2021 Ford Mustang Mach E: won't start

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · PA

On August 8, 2026, my 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium experienced a serious electronic lockout. The vehicle was running, with the air conditioning and music on, when the doors locked and I was unable to regain entry. My keys, phone, purse, medication, and other essential belongings were inside the vehicle. I attempted multiple methods to regain access, including the driver’s door keypad, but I was unsuccessful. I remained locked out for approximately 7.5 hours and ultimately had to break the windshield to reach inside and unlock the vehicle. My understanding is that Ford had previously performed a recall remedy addressing a potential electronic door-lockout issue on this vehicle. I am concerned that the vehicle experienced a similar safety-related malfunction after that remedy. I do not yet know the precise technical cause and am requesting investigation. Following this incident, my vehicle experienced repeated 12-volt battery and no-start problems. When the vehicle was left at Kenny Ross Ford for diagnosis, I was later unable to get it to respond to the key or show lights or audible signals, and it did not appear to respond when connected to a charger. The dealership’s inspection subsequently recommended replacing the 12-volt battery and conducting a parasitic-drain test, but the report provided to me did not establish the cause of the original lockout. I am concerned that an electronic failure involving the door-latch system, 12-volt power supply, vehicle control modules, or recall-related software may have prevented safe access to the vehicle. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this incident in light of Ford recall 25V404, manufacturer campaign 25S65, which addresses a potential lockout condition associated with low 12-volt battery voltage and electronic door latches retaining their locked state. I am not asserting that the recall has been proven to be the cause. I am requesting investigation into whether this incident reflects the same or a related safety defect

Filed Dec 26, 2024 · Electrical, Fuel system · NY

It has several error messages including "Stop safely now". This seems to be the same issue as recall 23S56 (TSB 22-2178). The vehicle is not drivable as it will not start or go into gear. Seems to be known issue with the HVBJB.

Filed Oct 21, 2023 · Electrical · IL

Display gave warning - Service Vehicle soon and car did not start after being parked for about an hour. Outside temp was 65F. Car was driven about 400 miles that day including DCFC once. Had to be towed to dealership where it has sat for over 3 weeks with no repair and no information about what is wrong. I had someone familiar with the Ford system look up the codes who found that there was likely a problem with HVBJB that now is recalled. Not sure what to do anymore since dealership has car for 3 weeks now.

Filed Mar 11, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · OH

I went to start the vehicle and it gave me a red warning "stop safely now". It was already stopped and would not start at all. It had plenty of charge on the battery pack. It's been at the dealer for nearly two weeks and they have had to order the HVJBC, I believe. I am fortunate that it didn't fail while driving or parked in a place which was inaccessible to a tow truck. The forum I read recommended making a report. This seems to be an all to common problem with this car and can lead to sudden acceleration or deceleration while in motion. Had had received an earlier yellow warning for "service vehicle soon" and took it to the dealership and they assured me they had updated all the software (in the hopes of preventing the "stop safely now" problem). Obviously, that didn't work.

Filed Aug 2, 2022 · Electrical · OR

The vehicle would not start and display an error message "pull over safely now" which the car was not able to put in any gear. This incident happened 2 times already. The first incident was when i drove the vehicle from Oregon to California. As i was about to leave the next morning from the hotel, the vehicle would not turn un and display the message "pull over safely now". We had to call a tow truck to pick up the vehicle and drop it off at a Dealership in California for about 30 days. We pick up the vehicle and drove back to Oregon and the same issue happen again in less than a week with the same error message "pull over safely now".

Filed May 23, 2022 · Electrical · AZ

Car did not start - was in local grocery parking lot- needed to be towed to dealership.

Filed May 17, 2022 · Fuel system · CA

Bricked Mach E Extended Range with 10K miles and recently completed the roof and windscreen recall the week prior. Went to brunch and then came out to a car that would not start. Warning of "Stop Safely Now" even though the vehicle was driven to the location and then sat for 2 hours and was currently parked and still gave us this message. Low voltage (12 Volt) came in slightly low at 12.6 VDC. Attempted two jumps from another vehicle and a higher amperage tow truck with no change in error code nor would the vehicle "start". We resulted in doing a tow to a dealership for potential repair. Dealership has had it now for going on the third week. They are citing the replacement of the battery bus where the Low Voltage 12 VDC interfaces with the brains and main battery system. This has been cited before in the Mustang Mach E blogs. Replacement part is on hand but the dealership has a specialist being flown in to remedy the replacement part installation. Read in Mach E forums of similar problems where the battery became low and the vehicle was then disabled from engaging the drivetrain. Overall problem gave us pause on ownership and we will qualify for the Lemon Law buyback for CA if it comes to that. Looking to see if repairs will be complete this week.

Filed May 13, 2022 · Fuel system · MD

Vehicle would not start after a brief stop, with a "Stop Safely Now" error. Vehicle could not be shifted out of Park, and could only be shifted into Neutral using the Emergency Tow Mode. Vehicle was towed to nearest Ford dealer, and the High-Voltage Battery Junction Box (HVBJB) failed and required replacement. This is a known issue that has affected many similar vehicles of the same make, model, and year.

Filed May 7, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MI

I was stranded in a parking lot in the evening when my car wouldn't start. The vehicle displayed a "STOP SAFELY NOW" message and I couldn't get the car to move on its own. This happened on April 13, 2022. My safety was at risk because I was in a parking lot at night and unable to engage my car. I had to call and wait for a tow truck. The Ford dealership, in consultation with Ford engineers, confirmed that it was due to a faulty High Voltage Battery Junction Box (HVBJB) and it had to be replaced. With the faulty HVBJB, the car was undrivable. The HVBJB was inspected by Ford personnel and determined to be faulty. It was replaced under warranty. There were no other messages or warnings before my car failed to start. No prior symptoms. I drove normally to a store, parked the car, and when I returned to my car it failed to start.

Filed Apr 26, 2022 · CA

I was driving 70 mph on Hwy 99 in California about 35 miles north of Bakersfield when the car suddenly lost all power. A warning message appeared on the dash "stop safely now." I was able to coast over to the side of the road (there really wasn't much of a shoulder). It was extremely unsafe. The car would not move out of gear, would not start, etc. The car has 1550 miles on the odometer. I waited 1.5 hours for a tow truck to take the car to a Ford dealer. I was 4 hours from home. I am a 71 year old widow. I was traveling alone with my small dog. It was very frightening. The car has been at the dealership for a week. They have no idea what the problem is. The dealer is working with "a Ford engineer" to diagnose the problem. The Mustang Mach-E owners' forums are FILLED with complaints from other owners who are experiencing the exact same problem with this car.

Filed Apr 12, 2022 · AL

Was driving home and stoped at a business with no issues. Return to car to operate and car not functioning properly. Getting error light “Stop safely now”. Car will not start with power button, will only go into full accessory power mode. The car cannot be switched from park to anything else. R, N, D not accessible. It seems that a system update was recently pushed to the vehicle.

Filed Apr 4, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

Car was parked in my home garage and would not start, displaying "Stop safely now." Vehicle appears to have code P0AA1 Hybrid battery positive contactor - circuit stuck closed. Many other Mach-E vechicles are exhibiting this defective part in the high voltage battery system, which appears to be the Battery Electrical Control Module (BECM). Ford appears to be aware of this issue, and, unconfirmed, has stopped production of the Mach-E to canibalize parts to fix vehicles that fail. However, some are less lucky than me and had their car stop dead while driving on the highway, and Ford should not be waiting for vehicles to stop and strand people before fixing this serious defect. Please see here for more info on my situation: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/%F0%9F%98%ADmach-n-cheese-stop-safely-now-%F0%9F%98%AD.16174/