DETROIT – A faulty battery that prompted a Ford F-150 Lightning within the firm’s possession to catch fireplace earlier this month is not the one downside the Detroit automaker has lately skilled with its new all-electric pickup truck.

On Jan. 27, per week earlier than the fireplace, the corporate issued a “customer support motion” for a small group of automobiles to have components changed to “stop efficiency degradation” of the high-voltage battery. Ford Motor stated the issue solely affected about 100 automobiles to this point and isn’t believed to be linked to the Feb. 4 fireplace. Ford stated it’s monitoring the automobiles remotely and proactively contacting prospects when the corporate spots the issue.

Regardless of the small variety of automobiles impacted, it provides to a sample of issues Ford and different automakers are having as they make investments billions in dashing electrical automobiles to market. Most of the trade’s points have been minor. However after they contain the expensive, and complicated, batteries of the automobiles, monetary issues and critical security considerations – particularly fires – can come up.

For Ford, the F-150 Lightning issues are a part of ongoing high quality and operational points, as outlined by CEO Jim Farley to buyers days earlier than the fireplace occurred in a Ford holding yard.

“We’ve deeply entrenched points in our industrial system which have confirmed powerful to root out,” he stated Feb. 2 throughout a fourth-quarter earnings name. “Candidly, the power of our merchandise and income has masked this dysfunctionality for a very long time. It isn’t an excuse, nevertheless it’s our actuality. And we’re coping with it urgently.”

Ford, which executives have stated was probably the most recalled automaker for the previous two years, shouldn’t be alone in having issues with its latest EV launches.

Toyota Motor final 12 months needed to recall its first mass-produced international EV due to a danger the wheels may come free. Normal Motors two years in the past recalled all of its Chevrolet Bolt EV fashions on account of fireplace points. Others reminiscent of Hyundai, BMW and Volvo even have recalled electrical automobiles, together with plug-in hybrids, on account of fireplace dangers lately.

To be clear, fireplace considerations should not unique to EVs, they’ve traditionally been issues for the auto trade and proceed to happen. Stellantis‘ Ram Vans this week introduced a recall of 340,000 giant diesel pickup vans to exchange {an electrical} connector after stories of six fires.

Ford’s Jan. 27 discover was issued for a battery module downside, which might first present a “wrench” warning on the sprint earlier than slowing down right into a restrained efficiency mode or, at worst, changing into motionless by not shifting into drive.

“This not a security recall. This can be a proactive investigation to assist stop prospects of the recognized automobiles from experiencing a degradation in battery efficiency and to acquire area components for analysis,” Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg stated in an emailed assertion.

The quantity of “customer support actions” Ford has issued for the F-150 Lightning since its launch in April 2022 was not instantly obtainable.

Ford, as communicated to prospects, is changing “sure high-voltage battery module(s)” from the automobiles with new components freed from cost to reconcile the difficulty. The time wanted for the repair is at some point, in keeping with data offered by a “CXS, Ford Concern Staff Battery Electrical Specialist” to at the least one buyer.

Concerning the difficulty that prompted the fireplace and prompted Ford to halt manufacturing and shipments of the car early final week, Ford stated it’s unaware of any incidents or points related to automobiles already delivered to sellers or prospects.

Ford stated Wednesday it believes engineers have discovered the basis reason behind the fireplace. The investigation into the issue is anticipated to be accomplished by the tip of subsequent week, adopted by changes to the truck’s battery manufacturing course of that “may take a couple of weeks.”

The F-150 Lightning is being intently watched by buyers, because it’s the primary mainstream electrical pickup truck available on the market and a serious launch for Ford. The corporate is within the means of almost doubling manufacturing capability of the car at a Michigan plant to 150,000 models by fall 2023.

Ford doesn’t launch manufacturing knowledge for the F-150 Lightning, nonetheless the corporate offered greater than 2,200 of the automobiles final month. In 2022, Ford reported gross sales of greater than 15,600 models of the car.