Mustang Mach-E 12V Software Recall FAQ

[Teslawho]

So I have a 23 GTPE and just had it checked at Ford dealership. They confirmed that the update is only available for '25 models. They said I have to wait for the update. They said sometime this year haha

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[McQueen]

Hi Mustang Mach-E owners. By now many of you have received a notification regarding a recall on your vehicle involving the 12V battery. As there has been several mentions of the 12V battery in recent updates, the team at Ford want to ensure you have the information you need.

Why is there a recall on Mustang Mach-E?

In the event of an unexpected 12V battery failure when the vehicle is turned off, the electronic door latches remain in their last lock/unlock status. If the electronic door latches were locked at the time of 12V battery failure and a driver or front seat passenger exit using the door release handles, the doors will remain locked when they are re-closed. This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle.

What is the safety risk?
This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle. An occupant who remains inside a locked vehicle and unable to use an inside door release handle may be unable to be rapidly retrieved by a passenger who has exited the vehicle. This could result in a serious injury, especially in hot weather.

Which vehicles are impacted?
All Mustang Mach-E model year vehicles built prior to June 3, 2025.

How will my vehicle be fixed?
This issue must be fixed at your local Ford Dealer via a software update.

When will my vehicle be fixed?
2025 Model Year Vehicles – The software update is available now. You can take your vehicle to your local Ford Dealer to receive the update.
2021 - 2024 Model Year Vehicles – When the update is available, you will receive a letter in the mail with instructions to have it installed at your local Ford Dealer.

Do I have to go to the dealership for the software update?
Yes, currently this software update must be completed by a Ford Dealer. Ford is developing an over-the-air update will be available at a later date.

How long will it take to fix my vehicle?
The update is expected to take less than a day. You can contact your local Ford Dealer to understand their service wait times when the software is available.

Who is paying for this update?
This service is being performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.


Can I get stuck in my vehicle? If the doors are locked and the 12V battery fails, how do I exit the vehicle?

If you are able to operate the interior door handle, you can exit the vehicle.
Front Doors - Pull the door release handle until it stops (note: this means pulling the door release handle further than is usually required to open the door).
Rear Doors – Pull the door release handle twice. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the supercapacitor will allow for limited re-entry times using the exterior button.

How do I re-enter the vehicle if the 12V battery fails?
You can re-enter the vehicle by jump-starting or replacing the 12V battery. Reference the customer support article at https://go.ford/MME12V for instructions on how to access and jump-start the battery if it has failed. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the stored electricity within the electronic door latch will allow re-entry for a limited time using the exterior button.


Will FordPass app notify me or warn me that my 12V battery is at risk of failing?

FordPass will notify you if the 12V battery may be at risk of failing. A “Vehicle Health - Needs Attention” banner will be displayed with alert details “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0”. Upon seeing the alert, customers should take their vehicle to a dealership for service.

I received a “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0” alert in FordPass app. What does this mean?
The “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic” health alert will appear when the vehicle reports degraded 12V conditions that may mean that the battery is at risk of depletion during a key-off event. When seen, you should go to a Ford dealership for 12V battery testing and replacement.

Will my vehicle notify me that the 12V battery failed before I exit my vehicle?
If the vehicle does not have power from the 12V battery, it is unable to provide a notification.

I had my 12V Battery replaced after I was notified but it's still showing in the app, what do I do?
If you had your 12V battery replaced after being alerted by FordPass, the warning may stick around for a couple weeks while the model "relearns" the new battery. The team is already working on refinements to have it relearn faster.


I got an over-the-air update regarding door locks. Does that take care of this recall?

No, this is a general update and unrelated to the recall. The over-the-air update some of you may have received would prevent the separate, future over-the-air update from creating a new concern.


We will continue to share information when available.

Just tell me when the ‘26s are expected to start showing up. Please and thank-you.

@Ford Motor Company - your FAQ doesn’t say what this recall software update actually does or how it “fixes” the 12v battery issue. Can you elaborate?

There are a number of problems with the 12v battery design, at least one of which cannot be fixed with a software update.

To start, the 12v battery appears to be either under-spec’d for the demands of the electronics in this vehicle, or the battery management software (the EV version of an alternator) is not keeping the 12v adequately charged. There is absolutely no reason why these 12v batteries are routinely failing between 3-4 years. Does your recall make changes here?

Second, burying the 12v (1) under plastic cladding and a stabilizer bar (2) in a frunk that is very difficult to open if the battery dies, is STUPID design. In fact, rather than try to describe the Rube Goldberg procedure for getting the frunk open if the battery dies, your FAQ simply includes a link to the instructions, which speaks to the complexity.

You evidently were unconcerned with location of the 12v because your then lead engineer on the Mach E project, Darren Palmer, proudly boasted this…

And yet, 5 model years later you have not fixed this design.

More than 5 years, trust me.
Left my old Ford dealership in early 2022 after being repeatedly "jobbed" out of towing costs and then, finally, $535 to "repair" a persistent battery-drain problem with my 2007 Mustang GT. Their "repair" in 2021 was a little green plastic screw-down cap (size of a quarter) on the negative battery post that required me/my wife/my daughters to pop the hood every time to connect the battery for starting, and to pop the hood every time again when parking to disconnect it. If it wasn't disconnected, the car would be dead within hours. In "good" Florida weather it was a PITA, in the rains (and the occasional hail nowadays for those climate-change deniers) it was a "non-starter," literally. A "second car" in our family of four (4) drivers, only I would drive it....
And then I discovered the Ford TSB from 2008!
The '08 TSB explained completely for Ford Service Advisers and Ford mechanics what I was going through in 2020-2021 and what the dealership's "Service" department pretended not to know about. My "Customer States" portion of the original SA's intake write-up turned out to be nearly verbatim what the '08 TSB advised would happen! Subsequent tow-ins and intake write-ups before I discovered the '08 TSB expressly referred to the original/first "Customer States" (e.g., that the radio/6 cd changer would continue stay on and to cycle through the cds while the car was off; burnt out 2 of them). That final "repair" was after they kept the car for nearly six (6) weeks! (And the note written and attached to the key fob shamelessly advised the dealership's valet when I came to pick up the car: "Needs to be Jumped"). I refused to accept the car and won't reiterate the short-strokes. Went on-line in earnest to research.
When I discovered and confronted the dealership with a copy of the 13 year old '08 TSB detailing precisely the battery-draining caused by problems with the 2007 Mustangs' "Smart Junction Box," about which their Service Department had to be very familiar, and about which my wallet had been getting drained, too, the SA confessed (with not a little snark): "Ford doesn't make those junction boxes any more." So, I was SOL from the very first time the car got towed in. Escalated the runaround to the dealership's "Customer Service;" they gave me 24,000 Ford Pass points, and a free batteries on request. (After getting towed-in again a couple times, the dealership told me to just bring in the batteries to get them swapped out. I went through 3 or 4 of them).
Finally bought a used SJB on eBay, installed it and sold the car to the new mobile auto service guys I started using instead of Ford; after showing them the old SJB, the '08 TSB, and the pathetic "fix" the dealership had installed. And decided to purchase our newest/current Ford from another, more distant dealership.
So, reading here (and from Ford) persisting 12 volt battery-drain problems that now, additionally, might cause the car to fail on me while driving again(?), or trap me/my wife/my daughter(s) inside the car, is really demoralizing.
My family has owned a '62 Falcon; '67 Mustang (6 cylinder), '83 T-Bird, '92 Aerostar RWD, '94 Aerostar AWD, 2001 Mustang GT (bought new); 2005 Mustang GT (bought new), 2010 Flex (bought new), and the 2007 Mustang GT (bought used in 2013 with only 12,500 mi) that my former Ford dealership's shenanigans soured me on.
But if this "last" Ford (bought/financed new with the proceeds from the '07 Mustang, the '10 Flex sales and regular payments out of the IRA), purchased as our only vehicle and serviced at a new Ford dealership, nonetheless becomes "Ford Battery Problems Redux" for me and my family, this loyal Ford customer has already started looking elsewhere, and is preparing for the "sticker-shock" value to which my Mach-e is plummeting.

 

[Sikkun]

So, reading here (and from Ford) persisting 12 volt battery-drain problems that now, additionally, might cause the car to fail on me while driving again(?), or trap me/my wife/my daughter(s) inside the car, is really demoralizing.

This recall isn’t about a persistent 12v battery drain. Nor would it trap you or your family in the vehicle unless they are not capable of operating the door handle themselves.

The recall is for a very rare instance of IF a 12v battery happened to die after you shut off the car, the car thinks it’s still locked and therefor once you close the door you can’t open the door (from the outside).

The situation is unlikely to happen, and unless you have a pet or a kid in the car isn’t any danger for most people.

 

[Avidya]

Hello, we called Sheehy Ford in Springfield, VA on Friday, and the manager told us that the update is available and made us an appointment for 7 am tomorrow. They had our VIN number. But it is a 2023 model, and from what you are saying, the manager was probably mistaken. We don't want to go there at 7 am if it's a waste of time. Please advise.

JR



Hi Mustang Mach-E owners. By now many of you have received a notification regarding a recall on your vehicle involving the 12V battery. As there has been several mentions of the 12V battery in recent updates, the team at Ford want to ensure you have the information you need.

Why is there a recall on Mustang Mach-E?

In the event of an unexpected 12V battery failure when the vehicle is turned off, the electronic door latches remain in their last lock/unlock status. If the electronic door latches were locked at the time of 12V battery failure and a driver or front seat passenger exit using the door release handles, the doors will remain locked when they are re-closed. This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle.

What is the safety risk?
This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle. An occupant who remains inside a locked vehicle and unable to use an inside door release handle may be unable to be rapidly retrieved by a passenger who has exited the vehicle. This could result in a serious injury, especially in hot weather.

Which vehicles are impacted?
All Mustang Mach-E model year vehicles built prior to June 3, 2025.

How will my vehicle be fixed?
This issue must be fixed at your local Ford Dealer via a software update.

When will my vehicle be fixed?
2025 Model Year Vehicles – The software update is available now. You can take your vehicle to your local Ford Dealer to receive the update.
2021 - 2024 Model Year Vehicles – When the update is available, you will receive a letter in the mail with instructions to have it installed at your local Ford Dealer.

Do I have to go to the dealership for the software update?
Yes, currently this software update must be completed by a Ford Dealer. Ford is developing an over-the-air update will be available at a later date.

How long will it take to fix my vehicle?
The update is expected to take less than a day. You can contact your local Ford Dealer to understand their service wait times when the software is available.

Who is paying for this update?
This service is being performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.


Can I get stuck in my vehicle? If the doors are locked and the 12V battery fails, how do I exit the vehicle?

If you are able to operate the interior door handle, you can exit the vehicle.
Front Doors - Pull the door release handle until it stops (note: this means pulling the door release handle further than is usually required to open the door).
Rear Doors – Pull the door release handle twice. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the supercapacitor will allow for limited re-entry times using the exterior button.

How do I re-enter the vehicle if the 12V battery fails?
You can re-enter the vehicle by jump-starting or replacing the 12V battery. Reference the customer support article at https://go.ford/MME12V for instructions on how to access and jump-start the battery if it has failed. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the stored electricity within the electronic door latch will allow re-entry for a limited time using the exterior button.


Will FordPass app notify me or warn me that my 12V battery is at risk of failing?

FordPass will notify you if the 12V battery may be at risk of failing. A “Vehicle Health - Needs Attention” banner will be displayed with alert details “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0”. Upon seeing the alert, customers should take their vehicle to a dealership for service.

I received a “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0” alert in FordPass app. What does this mean?
The “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic” health alert will appear when the vehicle reports degraded 12V conditions that may mean that the battery is at risk of depletion during a key-off event. When seen, you should go to a Ford dealership for 12V battery testing and replacement.

Will my vehicle notify me that the 12V battery failed before I exit my vehicle?
If the vehicle does not have power from the 12V battery, it is unable to provide a notification.

I had my 12V Battery replaced after I was notified but it's still showing in the app, what do I do?
If you had your 12V battery replaced after being alerted by FordPass, the warning may stick around for a couple weeks while the model "relearns" the new battery. The team is already working on refinements to have it relearn faster.


I got an over-the-air update regarding door locks. Does that take care of this recall?

No, this is a general update and unrelated to the recall. The over-the-air update some of you may have received would prevent the separate, future over-the-air update from creating a new concern.


We will continue to share information when available.

 

[Avidya]

Hello, we called Sheehy Ford in Springfield, VA on Friday, and the manager told us that the update is available and made us an appointment for 7 am tomorrow. They had our VIN number. But it is a 2023 model, and from what you are saying, the manager was probably mistaken. We don't want to go there at 7 am if it's a waste of time. Please advise.

JR

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

Hello, we called Sheehy Ford in Springfield, VA on Friday, and the manager told us that the update is available and made us an appointment for 7 am tomorrow. They had our VIN number. But it is a 2023 model, and from what you are saying, the manager was probably mistaken. We don't want to go there at 7 am if it's a waste of time. Please advise.

JR

They are mistaken, no point in you going

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Hello, we called Sheehy Ford in Springfield, VA on Friday, and the manager told us that the update is available and made us an appointment for 7 am tomorrow. They had our VIN number. But it is a 2023 model, and from what you are saying, the manager was probably mistaken. We don't want to go there at 7 am if it's a waste of time. Please advise.

JR

I will share with the team that they have reached out. The software update that dealers currently have access to only applies to 2025 models.

 

[MachSteve]

Just had my update done by Ford Mobile Service, took about 45 mins.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Just had my update done by Ford Mobile Service, took about 45 mins.

Awesome to hear. Mobile service is an under-represented MVP!

 

[MachSteve]

Awesome to hear. Mobile service is an under-represented MVP!

First time I used Mobile Service but it worked out great!
They came to my job and it was completed in about 45mins (max).

 

[kundoggy]

Hi Mustang Mach-E owners. By now many of you have received a notification regarding a recall on your vehicle involving the 12V battery. As there has been several mentions of the 12V battery in recent updates, the team at Ford want to ensure you have the information you need.

Why is there a recall on Mustang Mach-E?

In the event of an unexpected 12V battery failure when the vehicle is turned off, the electronic door latches remain in their last lock/unlock status. If the electronic door latches were locked at the time of 12V battery failure and a driver or front seat passenger exit using the door release handles, the doors will remain locked when they are re-closed. This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle.

What is the safety risk?
This may result in an unexpected lock-out condition for the driver or a front seat passenger without the ability to immediately re-enter the vehicle. An occupant who remains inside a locked vehicle and unable to use an inside door release handle may be unable to be rapidly retrieved by a passenger who has exited the vehicle. This could result in a serious injury, especially in hot weather.

Which vehicles are impacted?
All Mustang Mach-E model year vehicles built prior to June 3, 2025.

How will my vehicle be fixed?
This issue must be fixed at your local Ford Dealer via a software update.

When will my vehicle be fixed?
2025 Model Year Vehicles – The software update is available now. You can take your vehicle to your local Ford Dealer to receive the update.
2021 - 2024 Model Year Vehicles – When the update is available, you will receive a letter in the mail with instructions to have it installed at your local Ford Dealer.

Do I have to go to the dealership for the software update?
Yes, currently this software update must be completed by a Ford Dealer. Ford is developing an over-the-air update will be available at a later date.

How long will it take to fix my vehicle?
The update is expected to take less than a day. You can contact your local Ford Dealer to understand their service wait times when the software is available.

Who is paying for this update?
This service is being performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.


Can I get stuck in my vehicle? If the doors are locked and the 12V battery fails, how do I exit the vehicle?

If you are able to operate the interior door handle, you can exit the vehicle.
Front Doors - Pull the door release handle until it stops (note: this means pulling the door release handle further than is usually required to open the door).
Rear Doors – Pull the door release handle twice. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the supercapacitor will allow for limited re-entry times using the exterior button.

How do I re-enter the vehicle if the 12V battery fails?
You can re-enter the vehicle by jump-starting or replacing the 12V battery. Reference the customer support article at https://go.ford/MME12V for instructions on how to access and jump-start the battery if it has failed. If a rear door is used to exit the vehicle, that door will unlock, and the stored electricity within the electronic door latch will allow re-entry for a limited time using the exterior button.


Will FordPass app notify me or warn me that my 12V battery is at risk of failing?

FordPass will notify you if the 12V battery may be at risk of failing. A “Vehicle Health - Needs Attention” banner will be displayed with alert details “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0”. Upon seeing the alert, customers should take their vehicle to a dealership for service.

I received a “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic 1.0” alert in FordPass app. What does this mean?
The “12-Volt Battery Advanced Diagnostic” health alert will appear when the vehicle reports degraded 12V conditions that may mean that the battery is at risk of depletion during a key-off event. When seen, you should go to a Ford dealership for 12V battery testing and replacement.

Will my vehicle notify me that the 12V battery failed before I exit my vehicle?
If the vehicle does not have power from the 12V battery, it is unable to provide a notification.

I had my 12V Battery replaced after I was notified but it's still showing in the app, what do I do?
If you had your 12V battery replaced after being alerted by FordPass, the warning may stick around for a couple weeks while the model "relearns" the new battery. The team is already working on refinements to have it relearn faster.


I got an over-the-air update regarding door locks. Does that take care of this recall?

No, this is a general update and unrelated to the recall. The over-the-air update some of you may have received would prevent the separate, future over-the-air update from creating a new concern.


We will continue to share information when available.

What version software is the 12v battery health warning in (latest FordPass app on iOS and 10.1.1.1 currently installed)? 22 GT with a 40 month old battery (preemptively replacing soon).... I got a 10.1.1.1 update about a week after I got it (6 weeks ago) and haven't seen an update since.

 

[ChuckUK]

This recall isn’t about a persistent 12v battery drain. Nor would it trap you or your family in the vehicle unless they are not capable of operating the door handle themselves.

The recall is for a very rare instance of IF a 12v battery happened to die after you shut off the car, the car thinks it’s still locked and therefor once you close the door you can’t open the door (from the outside).

The situation is unlikely to happen, and unless you have a pet or a kid in the car isn’t any danger for most people.

Thinking about a pet in the car…
If you have a dog in the boot and the 12 volt fails, can the boot still be unlocked? While you may still have a passenger in the car who can open the door internally, the boot is closed off from a dog guard that can only be removed with access from the boot.

 

[Sikkun]

Thinking about a pet in the car…
If you have a dog in the boot and the 12 volt fails, can the boot still be unlocked? While you may still have a passenger in the car who can open the door internally, the boot is closed off from a dog guard that can only be removed with access from the boot.

No manual trunk (boot) release as far as I am aware. So would have to jump the battery to turn the car on in order to get the pet out?

At least I think that’s the right answer.

My dogs are big enough the ride in the back seats so never thought about it before.

 

[OldF111Flyer]

What happens if the 12v battery fails while driving the car on the highway?

 

[Mach-Lee]

What happens if the 12v battery fails while driving the car on the highway?

The DC/DC converter continues to provide 12V power until the car is shut off. You won’t notice anything different until the car won’t wake up or turn on the next time.

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