Nearly 200,000 Ford vehicles recalled over risk of passengers getting trapped

An American car giant has recalled nearly 200,000 vehicles in the US due to a risk of passengers including children getting trapped in the back seat.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 197,432 of its 2021 to 2025 Mustang Mach-E SUVs because owners could get locked out when the battery is low.

A software glitch can cause the electric-powered door to lock after the driver shuts the front door, and trap a passenger like a child who cannot use door handles, according to the nation’s agency enforcing vehicle performance standards.

Such a scenario could be dangerous and life-threatening, especially in the summer months with hot weather, warned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

All the vehicles of that model and years could have the defect and customers should bring them to Ford dealers to update the software free of charge.

Six customers reported having problems opening the back door after getting out of the vehicle, and two of those drivers had kids in the back seat. Those complaints led the NHTSA to contact Ford in January.

Ford said it stopped producing the defective part on June 3, and will send letters notifying customers on June 23. The automaker plans to have a remedy ready by September 29 and said it will then mail follow-up letters.

In the meantime, Ford is advising customers to watch out for warning signs like the SYNC screen displaying ‘system off to save power’, or going blank after the engine is turned off. Another sign may be the inside front door handles requiring a further pull that usual to exit.

Ford stated it is ‘not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition’.

The automaker is also recalling more than 180,000 Explorers and 120,000 Lincoln Aviators of model years 2020 to 2025 over a faulty seat fold switch that can make them to move suddenly cause injuries or chances of a crash.

It comes just over a month after Waymo recalled more than 1,200 of its driverless cars due to a software issue blamed for over two dozen minor crashes.

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