The 2021 all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV is being recalled because it has improperly attached windshields and panoramic roof glass that may detach, creating risk of crash or injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA.
All vehicles built between Feb. 24, 2020, and July 18, 2021, may have been improperly bonded during the manufacturing process, according to federal documents Ford filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Consumers with vehicle defects may notice water leaks or increased wind noise, or both.
Ford has recalled 17,692 Mach-E vehicles for windshield repair and 13,544 vehicles for roof glass repair in the U.S. alone.
Overall, Ford recalled a total of 38,714 Mach-E vehicles in North America and Europe for improperly bonded windshields and sunroofs.
All of the vehicles have improperly attached windshields, while 27,318 of them also may have faulty panoramic glass roof adhesion, Ford confirmed.
“We were made aware from a field report of a cracked windshield repair, and that’s where they noted the windshield urethane adhesion. Then we included the panoramic roof because it utilizes the same urethane application process,” Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Free Press on Sunday. “When we were made aware, we immediately alerted NHTSA.”
Ford said it isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to these problems, according to regulatory documents.
The two concerns mean the 2021 Mach-E now has three recalls listed on the U.S. federal regulatory site. The latest company notice was submitted to regulatory officials on September 14.
Mach-E owners will be contacted by Ford dealers in late October to schedule repair of the improperly installed parts using urethane adhesive, then reinstall the roof panel or windshield. Documents filed with federal safety officials say the reinstallation of the windshield and/or roof panel will be done for the customer free of charge.
Recall action on the Mach-E windshield issue was initially noted by Transport Canada, a government website, and picked up by Canadian online automotive news sites. Initial reports from Canada speculated whether vehicles sold in the U.S. would be affected.
All Mach-E vehicles sold globally are built at the same plant in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico.
The Dearborn automaker did not issue a consumer alert through the U.S. media about this safety recall as it often does with bigger recalls.
‘Best EV of the Year’
Meanwhile, Car and Driver magazine named the Mustang Mach-E as better than 10 competitors in a head-to-head review of all-electric vehicles. It won a debut “Best EV of the Year” award from the publication, one of the most respected automotive magazines in the world.
The vehicle began delivery with great fanfare in Norway in May. Europe has been an early adopter of electric vehicles in their commitment to emissions-free transportation. People have waited a long time to get their Mach-Es delivered.
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This particular recall has attracted attention on social media by Tesla fans and industry observers who point out that Ford publicly challenged the manufacturing skill of its all-electric competitor.
‘Bumpers don’t fall off’
“Recalls are par for the course when a new vehicle is launched. Teething problems, we call them,” Michael Butler wrote for CarBuzz.com, a news site for gearheads.
“But in this case, the recall is highly embarrassing,” he said. “Last year, Ford subtly smacktalked Tesla over the quality of its cars, particularly referencing an incident where a Tesla Model Y’s glass roof fell off on the highway. Darren Palmer, head of development for Ford and Lincoln’s battery-electric vehicles spoke of the Mustang Mach-E shortly thereafter, saying, ‘The doors fit properly, the plastics and other materials color-match, the bumpers don’t fall off, the roof doesn’t come off when you wash it, the door handles don’t get stuck in cold weather…’ Palmer may want to revisit those comments now”
The CarBuzz subhead said, “Smacktalk is all fine and well until you become a hypocrite.”
Various auto and tech sites pointed out the risk of highlighting problems of competitors. It also fueled criticism on Twitter.
“(The) second recall is a bit ironic for Ford seeing as Darren Palmer, Ford’s head of electric vehicles, said at the EV’s launch in December 2020 that the Mustang Mach-E’s ‘roof doesn’t come off.’ Well, as it turns out, on certain models it does,” InsideEVs.com said.
In March, Ford announced a recall for the Mach-E for loose subframe bolts, improperly tightened to specification.
Tesla has long been criticized for lack of attention to production detail, and it is a point of pride among Ford executives and engineers that the 118-year-old automaker understands how to execute quality manufacturing.
“Ford is committed to providing its customers with top quality vehicles,” Deep said Sunday. “We are equally committed to addressing potential issues and responding quickly for our customers.”
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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at313-618-1034 orphoward@freepress.com.Follow her on Twitter@phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.