Ford has halted production and delivery of the Kuga PHEV, the brand communicates to customers in a video. An unknown problem with the batteries, which could start a fire, is the cause. Owners of a Kuga PHEV are advised not to charge the battery and only drive in ‘EV-Auto’ mode. In the Netherlands this concerns about 900 cars.
The Ford Kuga PHEV has been recalled once before. Then there was also a fire hazard and the high voltage plug was replaced where necessary. Apparently that did not solve the problem, because Ford has halted production of the Kuga until further notice. In a German-language video from Ford Europe, marketing and sales director Hans Jörg Klein says that solving the problem is probably more a matter of months than weeks.
Ford Netherlands confirms opposite Techzle that the delivery of the Kuga PHEV has also stopped in the Netherlands. According to the spokesperson, the problems must first be identified and resolved. Ford does not know exactly what the problem with the batteries is. That is why the more than 900 Kuga PHEVs that are currently on the road in the Netherlands are not yet being recalled. The cars are allowed to continue running, but Ford recommends not charging the batteries and driving only in hybrid ‘EV Auto’ mode.
Owners of a Kuga PHEV receive compensation from Ford with a fuel card of € 500 and an extended warranty to 5 years and 100,000 km. If customers have already purchased this warranty when purchasing the car, Ford offers a service contract.
CO2 target
The Kuga PHEV is an important vehicle for Ford in Europe to achieve the European CO2 standard of 95 grams per kilometer. Ford does not dare to say whether the brand is at risk because of the production stop. Incidentally, these issues are specifically related to the Kuga PHEV. The Mustang Mach-E’s batteries are sourced from a different supplier, so that model doesn’t have to deal with these issues.