Ford staff produce the electrical F-150 Lightning pickup on Dec. 13, 2022 on the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electrical Automobile Middle (REVC).
Michael Wayland | CNBC
DETROIT – A faulty battery that led to a Ford F-150 Lightning within the corporate’s ownership to catch hearth previous this month is not the one drawback the Detroit automaker has just lately skilled with its new all-electric pickup truck.
On Jan. 27, per week earlier than the hearth, the corporate issued a “customer support motion” for a small team of automobiles to have portions changed to “save you efficiency degradation” of the high-voltage battery. Ford Motor mentioned the issue most effective affected about 100 automobiles thus far and isn’t believed to be attached to the Feb. 4 hearth. Ford mentioned it’s tracking the automobiles remotely and proactively contacting shoppers when the corporate spots the issue.
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Regardless of the small choice of automobiles impacted, it provides to a trend of issues Ford and different automakers are having as they make investments billions in dashing electrical automobiles to marketplace. Lots of the trade’s problems were minor. But if they contain the pricey, and complicated, batteries of the automobiles, monetary issues and critical protection considerations – in particular fires – can get up.
For Ford, the F-150 Lightning issues are a part of ongoing high quality and operational problems, as defined through CEO Jim Farley to traders days earlier than the hearth took place in a Ford maintaining backyard.
“We’ve deeply entrenched problems in our business device that experience confirmed tricky to root out,” he mentioned Feb. 2 right through a fourth-quarter profits name. “Candidly, the power of our merchandise and income has masked this dysfunctionality for a very long time. It isn’t an excuse, however it is our truth. And we are coping with it urgently.”
Ford, which executives have mentioned used to be probably the most recalled automaker for the previous two years, isn’t on my own in having issues of its latest EV launches.
Toyota Motor final 12 months needed to recall its first heavily produced world EV on account of a possibility the wheels may come free. Basic Motors two years in the past recalled all of its Chevrolet Bolt EV fashions because of hearth problems. Others reminiscent of Hyundai, BMW and Volvo even have recalled electrical automobiles, together with plug-in hybrids, because of hearth dangers in recent times.
To be transparent, hearth considerations don’t seem to be unique to EVs, they have traditionally been issues for the car trade and proceed to happen. Stellantis’ Ram Vans this week introduced a recall of 340,000 massive diesel pickup vans to interchange {an electrical} connector after reviews of six fires.
Ford’s Jan. 27 realize used to be issued for a battery module drawback, which is able to first display a “wrench” caution at the sprint earlier than slowing down right into a restrained efficiency mode or, at worst, turning into motionless through now not moving into pressure.
“This now not a security recall. This can be a proactive investigation to lend a hand save you shoppers of the known automobiles from experiencing a degradation in battery efficiency and to procure box portions for analysis,” Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg mentioned in an emailed commentary.
The volume of “customer support movements” Ford has issued for the F-150 Lightning since its release in April 2022 used to be now not straight away to be had.
Ford, as communicated to shoppers, is changing “sure high-voltage battery module(s)” from the automobiles with new portions without cost to reconcile the problem. The time wanted for the repair is at some point, in line with data supplied through a “CXS, Ford Worry Crew Battery Electrical Specialist” to no less than one buyer.
In regards to the factor that led to the hearth and precipitated Ford to halt manufacturing and shipments of the car early final week, Ford mentioned it’s ignorant of any incidents or problems related to automobiles already brought to sellers or shoppers.
Ford mentioned Wednesday it believes engineers have discovered the foundation reason behind the hearth. The investigation into the issue is anticipated to be finished through the tip of subsequent week, adopted through changes to the truck’s battery manufacturing procedure that “may take a couple of weeks.”
The F-150 Lightning is being intently watched through traders, as it is the first mainstream electrical pickup truck in the marketplace and a significant release for Ford. The corporate is within the technique of just about doubling manufacturing capability of the car at a Michigan plant to 150,000 gadgets through fall 2023.
Ford does now not unlock manufacturing knowledge for the F-150 Lightning, alternatively the corporate bought greater than 2,200 of the automobiles final month. In 2022, Ford reported gross sales of greater than 15,600 gadgets of the car.