NHTSA Complaint #11679240 — 2024 FORD MUSTANG MACH E

I lease a brand-new 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E with approximately 5,000 miles. The vehicle is subject to NHTSA Campaign Number 25V404 (Ford Recall 25S65) for defective exterior electronic door latches that may fail to open if the 12-volt battery discharges. Ford has confirmed there is no repair available and no timeline for a fix. This defect has been acknowledged by my Ford dealer and Ford corporate. While Ford states that the interior manual handles still function, this ignores a serious real-world safety hazard. I frequently transport dogs and other passengers who cannot operate the manual handles. If I step outside the vehicle — even briefly — and the exterior handles fail, these occupants could be trapped inside. In an emergency such as extreme heat, cold, or fire, this could result in injury or death, and rescue would require breaking the glass, creating additional risk of harm. Ford’s own recall language acknowledges this is a “safety defect,” yet the current stance is that the vehicle is “safe to drive.” This does not address the entrapment risk for vulnerable occupants. The defect has not yet resulted in entrapment or injury, but it is an active and unresolved hazard that could occur without warning. This complaint is being filed to document the risk before harm occurs and to ensure a timely, safe remedy is provided.