Ford Withdraws Mustang Mach-E From Sale Due to Hazardous Door Lock Issue | Carscoops

      Owners may find themselves locked out, and young children could be trapped inside the electric crossover if the 12-volt battery fails.

      19 hours ago

      By Chris Chilton

      Ford has temporarily halted the sale of its Mach-E crossover due to an issue with its door locks.

      Older models are also being recalled to prevent the doors from getting stuck if the 12-volt battery fails.

      Ford is currently facing a class-action lawsuit where the plaintiffs are demanding the inclusion of a physical keyhole in the Mach-E vehicles.

      Customers ready to pick up their new Mustang Mach-Es have been turned away by dealers following Ford's stop-sale notice regarding the crossover’s faulty door lock software, which could result in entrapment. Existing vehicles will soon undergo a recall to address the same issue.

      It’s the Software, Not the Lock Mechanism

      The issue lies not with the locks themselves, but with the software controlling their operation. Some Mach-E owners have found that if the 12-volt battery dies, the door locks will stay in their last position—locked or unlocked—thus possibly preventing a driver from entering the vehicle.

      Additionally, while most people inside the car when the power goes out can use the mechanical door release handle, not everyone can do so. Babies and young children secured in child seats would be unable to escape, which is particularly concerning with summer approaching, making the situation not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous. Reports indicate this has already occurred to at least one family.

      Fix Coming Soon, But Not Over-the-Air

      Ford is developing a software fix to be implemented in Q3, just a few weeks away. However, until that fix is available, dealers are prohibited from selling or even demonstrating new units of the EV to potential buyers, as numerous postings on the Mach-E forum have revealed this week.

      When the update is ready, current owners will be notified to receive the same fix. Unfortunately for busy drivers, this will not be a remote update; it will necessitate a visit to the dealership where technicians will update both the powertrain control module and the secondary onboard diagnostic control module.

      However, a software update is unlikely to satisfy the plaintiffs in a California class-action lawsuit who contend that the automaker should have included a traditional keyhole for easy access during power-off emergencies.

      Currently, anyone needing to retrieve something from inside their electric Mustang must access the battery through a specific service hatch for a charge. Alternatively, in desperate situations, they might resort to breaking a window.

      According to an email Ford sent to dealers this week, 196,911 Mustang Mach-Es in the United States are affected, representing a significant number of vehicles. We reached out to Ford for a statement, and the company confirmed all the details, stating that it is “not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition.”

      Is It Time for a Keyhole in All Cars?

      Ford claims it is working on a solution, but for the moment, the absence of a keyhole is prompting many to question: Should all modern cars include one? While this may seem outdated, in an era where digital systems manage nearly every aspect of our vehicles, having a manual backup could prove highly practical. What are your thoughts? Should a keyhole be a requirement in all automobiles? Share your opinions in the comments.