries of the F-150 Lightning EV in February to deal with a quality issue.
It also held up the delivery of more than 144,000 new F-150s and Rangers produced in the first quarter to check and improve the quality of those vehicles. They were released to dealers just last week.
The company also says that it has done a better job of listening to feedback and suggestions from line workers and that some of the improvements that they highlighted at the automaker’s recent Truck Takeover celebration originated from feedback that company reps and managers received from employees on the assembly line.
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