We now know what prompted an F-150 Lightning to catch fireplace in February.
On Friday, Ford spokesperson Emma Berg informed Motor Authority the automaker will recall 18 2023 F-150 Lightning electrical vehicles as a result of a battery difficulty. The problem is what led to the fireplace in February and can immediate Ford to switch the affected vehicles’ high-voltage battery packs.
Bergg stated battery provider SK On and Ford decided the fireplace was attributable to a battery cell manufacturing defect. Battery packs with the defect have been constructed and shipped to the manufacturing line over a four-week interval on the finish of 2022.
Ford has established that solely 18 F-150 Lightnings with suspect packs from that four-week interval went to sellers and clients.
Ford sellers will change the packs of the affected F-150 Lightnings for his or her homeowners. Bergg stated the packs will likely be changed quickly as they’re in inventory. Clients will likely be notified as quickly as doable.
Ford is just not asking clients to park their electrical vehicles outdoors, cease driving them, or cease charging them as a result of they handed a pre-delivery high quality verify and related automobile knowledge exhibits no anomalies. No accidents or accidents have been reported as a result of this recall, and the one fireplace occurred within the Ford pre-delivery lot.
Loaner automobiles will likely be supplied to clients whereas their vehicles’ batteries are changed.
Manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning was halted in February after a truck’s battery pack caught on fireplace outdoors Ford’s Dearborn plant whereas awaiting pre-delivery high quality inspections. A stop-build order and in-transit stop-ship order have been issued instantly.
As soon as SK On and Ford decided the issue was a battery cell manufacturing defect, elements modifications have been carried out in new packs. Ford would not elaborate on precisely what the defect was.
Bergg reiterated that manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning with a clear inventory of battery packs remains to be set to restart on Monday.