Ford Urges EV Owners to Stop Using Free Tesla Supercharger Adapters

Ford has issued a service bulletin advising its EV owners to stop using the free NACS adapters provided for Tesla's Superchargers, citing a "potential issue" that could lead to reduced charging speeds and possible damage to the charging port. The advisory, spotted by InsideEVs, has raised concerns among Ford customers.

Ford announced that it will send replacement adapters to customers "in the coming weeks," at no cost. The company is also asking customers to return the original adapters to avoid potential vehicle damage. "It is crucial that we collect all affected adapters to minimize any risk," Ford said.

In May 2023, Ford signed an EV-charging agreement with Tesla, allowing Ford EV owners in the U.S. and Canada to use Tesla’s Supercharger network. Initially, the deadline to provide free adapters was set for June 2024, but due to supplier delays, it was pushed back to September 30, 2024. This new issue could lead to further delays.

The NACS adapters convert the North American CCS ports used on Ford EVs to Tesla's NACS connectors. Other automakers like Nissan, Rivian, GM, and Subaru have made similar deals with Tesla, with plans to fully adopt the NACS standard in future models. Ford itself plans to switch to NACS in 2025.

Creating a safe NACS adapter is no simple task, as Tesla's latest V4 Superchargers are rated for 250 kW and 615 amps, delivering significant power. Earlier this year, Tesla sued a supplier of a low-cost NACS adapter, citing the risk of "catastrophic" injuries.

This latest issue is a setback for Ford, particularly given the repeated delays in providing the adapter. The company had to sign a charging agreement with Tesla and will officially adopt the NACS charging standard in 2025.