Ford recalls vehicles in South Africa
On March 26, 2026, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) issued a statement recalling 582 selected Ford Transit and Ford Tourneo vehicles sold in South Africa between 2021 and 2025.
Ford Motor Company South Africa said the affected 2022-2026 model-year vehicles may have issues with their batteries.
“The vehicles built with H7 AGM batteries may produce an acidic smell similar to that of rotten eggs inside the cabin, a hissing sound, or visible gas venting from the battery,” said NCC Spokesperson Phetho Ntaba.
“In some cases, the seat area may feel unusually warm. The supplier further indicated that increased temperatures may cause a reaction in the battery that produces hydrogen sulphide gas.”
The NCC warned that prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulphide gas may pose health risks to occupants of the affected vehicles.
According to the US Department of Labour, hydrogen sulphide gas causes a wide range of health effects. People are primarily exposed to hydrogen sulphide by breathing it.
The effects of the gas depend on how much hydrogen sulphide is inhaled and for how long. Exposure to very high concentrations can reportedly lead to death.
The NCC urged owners of the affected vehicles to return them to their nearest authorised dealership for repair.
The repair work required to address this issue will reportedly be covered by the motor company, and consumers should not incur any related costs.
Below is a table compiled by the US Department of Labour showing acute symptoms and effects of hydrogen sulphide gas depending on the concentration inhaled.
| Concentration (ppm) | Symptoms/Effects |
|---|---|
| 0.00011-0.00033 | Typical background concentrations |
| 0.01-1.5 | Odor threshold (when rotten egg smell is first noticeable to some). Odor becomes more offensive at 3-5 ppm. Above 30 ppm, odor described as sweet or sickeningly sweet. |
| 2-5 | Prolonged exposure may cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, headaches or loss of sleep. Airway problems (bronchial constriction) in some asthma patients. |
| 20 | Possible fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, irritability, poor memory, dizziness. |
| 50-100 | Slight conjunctivitis (“gas eye”) and respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour. May cause digestive upset and loss of appetite. |
| 100 | Coughing, eye irritation, loss of smell after 2-15 minutes (olfactory fatigue). Altered breathing, drowsiness after 15-30 minutes. Throat irritation after 1 hour. Gradual increase in severity of symptoms over several hours. Death may occur after 48 hours. |
| 100-150 | Loss of smell (olfactory fatigue or paralysis). |
| 200-300 | Marked conjunctivitis and respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour. Pulmonary edema may occur from prolonged exposure. |
| 500-700 | Staggering, collapse in 5 minutes. Serious damage to the eyes in 30 minutes. Death after 30-60 minutes. |
| 700-1000 | Rapid unconsciousness, “knockdown” or immediate collapse within 1 to 2 breaths, breathing stops, death within minutes. |
| 1000-2000 | Nearly instant death |
Loading ...