Should I get rid of my PHEV because it has been recalled?
I own a four year old Ford Kuga 2.5 PHEV ST-Line X Edition. I have just received a second recall notice from Ford relating to charging the battery. I am warned not to charge the battery to more than 80% until their boffins have found a fix for the problem. This same problem happened last year when I was warned not to charge the battery at all until a fix was found. Is this problem unique to Ford or do other PHEV cars have similar problems? I am now seriously considering changing this car but am unsure whether to get another PHEV or a non charging hybrid. I am not yet ready to consider a full EV vehicle.
Asked on 24 February 2026 by Nick Hallam
Answered by
David Ross
Recalls are a relatively common occurrence - you can read our monthly updates to the latest recalls here - www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/owning/2026-02/dvsa-reca.../
It's not limited to new cars either - BMW has recently recalled almost half a million models for airbag faults for vehicles manufactured up to 20 years ago. PHEV recalls have also been issued for a number of different manufacturers, with Stellantis, Kia, Volkswagen and BMW also having recalled PHEVs in the last few years. However, the chances of an individual vehicle being recalled remains low - a recent survey suggested that the recall rate in the UK is just 3.1%. Swapping your current car for a different model is understandable, but it does not necessarily reduce the likelihood of a recall.
It's not limited to new cars either - BMW has recently recalled almost half a million models for airbag faults for vehicles manufactured up to 20 years ago. PHEV recalls have also been issued for a number of different manufacturers, with Stellantis, Kia, Volkswagen and BMW also having recalled PHEVs in the last few years. However, the chances of an individual vehicle being recalled remains low - a recent survey suggested that the recall rate in the UK is just 3.1%. Swapping your current car for a different model is understandable, but it does not necessarily reduce the likelihood of a recall.
Tags:
recalls
plug-in hybrid
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