New Lawsuit Could Compel Ford to Alter Mustang Mach-E Door Handles | Carscoops

      A class action lawsuit in California contends that Ford should incorporate a physical keyhole and a manual door release.

      Mustang Mach-E owners are taking legal action against Ford, citing the lack of manual door handles as a significant inconvenience when the battery fails. A successful ruling could lead Ford to reconsider the Mach-E’s door design moving forward.

      When the Ford Mustang Mach-E was introduced, it added an innovative element to the Mustang legacy by featuring two doors but eliminated traditional door handles in the process. This design decision has now become central to a legal dispute between several owners and Ford. The Mach-E drivers assert that what Ford promotes as a beneficial feature is, in reality, a disadvantage.

      For those unfamiliar with the Mach-E (or those who haven't had the luck of getting locked out), here's the situation: The electric crossover lacks conventional door handles and a standard keyhole. It operates solely with electronic latches that unlock only when the key fob is nearby, and importantly, when the battery has sufficient charge to operate the doors.

      A Non-Functioning Mach-E Is More Than Just an Issue; It’s a Headache

      If the battery of your electric Ford dies, accessing the vehicle becomes problematic. The only way to enter a non-functioning Mustang Mach-E is to reach the battery and charge it enough for the doors to operate again.

      In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs argue that while the Mach-E is “designed to open electrically at the touch of a button,” unlike most vehicles with electronic handles, it “lacks a fail-safe physical key option for when the battery fails; there is no concealed physical slot for one.” Consequently, they allege that this so-called “feature” is indeed a defect that requires rectification.

      To give credit to the plaintiffs, the incidents surrounding this issue make the design appear more like an oversight than a thoughtfully designed feature. In just the past two months, we’ve reported on at least two instances where owners were unexpectedly locked out. In one case, a child was left trapped inside the vehicle without a quick solution to unlock it.

      “It’s Not as Simple as Just Charging the Car”

      The plaintiffs also note that in the event of a battery failure, accessing the front luggage compartment (where the battery is conveniently situated) requires more than just opening the hood and connecting a charger.

      “To get to the front luggage compartment (housing the battery) in the event of a battery failure, drivers must navigate a series of intricate and time-consuming steps that an average person, without specialized vehicle knowledge and the appropriate tools, may find challenging to accomplish,” the lawsuit states.

      Currently, the class action applies solely to owners in California and encompasses all model years of the Mustang Mach-E. Will this lawsuit prompt Ford (and possibly the entire industry) to reconsider its approach to electric door handle design? Time will tell.