Transcript
A California court announced a lawsuit that targets a “material safety defect” in tens of thousands of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E.
The vehicles mentioned in the lawsuit all contain electronically latched doors called E-Latch, which Ford markets as a feature. However, the complaint argues they are actually a defect because battery failure or loss of power forces owners to jump-start the vehicle and battery to open the doors from the outside.
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A Mach-E does not have traditional door handles or a keyhole on its exterior. Instead, owners can unlock the doors by pressing a button on the door while carrying the vehicle’s key fob or using a connected smartphone.
The car needs enough power to open the doors, and the lawsuit points out that the Mach-E, unlike other vehicles with electronic door handles, does not include a fail-safe physical key or slot in the event of battery failure.
There is a simple resolution if the vehicle loses power while occupied, but the lawsuit said the situation becomes more difficult if occupants are locked out. Because the E-Latch system also controls the car’s front hood, where the battery is located, someone needs to jump-start the car just to access and restore power to the car’s battery before the E-Latch system can open the doors.
Ford’s website explains that two powerpoints behind an access panel below the grille provide jumper cable connection points. However, the lawsuit argued that the entire jump-start process includes “complicated and time-consuming steps” that could prove difficult for someone without extensive car knowledge and the necessary equipment.
The lawsuit noted that this could result in passengers or pets being trapped in the vehicle if they cannot pull the manual lever to open the doors.
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A California court announced a lawsuit that
targets a material safety defect in tens of
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thousands of Ford's Mustang Marques.
The vehicles mentioned in the lawsuit all
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contain electronically latched doors called
E-latch, which Ford markets as a feature.
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However, the complaint argues they are actually
a defect because battery failure or loss of
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power forces owners to jumpstart the vehicle
and battery to open the doors from the outside.
00:22.680 --> 00:26.549
A May does not have traditional door handles or
a keyhole on its exterior.
00:26.840 --> 00:30.656
Instead, owners can unlock the doors by.
Pressing a button on the door while carrying
00:30.656 --> 00:33.096
the vehicle's key fob or using a connected
smartphone.
00:33.256 --> 00:36.796
The car needs enough power to open the doors,
and the lawsuit points out that the Mackee,
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unlike other vehicles with electronic door
handles, does not include a fail-safe physical
00:40.976 --> 00:43.326
key or slot in the event of battery failure.
00:43.535 --> 00:46.535
There is a simple resolution if the vehicle
loses power while occupied,
00:46.736 --> 00:50.936
but the lawsuit said the situation becomes more
difficult if occupants are locked out because
00:50.936 --> 00:54.726
the E-latch system also controls the car's
front hood where the battery is located.
00:54.976 --> 00:57.256
Someone needs to jumpstart the car just to
access and.
00:57.402 --> 01:00.992
Store power to the car's battery before the
e-latch system can open the doors.
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Ford's website explains that two power points
behind an access panel below the grille provide
01:05.391 --> 01:09.152
jumper cable connection points.
However, the lawsuit argued that the entire
01:09.152 --> 01:14.472
jumpstart process includes complicated and
time-consuming steps that could prove difficult
01:14.472 --> 01:17.382
for someone without extensive car knowledge and
the necessary equipment.
01:17.592 --> 01:21.311
The lawsuit noted that this could result in
passengers or pets being trapped in the vehicle
01:21.311 --> 01:23.732
if they cannot pull the manual lever to open
the doors.
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I'm Nolan Bstein.
This is manufacturing now.
