Just received Recall notice 24S79-Kuga- Battery Energy Control Module software update-safety recall.

The whole of this recall notice has a red border (never seen this before).

Car is described as dangerous. Do not plug car into charger (in block capitals), use only in Auto EV mode.

Describes that it could vehicle vehicle fire and increasing risk of injury.

If you get stop safely now message on instrument cluster you are advised to exit the vehicle as soon as it can be brought to a safe stop.

Ford state they have not not issuing instructions to stop driving your car (that would be commercial suicide)

Potential internal short in a battery cell is the cause of the issue.

They hope to have a remedy in Q2 2025 (potentially end of June). Then it will need to be rolled out.

I have contacted Ford Customer relations (not interested), Citizens Advice Bureau (who have provided advice a letter templates and are interested in assisting me further) and also other interested parties.

How many others have received this recall? Is it only a subset of cars?

Watch this space.

Sorry didnt see previous post when I searched before posting

 

Yes I have it too. So I now have a car no longer fit for purpose!! Really angry! Ford customer service was rubbish! So now I have 3 - 4 months running a 2.5 litre petrol on short journeys - no longer cost effective!!

 

Even with a 0% battery I tend to drive about 30% of my mileage electrically, with about 5l/100km. I call that VERY cost effective...

 

We also received this notice yesterday. Ours is a 71 reg.

Honestly haven’t had such a fussy car before. We bought it in August, in that time it’s had the engine software recall, a faulty electric water pump, failed ABS sensor and 2 tyre punctures (not Ford’s fault, but still 😅)

I’d hope there’s compensation offered as with the previous recall in ‘22, as SjMc stated, it’s gonna cost us an extra £6 a day in fuel compared to 80p in EV.

Don’t think we’ll be keeping the car past 2-3 years of the 4 year lease we have on it. Luckily we took out the extended warranty for 3 years. It’s a shame as we have enjoyed the car and the PHEV works for us. Might get a full EV next, sell the MGF that sits in the garage and does 100 miles a year and replace it with a 2005 polo tdi or something that’s £30 a year to tax 😭

edit: also the keyless entry is stupid, I was washing the car last week and the battery went flat from the locks and mirrors folding in and out every 10 seconds. Then threw up an ABS module low voltage fault. Bring back 60mpg diesels without EGR/DPF/Ad blue rubbish. And wet belts while we’re at it.

 

We also received this notice yesterday. Ours is a 71 reg.

edit: also the keyless entry is stupid, I was washing the car last week and the battery went flat from the locks and mirrors folding in and out every 10 seconds. Then threw up an ABS module low voltage fault. Bring back 60mpg diesels without EGR/DPF/Ad blue rubbish. And wet belts while we’re at it.

All the cars I've had with keyless entry have done that. Simple fix: leave it unlocked while you're washing it.


No sign of any recalls on mine either btw.

Edit: see 2 posts down

 

@KenDan

Could you please put your vehicle details in your signature so we can see what year and model you have when asking questions on the forum thanks.

 

@KenDan

Could you please put your vehicle details in your signature so we can see what year and model you have when asking questions on the forum thanks.

As per my profile

Nov 21 Vignale PHEV with all the goodies apart from panoramic roof.

 

New info from US NHTSA site. Seems like the have known about this since the end of 24. Negligent in not informing the rest of the of this significant Issue.

High Voltage Battery May Short Circuit Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V954000 Manufacturer Ford Motor Company Components
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected 20,484 Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles.
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Remedy Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford's number for this recall is 24S79. Vehicles MAKE FORD MODEL ESCAPE YEAR 2020-2024 LINCOLN CORSAIR 2021-2024

 

Is there anyway to find out which vehicles are affected?

 

Nowt for mine by letter or on Ford's website support pages.
Mind you that doesn't surprise me.

https://www.ford.co.uk/support

[Edit: received letter 8th March]

 

Nowt for mine by letter or on Ford's website support pages.
Mind you that doesn't surprise me.

https://www.ford.co.uk/support

We got our recall notice in the post today, but it's not showing on the Ford website when I put in the VIN.

 

I've just become aware of this from a Ford dealer who contacted me yesterday to tell me I had a personalised renewal bonus available from Ford Credit if I part exchange my current vehicle before the end of the month. After replying last night, they've told me they cannot take my current vehicle as part exchange due to Ford UK putting a stop sale notice on all affected PHEV and FHEV Kuga, S-Max and Galaxy so they cannot take it into stock, no fix date for the recall yet confirmed.

Haven't heard anything directly but apparently should expect a letter from Ford UK in due course.

 

So if Ford have put a stop sale notice on all affected PHEV and FHEV Kugas where does that legally put owners who sell their cars privately ? If you sell the car to a private buyer and fail to inform them of a known fault that could result in an accident ? Equally if you do inform them they either say goodbye or offer you a silly amount for the car, must have had at least 20 cars in my lifetime of different makes and not a single recall.

 

@Naz5

Which Kuga have you got? In your vehicle details you have MK3 PHEV 2.5 ST LINE X.
but you signature says Ford Kuga 2018 1.5 diesel MK2.5 auto.

If you have both can you pop them both in your signature..Thank You.

 

I have a PHEV on order, so wonder it seems to only affect 2020 to 2024, so maybe battery pack issue now fixed for 2025 cars as issue found in 2024 ?

Actually reading the US sites it only seems to be some PHEV's that are affected so suspect it is a certain battery supplier which has the issue. Have seen Samsung quoted as the problem manufacturer.

select 2020-2024 Ford Escape PHEV models produced between July 10th, 2019, and April 17th, 2024, as well as select 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring models built between October 24th, 2019, and April 16th, 2024.

A bit more information

The high voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit.

And it is Samsung battery packs and Ford know exactly which vehicles have affected battery packs, so some will get the recall and some won't.

To be honest, if it is a manufacturing defect they will basically have no choice but to replace the HV pack.

 

No letter and no recall on website for my 2020 PHEV, at the moment!

 

My letter was dated 28th February and arrived 8th March.

 

Watching with interest as this gathers pace. It was originally tipped as being US only, now it’s clearly over here too, so I guess as they’re investigating they’re realising more and more are impacted.

The real question is, as alluded to above, if they’re advising we no longer plug in… then there’s surely some legal ramifications over that, due to the nature of the product not being fit for purpose/folks being out of pocket…

I suspect like most big companies there’ll be many get out of jail loopholes in their agreements etc…

Of course, I appreciate the actual number of incidents is and will undoubtedly remain low… but still, you’ve got to wonder.

 

I've not had anything about my 72 plate (classed as 2023 model) yet either and Ford's website says no recalls for my VIN.

I wonder how accurate their website is, or is this just affecting particular batteries which is odd as its spread across a few years?

 

My letter came through the post this morning for my 23 plate (see my earlier post). Here's what the website says just a moment ago:

 

I received a letter yesterday regarding product safety recall and can't believe that Ford have known for months about this problem and in bold red says why is this product dangerous? This product is my car that I have been charging over night in my garage and in the day when my wife sits in an office above the garage!! Frightening.

 

As I read the letter: if its ok to drive on petrol in Auto EV (which will charge the battery) and its a software update for plug-in charging, then there is a software module in the Auto EV software that must detect battery faults and turn it off, which is NOT in the plug-in charging software, so if there's a battery fault it would continue to charge regardless and could cause a fire. This would mean that if your battery is OK there is no problem plug-in charging, but if a fault were to occur, there's no protection at all. The fact that its a dealer software update suggests its deep in the basic system software, not just customer uploadable. The cars are no more dangerous after you get the recall letter than they were before, you just didn't know before! I'm just getting a bit concerned with the rumours of potentially faulty battery packs.

 

Just received Recall notice 24S79-Kuga- Battery Energy Control Module software update-safety recall.

The whole of this recall notice has a red border (never seen this before).

Car is described as dangerous. Do not plug car into charger (in block capitals), use only in Auto EV mode.

Describes that it could vehicle vehicle fire and increasing risk of injury.

If you get stop safely now message on instrument cluster you are advised to exit the vehicle as soon as it can be brought to a safe stop.

Ford state they have not not issuing instructions to stop driving your car (that would be commercial suicide)

Potential internal short in a battery cell is the cause of the issue.

They hope to have a remedy in Q2 2025 (potentially end of June). Then it will need to be rolled out.

I have contacted Ford Customer relations (not interested), Citizens Advice Bureau (who have provided advice a letter templates and are interested in assisting me further) and also other interested parties.

How many others have received this recall? Is it only a subset of cars?

Watch this space.

Same here, Ford just said call the motoring ombudsman......whos phones are down awaiting an update!
Their website suggests calling DVSA but there are no numbers that seem to get you through to the right department.
Particularly galling as I'd just picked my car up from the dealer after having it in for a few niggles and when I got home, the letter was waiting for me.
When I asked Ford if it was safe to drive in auto EV mode they said that catching fire was a worst case scenario, not a definite yes it's safe to drive
KUGA VIGNALE PHEV 2022

 

Letter arrived today. 😞

anyone planning on not following the advice and carrying on charging regardless?

 

I thought about tbh. My car was on charge when the letter arrived. I'll stick to what the letter says but will record all my miles since receiving the letter and I've reset Trip Comp 2 which will record EV miles and petrol miles. I'll then be asking for Ford to reimburse the extra fuel costs (whether I or anyone will get anywhere with it is another matter).

I do wonder how the car insurance companies will react if you ignore the letter and your car bursts into flames!

 

22 kuga Vignale 2.5 PHEV

 

My wife has received the same recall letter today. This is the second recall of which this one is somewhat more serious.
They state to Not charge the vehicle. Are Ford going to compensate for the extra fuel cost incurred I wonder ( that will be a No ) considering it may take three months to roll out.
In my opinion Ford dealers should offer a replacement vehicle until this matter is resolved.
The red markers on the letter has got my wife extremely concerned about driving her car.
Time to get rid and move to a different manufacturer.

 

I have the letter as of today.
So this will be HV battery number 2 then, the first was replaced in 2021. I'll bet Ford are stinging Samsung for plenty on this with them having made a mess of it twice and to be fair to Ford, they were moderately decent once the UK MD resigned and was replaced in terms of compensation. Reading other posts, it doesn't sound like they're going to be in such a generous mood this time.

What does concern me is the "dont have a fix yet but hopefully..." Hope is not a manufacturing strategy meaning it's probably ages away.

 

I also received the notice today for my '22 Kuga. As others have stated this is appalling not only for the safety concerns but also the cost and environmental impact. I personally rarely roll over to the petrol engine and have only recently transferred to an EV energy tariff.

Surely legally this isn't acceptable as a cheaper product would just be refunded given the safety concerns and the car now doesn't meet one of the fundamental factors for which most of us would have purchased. I've messaged Watchdog with the story but surely there's an option around group litigation / class action lawsuit?

 

I like the idea of a class action.

 

Even when a fix comes out it could take months for all these cars to get sorted, consider yourself fortunate if you have a good local ford dealer, unfortunately in my case I do not.

 

@garydavies1147 @petelock @mhosgood

can you please enter your kuga details into your signatures..there is a step by step guide how to add to your signature with your welcome email along with site rules…Thank you.

 

Contacted Ford yesterday, they were nice but not very helpful. I said what is the point of having a plug in hybrid if you can't plug it in. I mainly do short journeys and use solar panels to charge the batteries. I will now need to buy petrol. I said that the car at the moment is not fit for purpose. I should have bought a petrol model and saved myself thousands on the purchase price. I asked for my call to be recorded as an official complaint.
If it takes until June to remedy the fault then action needs to be taken to recompense Kuga phev owners. I find it strange that if we were in America we could set up a class action but it seems we are the poor relations.

 

I find it strange that if we were in America we could set up a class action but it seems we are the poor relations.

I have mailed a law firm who handle group litigation which isn't exactly the same but thought it's better to check.

Gemini AI was appalled when I asked it what our legal position was so at least the cold AI's with us

 

@Duncan22 I have what i consider to be a good dealer but you make a good point. Surely Ford should be telling their dealers to offer a like for like or something along the same lines replacement until the issue is resolved. I'm the same as @SjMc - mostly short journeys on a 2.5 petrol engine is costly, completely opposite to what i bought it for

Kuga Vignale Phev 2022

 

@MalcolmC

can you enter your kuga details into your signature,,Thank you .