American manufacturers like Ford are finally jumping on the electric vehicle (EV) trend. Ford stands out from other American manufacturers with the Mustang Mach-E, first released in 2020 as a 2021 year model.
First, it’s given this flagship EV the Mustang nameplate, showing that Ford wants the vehicle to be seen as a luxury item. Second, the Mach-E is an SUV, one of the only all-electric SUVs in the US.
These two factors have made the Mach-E incredibly popular. The car was named the 2021 North American SUV of the Year by a panel of 50 neutral automotive journalists. The Mach-E was chosen out of a field of more than 43 models for the prestigious award. However, the committee may have spoken too soon.
Why? Because the Mach-E has been subject to various recalls in just the past two years. With all of these recalls, many drivers may find themselves with cars that are so defective they are unfixable. That means that some Mach-Es may qualify as lemons.
When it comes to lemons, Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys are available to help. Our South California law firm is focused on helping car owners like you file lemon claims and get the compensation you deserve for your defective Ford Mustang Mach-E. Call us at 866-761-2317 to speak with a lawyer in our Ventura office today.
History of Mustang Mach-E Recalls
How many recalls can a vehicle receive in just two years? Well, the Mach-E has seen six individual recalls since March 2021 alone. Some of the critical flaws that have led Ford to issue recalls for the EV line include:
March 2021: Loose Subframe Bolts
The 2021 Mach-E year model was first recalled in the spring of 2021 for issues with loose subframe bolts. These bolts are responsible for holding the frame of the vehicle together. When the bolts are loose, the car’s structure is not as stable as intended. According to Ford, this means that the cars would likely perform poorly in a crash, putting drivers and passengers at risk of severe injuries.
September 2021: Unsecured Roof Panels and Windshields
In September of last year, Ford issued not one, but two recalls on the same day. The first was for loose roof panels and skylight assemblies. According to the recall, the glass roof panel may not be adequately bonded to the vehicle, causing it to potentially fly off of the car when driving. The loose panel can cause accidents for other people on the road as well as reduce the utility of the vehicle for the driver.
The other recall was for a much more critical window: the windshield. As with the roof panel, this recall stated that the windshields on certain 2021 Mach-E vehicles are not securely connected to the car. These windshields are at risk of detaching from the car and falling off while in operation. Obviously, this makes the vehicles significantly more dangerous to drive by obscuring the road or exposing drivers to the wind.
December 2021: Detached Seatbelts
Another critical safety risk led to a recall in December of 2021. Ford recalled 2021 and 2022 Mach-E models after determining that rear seatbelt buckles may not be adequately attached to the floor. These faulty seatbelt buckles might not hold properly in a crash, making the seatbelts ineffective at protecting back seat passengers. If the buckles detach, the seatbelts may release entirely and lead to passengers being thrown forward.
May 2022: Faulty Speed Control
More recently, Ford recalled 2021 year model Mach-E SUVs for problems with the powertrain control module (PCM) software. The software error could lead to multiple issues, including the car speeding up or slowing down unintentionally or losing power entirely. This error can put drivers at risk of crashes when the vehicle behaves unexpectedly.
June 2022: Loss of Power and Unexpected Stops
The most recent recall happened in June 2022. Ford recalled nearly 49,000 2021 and 2022 Mustang Mach-E year models after determining that the batteries are at risk of overheating. These batteries are at risk of overheating at the contacts, leading to electrical arcing, deformed contacts, and contacts that either remain permanently open or closed.
If battery contacts open while the car is in operation, the SUV will completely lose power without warning. This can cause the Mach-E to stop for no perceived reason at highway speeds, putting drivers at risk of crashes.
Signs that Your Ford EV Is a Lemon
Even if your Mach-E has been “repaired” by the dealership after a recall, it could still have problems. Under California lemon laws, factory defects that aren’t repaired by the manufacturer in a reasonable number of attempts qualify vehicles as lemons. Signs that your Mach-E’s manufacturer flaws weren’t fixed and your car may be a lemon include:
- The car refuses to start or stop
- The car speeds up or slows down for no reason
- The car rattles or feels “loose”
- The windshield or panoramic window rattle or seem loose
- The rear seatbelts come loose
- The engine temperature rises for no apparent reason
Any of these problems could indicate that your Mach-E was not correctly repaired by the manufacturer. If you notice these signs, it’s a good idea to take your vehicle back to the dealership and have them attempt another repair. However, if you’ve already tried multiple repairs, your vehicle is likely a lemon, and it’s time to file a warranty lemon law claim.
Think Your Ford Mach-E Is Defective? Talk to Us
If your Ford EV has spent ages in the shop and still seems defective, it might be a lemon. If so, it’s time to call Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys or message us online about your situation. Our experienced attorneys will help you determine if your SUV is a lemon and what to do next.
You can call us at our Ventura, California office at 866-761-2317, or you can send us an email. We are proud to help clients across California get the compensation they need for their defective vehicles.
