Ford is recalling approximately 2,500 2012-14 Focus Electric vehicles due to an issue with power loss. Ford was alerted by an investigation performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A software defect in the power train module could cause the front wheels to lose power, according to Ford. Engineers reported that the brakes and steering would still work unfettered and that there have been no accidents reported caused by the software flaw.
NHTSA was notified in August by Ford that sixteen reports had come in from owners of Focus Electric vehicles who had dealt with the software concern. Ford’s critical review group reviewed the Focus issues at that time and decided on September 5 that because of the “low occurrence rate,” it would submit the concern to its customer satisfaction forum.
On September 6, NHTSA stated that the twelve complaints would be investigated because they put drivers in potentially dangerous situations, such as one case in which a driver was been stranded on the highway in an unsavory neighborhood.
Kelly Felker, a spokeswoman for Ford, said in an email that Ford was following its process. “As we were conducting our evaluation, the NHTSA opened its investigation.” On September 10, the Ford customer satisfaction forum ruled that they had “reviewed the concern and recommended further analysis of the reports form the field.”
When a manufacturer has been made aware of an issue with safety it has five business days to inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it has a plan for recall. Civil fines can be incurred if the problem isn’t reported in the time allotted. Ford states that its decision to recall was voluntary.
