Ford Kuga fire risk
Ford Kuga fire risk
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Discussion

ChevronB19

Original Poster:

7,982 posts

179 months

Wednesday 2nd April
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(Mods, put here deliberately rather than a subforum due to potential risk to owners)

Any owners, worth reading this (advised not to charge hybrid battery due to fire risk, exit car immediately if warning light comes on).

I’m not an owner, but doesn’t look like a great response from Ford…

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/02/f...

Robertb

2,768 posts

254 months

Wednesday 2nd April
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One of the later paras is a new one on me...

"According to the Association of British Insurers, failure to inform a car insurance provider of a recall notice could invalidate their cover if they need to make a claim."

Our Disco Sport has just been subject to a "non-safety related recall" notice to check steering rack bolts and there is a long wait for a garage slot.

Actual

1,309 posts

122 months

Saturday 14th June
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As a Ford Kuga PHEV owner I received the Product Safety Recall on 29/02/2025 with the instruction "do not plug your vehicles in to charge..." and Ford engineers are working... to develop SOFTWARE to remedy this issue.

Today (dated 06/06/2025) I received details of the SOFTWARE UPDATE.

As far as I can tell the fix does not actually prevent the high voltage battery from a short occurring and the resolution is to display a Stop Safely Now message when the event occurs.

The Ford solution is to add a feature to a display a message to tell you that your car is on fire.

Perhaps one day messages to tell you that your car is on fire will be a standard option on all new Fords.

What a joke from Ford.

Sheepshanks

37,397 posts

135 months

Saturday 14th June
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Surely it should also say “and exit vehicle”?

Miserablegit

4,292 posts

125 months

Monday 16th June
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My sister’s FIL handed back his hybrid Kuga in April following this letter. A few months left on his hire scheme. Ford/Ford credit have been utterly useless. Ended up dumping car at supplying dealer.
It’s unbelievable in this day and age that Ford are able to send a warning letter with comic-style red and white chevrons, tell you your vehicle might suffer a rapid unscheduled disassembly but it’s ok to keep using for months until they have a software bodge to tell you death is imminent.
I’ve seen the Guardian article and auto express but I’m surprised this isn’t more widely known.

RotorRambler

332 posts

6 months

Saturday 19th July
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Actual said:
As a Ford Kuga PHEV owner I received the Product Safety Recall on 29/02/2025 with the instruction "do not plug your vehicles in to charge..." and Ford engineers are working... to develop SOFTWARE to remedy this issue.

Today (dated 06/06/2025) I received details of the SOFTWARE UPDATE.

As far as I can tell the fix does not actually prevent the high voltage battery from a short occurring and the resolution is to display a Stop Safely Now message when the event occurs.

The Ford solution is to add a feature to a display a message to tell you that your car is on fire.

Perhaps one day messages to tell you that your car is on fire will be a standard option on all new Fords.

What a joke from Ford.
The above is incorrect.

The Sw looks for anomalies & trigger an alert.
In advance of any problem actually occurring.

“ Aimed at reducing fire risk, this update improves the vehicle’s ability to detect battery anomalies and trigger safety measures when needed. It’s essentially a preventative step to ensure safe operation around the high-voltage battery system ”

“ According to UK recall records, there are no reported fire incidents in the UK linked to this latest recall—nor are any mentioned as part of this latest issue”

The battery is now guaranteed for 10 years also.
Plus the wife had a goodwill payment from Ford customer services.

Not a drama

Actual

1,309 posts

122 months

Saturday 19th July
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RotorRambler said:
Plus the wife had a goodwill payment from Ford customer services.
What was the basis for getting a goodwill payment as I will take that?

I could do with a 3rd bit of compo from Ford after now our Kuga and previously our first Explorer EV had to be repurchased back by Ford when they couldn't fix it and then the replacement vehicle failed for yet another month off the road.

Yeah no drama just months of arse ache and we are still out of pocket.