Electric car startup Lucid has recalled 637 of its Air sedans from model years 2022 and 2023 because their electric motors can shut down unexpectedly. The problem can happen even while driving, leading to a sudden loss of propulsion.
Many electric cars have a mode that turns off the motors but allows the lights, climate control, and entertainment systems to function. It’s much like accessory mode in a gas-powered car, if accessory mode could also operate the heating and air conditioning. It saves battery — in some tests, EVs have run their heaters for days without recharging in this mode.
But you don’t want to switch into accessory mode suddenly if you’re driving. That’s what’s happening in the Air sedans, Lucid says. The problem occurs when a tiny spring inside a switch, called the contactor, overcomes the magnet meant to hold it closed, tripping the car into accessory mode.
Lucid says it can use a remote software update to determine which cars are at risk for the problem. So the recall repair will happen in two steps. The first involves remotely downloading the latest software update. Some owners have already done so. Lucid says it will notify those who haven’t “to update their software at home or bring their vehicles to a service center for a software update.”
That update includes a test of spring strength. The company tells federal regulators the test “provides a greater than 99.999% confidence interval” for identifying at-risk cars. Lucid will contact owners whose vehicles may need one to come in for a new contactor.
Recall repairs are always free. But millions of us miss recall notices every year and unknowingly drive recalled vehicles. Find out if your car needs any free safety repairs at our easy recall center.
