Ford Recalls Broncos and Mavericks Over Battery Defects Impacting Power Reliability

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 272,827 Broncos and Mavericks due to a power issue that can cause vehicles to stop unexpectedly or fail to start. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration has identified the problem as being related to a 12-volt battery made by Camel Battery of China, which has internal manufacturing defects, including weld failures that can lead to open circuits. Fortunately, there have been no reports of accidents, fires, or injuries resulting from this issue. The affected vehicles were manufactured between February 2021 and October 2023, when Ford ceased using these specific batteries. It is estimated that only 1% of the vehicles equipped with these batteries are impacted by the defects. In November, Ford committed to reviewing and improving its recall decision-making process, agreeing to be monitored by an independent third party for three years following a U.S. government fine for slow action on a previous recall. The NHTSA noted that after a prior recall of 2021-23 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022-2023 Ford Maverick pickups, some vehicles experienced power loss, including the inability to activate hazard lights, without warning. The solution involves software updates to enhance the detection of battery issues and provide warnings to drivers.