Category Archives: Lemon Alert

2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E High Voltage Battery Could Overheat

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Ford will be contacting the owners of certain 2021-2022 Mustang Mach E vehicles because the high voltage battery in their cars may overheat. The problem may lead to loss of power and could increase the chance of an accident.

Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group first became aware of the problem in April 2022, after hearing of an issue pertaining to the high voltage battery main contactor overheating in a Mustang Mach E. A review of warranty reports found approximately 286 warranty claims where the problem was an open or welded battery contactor. According to the defect report, it is possible that the high voltage battery main contactors may overheat, which can result in an open contactor or a welded condition.

Contactors that are welded shut while driving, will result in an illuminated powertrain malfunction warning light on the next drive cycle, along with a no-start condition.

Contactors that become open while driving, will result in a powertrain malfunction warning light, the vehicle will display “Stop Safely Now” on the instrument panel, and the vehicle will lose power.

In both cases, all 12V systems including power brakes and steering will remain functional.

Ford will correct the problem by installing a Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module (SOBDMC) and updating the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software. Ford is expected to begin Over-The-Air (OTA) updates for the SOBDMC and BECM software in July 2022. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the software update completed.

The updated SOBDMC software (LJ98-14G069-AXG, LJ98-14G069-AZG, LJ98-14G069-BBG, LJ98-14G069-BDG) will monitor contactor temperature and intelligently reduce battery power to prevent damage to the contactor. The updated BECM software (NJ98-14C197-AE, NJ98-14C197-BD) will monitor contactor resistance to identify an overheated contactor and reduce vehicle power to prevent further damage.

Ford’s number for this recall is 22S41 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-412.

2019-2020 Ford Mustang Powertrain Control Module Malfunction

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Certain 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with 5.0L engines and manual transmissions, could experience a problem with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM could broadcast a faulty signal to the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse light, and driver-assist features. Owners will be instructed to return to their dealerships for repairs.

According to the safety report, the 2019 Mustang 5.0L Manual Transmission Model is the first to introduce a new Rev matching feature that includes a new Manual Gear Position Sensor and associated software/calibration.

In July 2020, Ford Product Development engineers identified a small number of warranty claims associated with the Manual Gear Position Sensor which caused the rear view camera and reverse lamps to stop functioning, but based on the low occurrences, the Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) closed the investigation. By April 2022, 102 warranty claims alleging non-functioning rear view camera display and/or non-functioning reverse lamps and 94 warranty claims of potentially related non-functioning of various driver-assist features (traction control, forward collision warning, blind-spot warning, cross-traffic indicator) caused Ford’s Field Review Committee to reopen the investigation and issue a recall.

According to the defect report, some unique driving scenarios or vehicle conditions, including clutch slip, causing incorrect ratio, extended reverse driving, miscalibration of odd/even shift gates, customer modifications, a mismatch between the gear position sensor signal and the estimated gear calculation, might be detected by the PCM. The PCM will interpret the degraded signal to mean a fault and may disable the modules controlling the reverse camera, reverse lamps, and driver-assist features.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the PCM software updated in their Mustang. Ford’s number for this recall is 22S37 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-382.

If you are experiencing repeated problems with your vehicle, it could be a lemon. If you have any questions about your rights and the California Lemon Law, please call our office at 888-395-3666 and get some great Lemon Law advice!

Chevrolet HD Truck – Brake Line Leak

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General Motors (GM) will be asking a small number of 2022 Chevrolet Heavy Duty (HD) truck owners to return to their GM dealership for a problem affecting the brakes in their vehicles. The primary hydraulic brake line assembly may have not been tightened to manufacturer specifications and could loosen and leak.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

2022 Chevrolet 4500HD
2022 Chevrolet 5500HD
2022 Chevrolet 6500HD

In April 2022, during assembly end of the line testing, GM discovered that several of their Chevrolet HD trucks were experiencing a soft brake pedal feel and/or extended stopping distances. Navistar, the manufacturer of these vehicles informed GM that they intended to file a safety recall for this condition, and in May, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to conduct a safety recall on the GM badged vehicles produced in the same suspect production period as the recalled Navistar vehicles. GM is not aware of any relevant field reports or crashes related to this problem.

According to the defect report, an investigation by the manufacturer of these vehicles found that the pressure sensor fitting of the primary hydraulic brake line assembly may not have been tightened to the correct manufacturer torque specification. If the brake line assembly loosens and brake fluid is lost, drivers may experience a soft or low brake pedal feel, extended stopping distances and the brake warning light may illuminate. Owners may also notice brake fluid on the ground or in the engine compartment.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the brake pressure switch tightened to specification. They will also bleed the brake system and top off the brake fluid.

GM’s number for this recall is N222368230 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-364.

Insufficient Welds In Ford Escape And Lincoln Corsair High Voltage Batteries

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The high voltage batteries in certain 2020 Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair vehicles may have been manufactured with insufficient welds that could fail and cause a loss of drive power. These vehicles are equipped with 2.5L hybrid powertrains.

Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group first became aware of the problem in February 2022 when they were informed, by the supplier, that there was an issue with the weld penetration on the bus bars of certain high voltage batteries. A review of the manufacturers’ records showed that the suspect cause of the problem was damage to the laser cooling line caused by maintenance of the laser air knife. The damage to the laser cooling line resulted in an out-of-control weld process and insufficient welds. The suspect time period was between June 6, 2020, and June 12, 2020.

According to the safety report, insufficient weld penetration between the bus bar and cell terminal could result in a loss of electrical contact at the bus-bar weld joint inside the high voltage battery. Loss of electrical contact will result in a loss of motive power and an increased risk of an accident.

The vehicle warning display will illuminate a “Stop Safely Now” message, a wrench lamp, and an audible alert when the vehicle loses motive power.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to take their vehicle to their Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the High Voltage Battery replaced. The new High Voltage Battery LX68-10B759-R will have a bus bar that has proper weld penetration. The supplier repaired a damaged coolant line on June 27, 2020. High voltage batteries produced after June 27, 2020 were produced with sufficient bus bar weld penetration. Ford’s number for this recall is 22S33 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-331.

2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator Under Hood Fire Warning

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Ford Motor Company (Ford) has decided that a problem affecting vehicle safety exists in certain 2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator SUVs built between December 2020, and April 2021. The vehicles built during this time have an increased risk of under-hood fires.

Ford became aware of the problem in March 2022 after receiving eight reports of under-hood fires. One of the incidents described a melted battery junction box (BJB) on a 2021 Expedition vehicle. Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into the fires and found that six (6) of the eight (8) fires originated on the passenger side rear engine compartment area, while two (2) had an unclear under-hood origin. Of the eight fire allegations, six occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, and two occurred while driving. Reviewing the incidents, CCRG noted that almost all the vehicles were owned by rental companies.

Ford continues to investigate the cause of the fires, which are believed to originate in the passenger side rear engine compartment area. As of May 12th CCRG is aware of sixteen (16) potentially related reports of under-hood fires on 2021 Expedition and 2021 Navigator vehicles. Of those sixteen (16) reports, fourteen (14) are rental vehicles and two are retail units. Of the sixteen (16) reports, twelve (12) occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, (1) occurred while parked and on, and three (3) occurred while driving. All sixteen (16) vehicles were produced between December 19, 2020, and April 20, 2021. (This period was found to be significant.)

Warning: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures while Ford continues their investigation.

Note: Some customers have reported a burning smell and smoke from the front passenger engine compartment while driving.

Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on May 23, 2022. A second letter will be mailed once a fix for the problem is available. Ford’s number for this recall is 22S36 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-346.

Software Error Could Result In An Unexpected Vehicle Roll-Away

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Automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia will be asking owners of certain 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 2022 Kia EV6 vehicles, to return to their dealerships for a problem affecting the parking brake mechanism. A software error in the Shifter Control Unit (SCU) may disengage the parking mechanism and allow the vehicle to roll away.

Hyundai and Kia first became aware of the problem in April/May 2022 after reports about warranty claims involving some Ioniq 5 and EV6 vehicles in Korea. The vehicles allegedly unexpectedly rolled away after being parked on an incline with the ignition off. Further investigation into the incidents found voltage fluctuations in the electrical system that could affect the command signal from the Shifter Control Unit (SCU) to the parking actuator. The result would be a momentary disengagement of the parking pawl.

According to the safety report, the subject vehicles are equipped with a shift-by-wire system with a shifter control unit and parking pawl actuator motor. If a voltage fluctuation occurs when the vehicle is off and in Park, the signal from the SCU to the actuator may be affected. The problem could result in the temporary disengagement of the parking mechanism and a potential vehicle roll away.

Owners will be asked to return to the dealerships to have the Shifter Control Unit software updated. Drivers are recommended to use the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) when parking their vehicles until the software update has been performed. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 228 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-324. Kia’s number for this recall is SC236 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-332.

If you are experiencing repeated problems with your vehicle, it could be a lemon. If you have any questions about your rights and the California Lemon Law, please call our office at 888-395-3666 and get some great Lemon Law advice!

Tesla Center Screen Display Is Lagging Or Completely Blank

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Tesla will be contacting the owners of certain 2021-2022 Tesla model vehicles because of a problem that could cause the infotainment central processing unit (CPU) to malfunction.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

2022 Tesla Model 3
2021-2022 Tesla Model S
2021-2022 Tesla Model X
2022 Tesla Model Y

In December 2021 during routine High Temperature Operation Endurance (HTOE) testing on the Model 3 and Model Y vehicle platform central processing unit (CPU), throttling was detected from thermal protections being engaged. An investigation into thermal management was initiated using vehicle alerts to follow the condition in the field. During this time, Tesla Engineering worked on a series of test experiments to identify the potential cause of the overheating condition. In April 2022, Tesla completed its investigation and confirmed the suspected root cause and affected vehicle population. The findings were reviewed and a recall was initiated.

According to the defect report, during fast-charging or preparation for fast-charging, the infotainment CPU may not cool sufficiently. Higher than expected temperatures could cause the CPU to slow processing or restart, and a lagging or blank center screen display. The problem could cause the rear-view camera display, windshield visibility control settings, drive modes (i.e., Drive, Neutral, or Reverse), and telltales to be unavailable.

On May 3, 2022, Tesla began deploying an OTA firmware update that will improve the management of the CPU temperature and associated communications with elevated temperature operation. This remedy will mitigate temperature elevations in the CPU when the vehicle is fast-charging or preparing to fast-charge, which will prevent slow processing or restart. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-22-00-009 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-296.

Ford F-150 Transmission Shifts Into Neutral While Driving

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Some 2021 Ford F-150 trucks could unexpectedly shift into neutral while driving. The unexpected loss of engine power could increase the chance of an accident.

In February 2022, an issue was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) about certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI, 2.7L, and 5.0L engines, along with the 10R80 transmission. These trucks were experiencing an increase in Transmission Fluid Pressure along with a Transmission Fluid Pressure Low Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) of P0868. This DTC would falsely activate and cause the transmission to shift into a neutral state while the truck was driven. Once the false activation occurs, the vehicle will coast to a stop and the electronic shifter will attempt to engage Park. Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the electronic shifter will automatically shift into Park.

According to the engineering investigation, one of the power-train diagnostic logic software branches was turned on in error when these vehicles were produced. Under certain conditions, this diagnostic logic could inadvertently activate the pump gear failure detection logic even though the hardware is still functioning properly. When this happens, the transmission on-board diagnostics will set the DTC P0868, turn on a Wrench Light telltale, and the vehicle’s transmission will shift into a neutral state. As the vehicle slows to a speed below 2 mph/3kph, the electronic shifter will attempt to engage the Park function and will automatically shift into Park when the vehicle comes to a complete stop. The transmission function can be restored by a key-off/key-on cycle.

Between October 2021 and February 2022 there have been 28 warranty claims and one Customer Contact Center report to Ford that potentially related to this concern.

Dealers will correct the problem by updating the Power-train Control Module (PCM) software. Ford’s number for this recall is 22S15 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-188.