Ford Ireland's managing director has issued a statement in the wake of battery-overheating issues with the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) SUV.
Lisa Brankin, the chair and MD of Ford Britain and Ireland, said that complimentary check-ups from Ford dealers across the country would be available to Kuga PHEV owners, so that they can put their minds at rest that the car is 'safe and roadworthy'.
She also said a software update to rectify the issue was only a few weeks from being ready, while there have been no reported incidents of any Kuga PHEVs in Ireland having been affected by the problem.
In the meantime, however, owners have been told to drive the car in 'Auto EV' mode only and not to charge them up from the mains.
What is the issue in question?
Ford had to issue an urgent recall warning for 26,000 potentially affected cars across Europe in April, with a fire risk the worst outcome of the fault.
The recall notice wording for the Kuga PHEV reads: “Due to a manufacturing defect, the internal battery separator can become damaged over time by repeated charging and discharging cycles of the cells. This can cause the high-voltage battery cells to develop an internal short circuit. This creates a risk of the vehicle catching fire.
Moreover, the short circuit can cause a loss of propulsion power, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
“The Ford Kuga vehicles affected by this recall were manufactured between 20 August, 2019, and 28 November, 2023.”
This 2025 recall follows a similar procedure carried out in 2020, when the manufacturer had to replace the battery units of more than 27,000 Kuga PHEVs, after it was reported seven caught fire during recharging cycles.
What has Lisa Brankin said in the statement?
Her statement in full read: “To all of our affected customers, we're really sorry that an issue has occurred with the Ford Kuga PHEV battery.
“Our engineers are working closely with the supplier of the affected part and are putting all of their resources into perfecting a software update to remedy the issue.
This update will be available within 10-15 days and will give the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) enhanced capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of separator damage, providing advance warning to owners of a high-voltage battery issue before thermal venting occurs. In the event of anomaly detection, dealers will replace the vehicle's high-voltage battery pack.
“Until the software update has been installed by your Ford dealer, we ask all Kuga PHEV drivers to use their cars in 'Auto EV' mode and avoid charging until the software update is complete. We are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible for our customers, and thank you for your patience and trust in us.
“Resolving this issue speedily and expertly is our priority, and while our engineering and software team fully focuses on that we will continue to monitor vehicles in operation. Only a very small number of vehicles on the road worldwide have reported an issue with battery thermal venting, with zero reported issues in Ireland.
“If customers have any concerns about their Kuga PHEV, they can contact their local dealership for reassurance, and to book in for a complimentary 'Kuga PHEV Check-Up' to reassure them that the vehicle is safe and roadworthy when in Auto EV mode.
“We are also extending the warranty for high-voltage components to ten years/240,000km (whichever comes first), covering the high-voltage battery, for all affected Kuga PHEVs in Europe.
“If customers require further assistance or would like to discuss how they are being affected by this recall notification, they can contact our Customer Relationship team on 1800 771 199, between 9am and 5pm (0900-1700), Monday to Friday, to speak to a person who can advise them.
“Ford is committed to bringing a great line-up of hybrid and electric vehicles to market in Ireland, helping serve our customers' needs, reduce emissions, and being there for our dealers and communities long into the future.”