Rolls-Royce Recalls Its First-Ever Electric Vehicle Over Fire Risk

Rolls-Royce is recalling many of the first ever electric SUVs it has built over an insufficient electrical ground that could increase the chances of a fire. The automaker says that potentially affected 2024 Spectre electric coupes were made from October 24, 2023, through December 11, 2023. Production of the Spectre started last summer, according to Rolls-Royce, with the first cars delivered in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“The ground connection cable between the front electric motor and the vehicle chassis may contain adhesive residue which can increase electrical resistance and cause an insufficient ground,” Rolls-Royce stated in recall documents filed with the federal government and posted Monday. This also creates a greater possibility of a front-motor short circuit, which could injure technicians working on the vehicle, it added.

The fix involves an inspection of the ground cable connection, with excess residue removed as necessary. Rolls-Royce will instruct dealerships about the recall by February 1 and owners by March 15.

According to the recall filing with the NHTSA, the issue affects Spectre vehicles manufactured between late October and early December 2023, at the assembly plant outside of Chichester in the UK.

The sticky cable could cause a short circuit in the front electrical motor, which Rolls-Royce said poses an injury risk to technicians working on Spectre vehicles, and “in an extremely rare case, it could increase the risk of a thermal event.” That’s a polite way of saying the sticky cable means could see the very expensive electric coupé catch fire.

The recall notice indicates that 107 Rolls-Royce Spectre EVs in the US are affected. The vehicle maker’s US head of communications Gerry Spahn told The Register that 316 Spectres are at risk, 137 of which have been sold to customers.