The Ford Motor Company has issued a mammoth safety recall affecting 456,565 examples of the Maverick pickup truck and the mechanically similar Bronco Sport crossover. The recall stems from a potential failure of the body and powertrain control modules to detect when the 12-volt battery is running low.
Produced between February 5, 2020, and March 13, 2024, at the Hermosillo assembly plant in Mexico, affected vehicles include 402,978 Bronco Sport units. The root cause of the issue lies in an insufficient calibration strategy for detecting sudden battery degradation, which is attributed to poorly written software.
This flaw could lead to stalling, loss of accessories, and engine restart problems during auto start/stop events. Despite prior awareness through warranty reports, consumer complaints, and field reports, Ford’s engineers determined the need for a recall after investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Owners of affected vehicles will receive mailed notifications between May 13 and May 17, 2024, urging them to bring their vehicles to dealerships for remedy. This involves installing improved software for the body and powertrain control modules. While the recall is underway, Ford plans mid-cycle refreshes for the 2025 model year Bronco Sport and Maverick, with prices starting at $29,795 and $23,815 respectively, before freight charges.
