Ford Mustang Mach-E Lemon Law

Ford recalled about 197,000 model year 2021–2025 Mustang Mach-E vehicles (Ford reference 25S65) over the electronic door latches. If the 12-volt battery discharges below roughly 8.4 volts, there's no power to operate the electronic door handles — a front occupant can get out but may not be able to get back in, and a rear passenger, including a child, may be unable to open the door. NHTSA documents describe a case of a child temporarily trapped in the back seat. The remedy is a software update that keeps the DC/DC converter active for a period after shutdown so the latches still work.

Separately, 2021–2022 extended-range and GT models were recalled (Ford 23S56, with related 22S41 and 25V441 actions) because the high-voltage battery junction box contactor can overheat from repeated DC fast charging and hard use, deform, and prevent the contactor from closing — causing a loss of motive power while driving. The fix is replacement of the high-voltage battery junction box.

A recall isn't automatically a lemon. But a vehicle that can lock occupants in or lose power is a serious safety problem, and if the fix doesn't hold, the problem recurs, or your Mach-E is out of service for an extended time, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — with Ford paying your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Mustang Mach-E has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Ford Mustang Mach-E qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Ford pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.