Ford told 26,000 Kuga plug-in hybrid owners not to charge while it built a second fire fix

Ford initiated a recall of the current-generation Kuga plug-in hybrid, on sale since 2019, after identifying a fire risk linked to a battery defect that could short-circuit, causing loss of power or fires. In early March 2026 the automaker advised owners not to charge the vehicle's battery. The London Daily reported that roughly four weeks later Ford still had not provided a repair timeline, leaving an estimated 26,000 affected drivers across Europe in limbo, with shipments of new models halted until a software fix was ready.

The recall is the second fire-related safety failure for the model: in 2020 Ford was compelled to replace battery units in more than 27,000 Kugas after fires occurred during charging. Owners described a 'stop safely now' warning that requires immediately exiting the vehicle, a particular burden for drivers with mobility challenges, and rising running costs from running on petrol alone. Ford's notification letter offered no proactive compensation for extra fuel spend or potential battery damage.

The eventual remedy was software: a corrective update estimated to reach dealers by July that limits high-voltage charging to 80% of capacity. Owners who received it reported reduced usable capacity and range — one measured a drop from an advertised 14.4 kWh charge rate to 9.3 kWh — and said Ford offered compensation such as a €200 payment or service vouchers only on insistence. Consumer experts pointed owners to the Consumer Rights Act and The Motor Ombudsman, which was in discussions with Ford; the ABI warned that ignoring a recall notice can invalidate insurance claims.

Over 26,000 European owners told not to charge; new-model shipments halted; the fix caps usable battery at 80%, cutting range, with no proactive compensation

The battery defect repeated the model's 2020 fire failure, and the fix again arrived as software mitigation rather than the battery replacement the first recall required.

Ford shipped the problem broadly — an estimated 26,000 vehicles in Europe — and halted new sales only after the risk was known, not before.

The remedy degraded the product's core value proposition (electric range) without proactive compensation, converting a safety recall into a running-cost grievance for owners.

A software patch that quietly trades away the product's headline capability buys time, not trust — owners who bought a plug-in for electric miles will not forgive losing them.

The software fix began reaching dealers around July 2026, with owners anticipating waits for appointments; commenters on the article report the fix reduced charging capacity and, in one case, did not resolve erratic range readings. The Motor Ombudsman was engaging with Ford on timelines and consumer inquiries. No regulator penalty appears in the material.