Ford (NYSE: F) is recalling 197,432 Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs in the United States—2021-2025 models sold—after discovering that a sudden loss of 12-volt battery power can leave electronic door latches locked and rear seat passengers effectively trapped.
The NHTSA warned that the defect “may remain locked after a driver or front-seat passenger exits,” a scenario especially dangerous for children or anyone unable to reach the mechanical interior release.
Ford’s Automotive Safety Office traced the problem to battery failures that occur “with minimal or no notification,” noting in its report that panicked owners “broke the vehicle’s window first” when jumpstarting proved confusing or impossible.
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Although Ford says no injuries have been reported, it has logged four warranty claims, three customer service reports, and three separate allegations of children trapped in the back seat as of May 15, 2025. Letters alerting owners began going out Monday; a second notice will follow once a remedy is ready.
Dealers will install over-the-air software that keeps the 12-volt system alive for an extra 12 minutes after shutdown and automatically unlocks front doors when their interior handles are pulled. The update is expected by late September.
The episode highlights an underappreciated vulnerability of battery electric vehicles: critical safety functions still depend on a conventional low-voltage circuit that can fail silently.
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