Ford Electric Mustangs Could Trap Occupants Due To Defectively Designed Doors, Lawsuit Claims

Company has known for years that its Mach-E electric vehicles have no way to open electronically latching doors from the outside if the battery fails.

Two California men are claiming that pets and children are at severe risk of becoming trapped in Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles, due to a design defect in which the electronically latching doors have no way of opening from the outside when the car battery dies.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an entirely electric vehicle equipped with a standard 70-kilowatt hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery, designed to fully charge in about 11 hours using a 220-volt charger.

While the automaker has marketed the electric vehicles as safe and reliable, concerns have been raised over the safety of its electronically latching doors.

In a complaint (PDF) filed on February 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, plaintiffs John Salas and Francisco Xavier Gonzalez claim that the company has long known its electric Mustang’s doors cannot be opened from the outside once the battery fails, posing an increased risk of serious injuries or death to passengers.

Moreover, the plaintiffs allege that children have already been trapped inside the vehicles due to battery failures, and they warn that such incidents could recur because Ford has not taken action to address the issue.

According to the complaint, both Salas and Gonzalez purchased Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

However, neither were aware at the time of purchase that the Mach-E contains an alleged defect in which the electronically latching doors, or E-Latch, fail to work from the outside if the vehicle’s battery dies.

While there is a manual lever inside the door, which allows those inside the vehicle to get out when power is lost, Salas and Gonzalez emphasize that young children and pets remain in grave danger, as they are incapable of operating the inside latch to open the door themselves.

Additionally, the plaintiffs point out that recharging a failed battery involves a complex procedure, requiring vehicle owners to remove a cover below the headlight and connect an external power source.

Salas and Gonzalez claim that Ford has known of this issue for years, yet has refused to take action to address the problem.

“Despite complaints from customers, and numerous instances of small children being locked inside the Class Vehicles, upon information and belief, Defendant has not taken action to prevent or rectify this material safety defect,” the complaint says.

Salas and Gonzalez raise allegations of Violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California’s Unfair Competition Law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, as well as fraudulent concealment and unjust enrichment. They are seeking actual, compensatory, statutory and liquidated damages on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, with a special class for residents of California.

Mach-E Battery Recalls

The Mach-E was subject to a battery recall in June 2022, after it was discovered that the high voltage battery contactors could overheat, causing an immediate loss of vehicle power, which might trap occupants inside the vehicle or lead to an auto accident.

Nearly 65,000 Mustang Mach-E vehicles, which were included under the previous recall, were still experiencing battery issues in August 2023, even after the repairs were supposedly made.

In October 2023, approximately 35,000 Mach-E vehicles were recalled once again due to the same defect still causing an unexpected loss of power.