Ford has initiated a recall for over 272,000 Maverick small pickup trucks and Bronco Sport compact SUVs due to a 12-volt battery problem that could potentially cause the vehicles to stall, as reported by the NHTSA last week.
This 12-volt battery may experience failure, leading to a rapid decline in performance, which could result in the vehicles stalling when coming to a stop or failing to restart when halted at a traffic light or any situation that requires the stop/start function. The automatic stop/start feature, which is linked to the 12-volt battery, halts engine power during stops to conserve fuel when the engine isn’t necessary.
The loss of engine power can also occur at lower speeds, and a battery failure would impair other systems, including hazard lights. Both the hybrid and gasoline variants of the Maverick are impacted, primarily affecting older model years.
The recall covers the 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport and the 2022-2023 Ford Maverick. The problematic battery was discontinued from production on October 20, 2022; however, Ford anticipates a solution for the recall will not be available until the second quarter of this year.
A software update issued as part of an earlier recall in April 2024 related to a similar battery issue did not address the underlying problem. That recall included 465,565 Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles from a wider array of model years and mandated both a battery replacement and updates to the control module software that seemingly failed to resolve the issue in older models. The models involved in that recall (under NHTSA code 24V-267) will need the new remedy associated with this latest recall (25V-019).
This marks the 15th recall for the Maverick since its debut with the 2022 model year, and it is the 10th recall for the similarly popular Bronco Sport, which was launched for the 2021 model year. Previous recall issues have included defective taillights, malfunctioning wipers, and unclear rearview camera images.
Between 2021 and 2023, Ford held the highest number of recalls in the industry. In 2024, Tesla has overtaken Ford as the manufacturer with the most vehicles recalled, followed by Stellantis and then Ford.
For the latest Maverick and Bronco Sport recall, owners are instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln service center for the replacement of the faulty battery with a new Ford AGM battery. Those who have previously paid for a battery replacement independently will be reimbursed upon presenting proof. Notifications by mail are expected to begin as early as February 3.
Image Source: Sergio Thor @ Shutterstock
