Ford has confirmed that UK vehicles are affected by a major safety defect that could leave passengers stuck in cars. Ford has written to the USA's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warning of an imminent safety recall surrounding problems with a door latch.

In a message received by Ford, the Express can confirm that "some" Mustang Mach-E electric cars based in the UK are also caught up in the latest safety recall. Although further details on the number of UK cars affected have yet to be revealed, Ford confirmed they will be in touch with affected customers shortly. Once contacted, owners are likely to receive the updates completely free of charge.

The announcement comes just days after Ford wrote to the NHTSA informing them of an upcoming safety recall.

It is understood Ford believes the issue is a software problem that is causing the electronic door latch to remain closed.

The report states that latches may remain closed when the car's battery is low, which could result in passengers being stuck in the car.

The NHTSA report explained: "Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles.

"In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat."

Ford stressed that the inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency would increase the risk of injuries.

The report found that as many as 197,432 vehicles are affected by the recall and will soon be contacted by Ford.

The NHTSA report added: "Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software."

The Mustang Mach-E is one of the most recognisable electric cars on the market and is the company's flagship EV model.

The Mach-E SUV can carry a range of between 292 and 372 miles, depending on the trim motorists opt for.

As well as having ample storage space for the whole family, the car certainly packs a punch for petrolheads.

Top-end Mach-E models can reach a top speed of 120mph and reach 0-62 mph in just 6.7 seconds.