UK Recalls On Electric And Hybrid Cars: Battery, Charging And High-voltage Faults, And What Owners Must Do

Electric and hybrid car recalls fix faults in high-voltage batteries, chargers, inverters and 48-volt mild hybrid systems. DVSA lists 222 such UK recalls since 2020, up from a handful a year before. If your letter sets a charging limit, follow it exactly until the dealer has fixed the car.

Latest Electric And Hybrid Recalls

These are the newest UK car recalls involving high-voltage batteries, charging or hybrid systems, newest first.

Open any reference for the full DVSA wording, the build dates covered, any charging instruction and the fix. See how we grade recalls.

Charging Limits And "Do Not Charge" Instructions

Some recalls tell owners not to charge above a set level, or not to plug in at all, until a fix is fitted. Ford's 2025 Kuga plug-in hybrid recall set an 80 % limit.¹

In DVSA's data, 13 car recalls carry a charging limit or a no-charge instruction.¹ These instructions are part of the recall, so keep to them even if the car seems fine. A lower charge limit reduces the energy stored in a battery that may have a faulty cell. If you can't keep to the instruction, for example because the car is your only transport and the range is too short, tell the manufacturer when you book. It may be able to prioritise the repair or offer a courtesy car.

What Goes Wrong With EV And Hybrid Batteries?

Most high-voltage recalls involve battery cells or modules made with a defect, battery management software, charging units, or high-voltage contactors and wiring.

1. 1
   Cells and modulesFaults here can cause overheating or a fire risk.
2. 2
   Battery management systemSoftware that monitors the cells; many fixes are updates here.
3. 3
   On-board chargerConverts mains power; charging limits often relate to it.
4. 4
   Inverter and motorFaults can cause a sudden loss of drive.
5. 5
   Contactors and cablesOrange high-voltage cabling and the switches that connect it.

The battery management system watches every cell's temperature and voltage. Many recalls first update this software so it can spot a problem cell, then replace the affected modules once parts are available. 33% of these recalls include a software update. A high-voltage fault can also cause a loss of drive, see loss of power recalls, or a fire risk, see fire risk recalls.

If Your Car Shows A Battery Warning

Treat a high-voltage battery warning as urgent. Stop somewhere safe, switch off and read the message on the dashboard or in the handbook.

• A red battery or high-voltage warning: don't continue. Call the manufacturer's assistance line or your breakdown service and say the car is electric or a hybrid.
• A burning smell, smoke or hissing from the car or the charging point: unplug only if it is safe to do so, move away and call 999.
• An amber warning or reduced power: drive gently to a franchised dealer, or arrange for the car to be collected.

Then run your registration through our checker, because the warning may be linked to an open recall. See car recall symptoms.

Stop-drive EV Recalls

A few EV recalls have told owners not to drive at all, including the Mazda MX-30 on-board charger recall in 2023 and high-voltage battery cases on the BMW i4 and iX and the Audi A6 and Q5.

If your car is in a stop-drive recall, don't drive or charge it until the repair is done, unless the letter says charging is allowed. Ask the manufacturer to collect it. See do not drive recalls.

48-Volt Mild Hybrids

Mild hybrids have their own recalls, such as Stellantis's 2026 fire-risk recall for 1.2 PureTech hybrids.³

A mild hybrid uses a small 48-volt battery and a belt-driven starter-generator to help the engine. It cannot drive on electric power alone, but the 48-volt system still carries enough current to overheat if water gets in or a cable chafes. The 2026 Stellantis recall covers Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, DS, Jeep and Alfa Romeo models. See PureTech recalls. Mercedes-Benz and Ford have also recalled 48-volt systems.

Are Electric Cars Recalled More Often?

Electric and hybrid recalls have grown quickly since 2020 as sales grew. DVSA data shows the number of recalls, not how often faults happen, so it can't say whether electric cars are riskier.

201820222026

About 2,016,968 fully electric cars are now licensed in the UK (2026 Q2), alongside many more plug-in and mild hybrids. More cars and more new models mean more recalls, especially in the first years of a new technology.

See which car makes have the most recalls and UK car recall statistics.

How Soon EV Problems Lead To A Recall

Half of UK electric and hybrid recalls arrive within 28.8 months of the first affected car being built, and 15% arrive five or more years later.

Battery cell defects can take time to show, because they depend on charging cycles and ageing. Manufacturers often find the pattern only once thousands of cars have covered real-world mileage, then issue a recall for every car built with cells from the affected batch. That is why a battery recall can arrive for a car that has run without trouble for years.

Buying A Used Electric Or Hybrid Car

Check the registration for open recalls, ask for proof that any battery recall was completed, and ask whether the battery or modules were replaced.

Battery recalls can involve major work, so a completed recall can be a plus: some cars have new modules as a result. An open battery recall is not a reason to walk away on its own, because the repair is normally free, but you should book it straight after purchase and keep to any charging limit until then. A dealer must fix open safety recalls before selling a car to a consumer, while a private seller does not have to.⁴ See buying a used car with an outstanding recall.

Home Chargers And Charging Cables

Wallboxes and portable charging cables are product recalls handled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, not DVSA. Check GOV.UK's product safety alerts for your charger.

A home charger is a household electrical product, so its recalls don't appear on DVSA's vehicle list or on a registration check. If you've had a letter or email about your charger, or you're buying a second-hand cable, search GOV.UK's product safety alerts for the make and model. Stop using a recalled charger or cable until the supplier has fixed or replaced it, and never use a cable that is damaged or gets hot.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Electric Cars Need An MOT?

Yes, from three years old, like other cars. An outstanding recall is shown for information only.⁵ See recalls and the MOT.

Does A Battery Recall Affect My Insurance?

It doesn't usually change your premium, but ignoring a charging instruction could affect a claim. See recalls and car insurance.

Is A Recalled Battery Replaced For Free?

If the recall remedy is a new battery or modules, yes. You won't usually pay for recall repairs.⁶ See do you have to pay for a car recall?.

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Data: DVSA vehicle recall data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 15 October 2026. Licensed vehicle figures: DfT (2026 Q2).