Ford discovered the problem that led to the battery pack catching hearth on a 2023 F-150 Lightning electrical pickup truck.
On Friday, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg informed Inexperienced Automobile Stories the automaker will recall 18 2023 Ford F-150 Lightnings and change their high-voltage battery pack.
Bergg confirmed Lightning electrical vehicles themselves won’t get replaced, even at buyer requests. Solely the high-voltage battery pack will probably be changed. Sellers will set up the brand new packs when they’re in inventory.
Clients will probably be notified as quickly as doable. In contrast to the Chevy Bolt EV recall, Ford won’t advise homeowners to cease driving their F-150 Lightnings, park outdoors, or restrict charging.
“The autos handed a pre-delivery high quality test and related car knowledge exhibits no anomalies,” Bergg defined through electronic mail.
A free loaner car will probably be supplied to clients nevertheless it in all probability won’t be a F-150 Lightning. Bergg could not touch upon whether or not the loaners could be F-150s as sellers function independently.
F-150 Lightning manufacturing was halted in February because of a truck catching on hearth outdoors whereas present process its pre-delivery high quality test. A stop-build and stop-ship order was issued. The foundation reason for the fireplace was decided to be a battery cell manufacturing defect. Packs which may embody suspect cells have been constructed throughout a four-week window on the finish of 2022, in keeping with Bergg.
Ford will not touch upon what number of vehicles have been constructed with packs with suspect cells throughout the finish of 2022, solely noting that 18 vehicles constructed throughout that interval made it to sellers and clients.
Ford shouldn’t be conscious of any stories of crashes, fires, or accidents associated to this recall.
After Ford and battery provider SK On confirmed the basis causes of the problem, engineering and elements prices have been applied as new packs have been made, however Ford will not elaborate on what these modifications are or element why there was a fireplace.
Manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning will restart on March 13, which has allowed SK On time to construct up to date battery cells into arrays and packs earlier than delivering them to the manufacturing line.