Ford Kuga Plug-in Hybrid Recall

Ford has issued a recall for its Kuga plug-in hybrid model due to a potential battery short circuit issue. The recall affects all current-generation Ford Kuga plug-in hybrids with the 2.5-litre petrol engine. Owners are advised not to charge their cars until a fix is available, and instead use their cars in 'Auto EV' mode to run on petrol power.

In the event of a short circuit, drivers will receive a 'Stop Safely Now' message on the dash and a warning light on the driver's display. Steering and braking will be unaffected, but if the issue occurs while driving, the drivetrain may lose power.

Ford says its engineers are working on a fix, which will be offered to owners in Q2 this year. The fix will be a software-based one, and owners will be told to take their cars to a dealer as it's not possible to install via an over-the-air update.

This isn't the first recall to affect the Kuga. In August 2020, the Kuga plug-in hybrid experienced a recall due to battery safety concerns, with some owners reporting faulty batteries overheating when charging, which occasionally resulted in fires.