Ford advises EV owners to stop using Tesla NACS adapters

Less than a year after granting its EV owners access to Tesla’s Supercharger network with a free adapter, Ford is asking customers to stop using the devices immediately due to a potential defect.

Why it matters: The move comes at a pivotal time as Ford and other automakers rush to integrate Tesla’s charging infrastructure into their ecosystems. With growing competition in the EV space, any hiccup in customer experience — particularly involving charging — could hinder adoption and dent Ford’s credibility with buyers.

What they're saying: A Ford spokesperson told InsideEVs, “We identified a potential issue with a batch of adapters where, over time, usage may result in reduced charging speeds or damage to the charge port. As such, Ford does not recommend using the affected adapters, and we are offering replacements to all impacted customers.”

• An InsideEVs staff writer reported that charging attempts with the adapters triggered red indicator lights and disrupted compatibility with the Tesla app — raising questions about how widespread the issue might be.

The details: Ford stressed that the impacted “batch” sent to customers earlier this year will be treated as a customer service action rather than an official recall.

• Ford promised to send replacement adapters at no cost, with shipments expected to begin the week of Oct. 28. Customers are asked to update their addresses in FordPass by Oct. 24 to ensure timely delivery. 

• Fleet customers will coordinate with their National Account Managers for replacements.

Zoom in: Ford has struggled with supply chain issues that delayed the delivery of these adapters. The initial signup deadline for the free adapters was extended multiple times to accommodate supply constraints, and now the company may extend it further given the newly discovered issue.

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