2025 Ford Ranger police van defect: AC issue causes power loss
Ford Ranger police van defect traced to AC integration
2025 Ford Ranger police van defect: AC issue causes power loss
A defect in 2025 Ford Ranger police vans causes power loss when rear AC is off, due to faulty temperature sensor integration. Learn about the fix and affected vehicles.
2026-02-05T21:01:19+03:00
2026-02-05T21:01:19+03:00
2026-02-05T21:01:19+03:00
A rare but potentially critical defect has been discovered in Australia in 2025 Ford Ranger service vehicles converted into divisional vans for Victoria Police. In some cases, the vehicles lost power after the air conditioning in the rear module was turned off, causing temperatures in the compartment to rise to critical levels. This disrupted system operations and limited engine traction.The investigation traced the issue to incorrect integration of a temperature sensor in the so-called Prisoner Transport Pod, installed by a third-party contractor, Centaur. Ford Australia has officially stated that the vehicle itself underwent full testing in extreme heat and has no factory defect. The failure stems from design features of the air conditioning added during police outfitting.A temporary fix requires keeping the climate system in the module constantly on, even if the rear compartment is empty. The supplier has already developed a technical correction that will eliminate the engine's dependency on overheating in the cargo area.According to Victoria Police, only eight 2025 model-year vehicles are affected. The problem does not appear in 2023 and 2024 Rangers, likely due to differences in equipment configuration. Most incidents occurred during recent extreme heat, confirming the thermal nature of the fault.Police emphasize that all new installations undergo rigorous testing, and Ford and contractors are already working on an updated integration scheme.
Ford Ranger defect, police van AC issue, 2025 Ford Ranger, Victoria Police vehicles, power loss, temperature sensor, vehicle integration, automotive recall
2026
Michael Powers
news
Ford Ranger police van defect traced to AC integration
A defect in 2025 Ford Ranger police vans causes power loss when rear AC is off, due to faulty temperature sensor integration. Learn about the fix and affected vehicles.
Michael Powers, Editor
A rare but potentially critical defect has been discovered in Australia in 2025 Ford Ranger service vehicles converted into divisional vans for Victoria Police. In some cases, the vehicles lost power after the air conditioning in the rear module was turned off, causing temperatures in the compartment to rise to critical levels. This disrupted system operations and limited engine traction.
The investigation traced the issue to incorrect integration of a temperature sensor in the so-called Prisoner Transport Pod, installed by a third-party contractor, Centaur. Ford Australia has officially stated that the vehicle itself underwent full testing in extreme heat and has no factory defect. The failure stems from design features of the air conditioning added during police outfitting.
A temporary fix requires keeping the climate system in the module constantly on, even if the rear compartment is empty. The supplier has already developed a technical correction that will eliminate the engine's dependency on overheating in the cargo area.
According to Victoria Police, only eight 2025 model-year vehicles are affected. The problem does not appear in 2023 and 2024 Rangers, likely due to differences in equipment configuration. Most incidents occurred during recent extreme heat, confirming the thermal nature of the fault.
Police emphasize that all new installations undergo rigorous testing, and Ford and contractors are already working on an updated integration scheme.
