Description of Incident: On August 3, 2025, while driving my 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, smoke began rising from the front of the vehicle. Within moments, flames erupted. I pulled over and evacuated. The fire quickly engulfed the cabin, resulting in a total loss. Component/System Involved: UNKNOWN. Based on the location and nature of the fire, a failure in the high-voltage battery system or related electrical components is suspected. Documentation and photos are available upon request. Safety Risk: This posed a serious threat to my safety and others on the road. Had it occurred in traffic or at higher speeds, the outcome could have been far worse. Reproduction/Confirmation: The issue has not been reproduced. The fire was investigated by my insurance company and the local fire department. Ford was notified and took possession of the vehicle on August 5. Inspection History: Ford left the vehicle uncovered outdoors for over two months. In October, they sent an engineer who spent 15–30 minutes walking around the car without opening or moving anything. Based solely on this brief visual inspection, Ford claimed the fire was caused by an “outside source” but provided no supporting evidence. I have fire report and police reports. Warning Signs: No warning lamps, error messages, or unusual behavior occurred prior to the fire. The drive was uneventful until smoke appeared. The vehicle had charged normally the day before. Assessment: UNKNOWN. The cause remains undetermined. Ford’s investigation lacked transparency and rigor. Given the growing number of EV fire reports, this incident deserves further scrutiny to protect other consumers.
NHTSA ODI 11696269