While driving, the car suddenly stopped, showed a "Stop Safely Now" warning and stopped in the middle of a busy road. Car went into Park and could not be moved from the middle of a busy road. Remained in Park and could not even be shifted into Neutral to be pushed out of the way of bust traffic. Very dangerous. No prior warning. Car had to be towed and now at deal for investigation into cause.
2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Mustang Mach-E | 48 |
| 2022 Mustang Mach-E (this page) | 27 |
3crashes
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is HVBJB failure: owners lose all propulsion and power steering at highway speeds, sometimes with no warning. Some pull over safely; others face dangerous lane-crossing situations. The box internally degrades under normal driving and charging with no external sign until it quits.
Ford issued a recall (23S56, campaign 22V412000) that initially relied on software only—not replacing the known-defective part. Even "upgraded" replacement units are failing: owners report second and third HVBJB replacements within 6,000–10,000 miles of the previous replacement. Dealers confirm Ford has not produced a more robust part and continues supplying the same inadequate units. Parts delays of 6–18 weeks strand owners without vehicles.
Beyond the HVBJB, owners report wiring harness connector failures that recur within days of repair, one-pedal drive randomly disengaging (the main brake method on an EV), unintended acceleration at parking speeds, transmission stuck in Park with no Park release, and rear motor failure. A 12V battery fuse leaves the car completely dead—unlike conventional cars that still run. One owner's vehicle rolled 250 yards down a hill after being placed in Park, totaling it against a security gate.
Dealers cannot diagnose some issues, and Ford acknowledges problems (like one-pedal drive failure) without fixes. Owners stranded on roadsides and highways describe the vehicle as unreliable and unsafe for family use.
Same Ford Mustang Mach-E powertrain reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
High-Voltage Battery Junction Box (HVBJB) Failure
The HVBJB subassembly fails under normal charging and driving conditions, causing sudden loss of propulsion power, loss of power steering, loss of power brakes, and inability to charge the 12V battery. Contactors degrade internally with no external warning until failure occurs. Multiple owners report repeated failures even after warranty replacement with 'upgraded' parts.
When: 9,500 to 54,000 miles; recurring failures within 6,000–10,000 miles of replacement; failures occur during highway driving, at low speeds, and during charging
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of propulsion power; Stop Safely Now warning on dashboard; Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power warning; High-Voltage Battery Warning; Loss of power steering; Loss of power brakes requiring extreme pedal force (100+ lbs pressure); Vehicle cannot accelerate or move; Vehicle goes into Park and cannot be shifted to Neutral; Complete loss of all 12V systems; 12V battery unable to charge properly
Codes mentioned: Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power, High-Voltage Battery Warning, Antilock Brake Fault, Hill Start Assist Warning, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available
Repairs/costs cited: Warranty replacement of HVBJB subassembly performed by Ford dealerships; 'upgraded' versions continue to fail; some owners on third replacement; parts availability delays cited (6–18 weeks in some cases); software-only recall (23S56, 22V412000) does not include physical part replacement in initial remedy
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23S56 issued; NHTSA Campaign Numbers 22V412000 and 23S56 referenced; Ford issued software-only fix under 22V412000 without replacing known-defective parts; second recall (23S56) introduced for physical part replacement; dealers report Ford has not produced robust replacement parts and continues to replace with same or marginally upgraded units; stop-work order mentioned in relation to software update
Wiring Harness Connector Failure
Wiring harness connector failure between vehicle control modules causes loss of motive power. Recurring issue within 1–2 days of initial repair attempt.
When: During active driving; recurring failure shortly after repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected slowdown and loss of power; Vehicle becomes inoperable; Loss of motive power during roadway conditions
Codes mentioned: Powertrain Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced wiring harness connector; same issue reoccurred within 1–2 days; defect not permanently resolved
One-Pedal Drive Disengagement
One-pedal drive function randomly disengages, eliminating the primary braking method in electric vehicles and creating an unsafe loss of control.
When: Post-HVBJB recall
Symptoms owners cite: One-pedal drive randomly disengages; Loss of primary braking system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford recognizes the problem and its connection to the earlier HVBJB recall but has not issued a fix
Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle exhibits unintended acceleration at low speed (2 mph while parking) and random lunging forward while in Drive mode.
When: While parking and during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended acceleration at 2 mph while parking; Vehicle lunges forward randomly; No warning light illuminated prior to incident; Vehicle may shift into Reverse when in Drive mode
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in collision with light post, building, and gate; vehicle not yet diagnosed or repaired by dealer in at least one case; owners report repeated calls to Ford without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V333000 (Vehicle Speed Control, Power Train) referenced by owner; manufacturer has been informed
Transmission/Parking Failure
Vehicle does not remain in Park and rolls uncontrollably down a hill even after driver places it in Park and exits the vehicle. No other safety features engage to stop the roll.
When: While parked on incline
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls down hill after placed in Park; Transmission/engine does not stay in Park; Safety features fail to prevent rolling; No airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled (250-yard roll until collision with security gate)
12V Battery Fused / Electrical System Failure
12V battery fails, causing complete electrical system shutdown and propulsion loss. Unlike conventional vehicles, loss of 12V power in the Mach-E results in total vehicle shutdown and loss of all systems.
When: During driving
Symptoms owners cite: 12V battery fuses; Complete loss of power; Multiple error messages regarding all vehicle systems
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes that in conventional ICE vehicles, 12V battery failure does not prevent driving; in Mach-E, it causes total vehicle shutdown
Propulsion Loss After Charging
Vehicle becomes disabled and will not enter propulsion mode after charging at a Level 2 charger, despite high charge state.
When: Immediately after plugging into Blink Charger at dealership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle disabled after charging; Will not go into propulsion mode; Cannot exit Park even at 98% charge; No error messages reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership cited NHTSA stop-work order on software update as reason for inability to resolve issue
Rear Motor Failure
Rear motor of the vehicle breaks during normal driving, resulting in total propulsion loss with no prior warning.
When: During normal travel; no mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden vehicle shutdown; Complete loss of propulsion; No warning indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Ford had no updates or fixes available
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
While driving on Route 1 and attempting to pass another motorist, a flashing red "STOP SAFELY NOW" lit on my dashboard, along with multiple warnings of a "powertrain failure". Thankfully I was near my house and was able to get home. But the FordPass App is saying that I had a high-voltage power malfunction and will need to tow the car to my local dealership. Now I am being told that the…
I have a 2022 Mustang Mach E GT Performance edition. I purchased it new and am the first owner. The build date is September 2022 and I received a notification in the Ford Pass Mobile phone application saying: - High Voltage Battery Warning - Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power This is a known issue for build dates before May 2022, so my car should've not been affected, but it is. I've…
On November 18, 2022 my vehicle's High Voltage Battery Junction Box (HVBJB) failed. Ford replaced this part with an "upgraded" version of this part and I received my car back on November 28th. Shortly thereafter, the NHTSA issued a recall, the solution for which was a software update that my car received. On October 10, 2023 my vehicle's HVBJB failed once again (the newer upgraded part).…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 27 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 23,750 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Ford/Mustang Mach-E.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.