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Ford is recalling more than 125,000 vehicles over fears that engine failures may cause fires – an extension to one announced days earlier involving more than 140,000 other models.
The recall, confirmed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Tuesday, includes 86,656 model year 2020-23 Ford Escapes, 35,501 model year 2022-23 Ford Mavericks, and 3,165 model year 2021-23 Lincoln Corsairs.
It comes days after Ford issued a statement urging owners of more than 140,000 SUVs to park outside over concerns they can catch fire at any time, even with the engine off.
The concerning bulletin called for those cars, the model year 2015-19 Lincoln MKC, to also be pulled from circulation – days after the Michigan-based motor company pulled more than 175,000 2021-23 Bronco SUVs over a seat belt issue.
According to the firm – which has factories in the US and Mexico – the recall stems over concern of the location of a battery monitor sensor on the relatively new vehicles, which makes it susceptible to damage when parts are repaired.
Ford is recalling more than 125,000 vehicles over fears that engine failures may cause fires – an extension to one announced days earlier involving more than 140,000 other models
So far, Ford is aware of 19 of the vehicles going up in flames. Pictures shared on social media by a user who was issued a warning over the issue show a Ford MKC completely burn out. The company recalled 140,000 MKCs last week, meaning the recall stands at nearly 270,000 cars
Moreover, it comes as reports of spontaneous engine fires not only in the US, but in China and Canada as well, have continued to surface – forcing Ford’s hand Tuesday as it filed the paperwork necessary to have the cars pulled.
‘Affected vehicles have 2.5-liter HEV/PHEV engines that could fail prematurely,’ the NHTSA said in a consumer alert after receiving said filing from Ford Co.
‘If they do, engine oil and/or fuel vapor may be released and accumulate near ignition sources, resulting in potential under-hood fires, localized melting of components, or smoke.’
Now standing at severalthousand cars, the recall to prevent electrical shorts from proving combustible stems from manufacturing issues with the relatively new vehicles battery sensors – which are all hybrids and have eclectic motors in addition to gas engines.
In their Tuesday filing, brass at Ford explained how those 2.5-liter engines can leak oil or gasoline vapors that can catch combust when coming into contact with hot parts in the vehicles’ engine compartment.
Worsening matters, staffers said, is the fact that since the pickup and utility vehicles’ are hybrids, a driver could continue operating their vehicle electrically even after the engine has failed – putting them in further danger if a fire breaks out.
‘Ford advises customers to safely park and shut off the engine as [quickly] as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, lose power, or see or smell smoke,’ NHTSA said of the firm’s recommended course of action for drivers in their notice.
This recall announced Tuesday added to the MKC nixing, and includes 86,656 model year 2020-23 Ford Escapes (left), as well as 3,165 model year 2021-23 Lincoln Corsairs (right)
Also affected is the 2022-23 Ford Maverick pickup, 35,501 of which will now be pulled to prevent electrical shorts from proving combustible
The company said that owners of the aforementioned cars will be contacted starting June 12, by which point a fix for the engine issue is expected to be available, the traffic safety administration said. A fleet of 2021 Ford Escape SUVs are seen here
The recall covers various Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs and Maverick compact pickup trucks, which are built at the firm’s plants in Louisville (left), and Hermosillo, Mexico (right), respectively
The company said that owners of the aforementioned cars will be contacted starting June 12, by which point a fix for the engine issue is expected to be available
The company said that owners of the aforementioned cars will be contacted starting June 12, by which point a fix for the engine issue is expected to be available, the traffic safety administration said.
The recall covers various Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs and Maverick compact pickup trucks, which are built at the firm’s plants in Louisville, Kentucky, and Hermosillo, Mexico, respectively.
Ford said isolated engine manufacturing issues can cause the engine to fail prematurely and in that event engine oil or fuel vapor may be released, increasing the risk of fire and injury.
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Ford initially recalled 100,000 Escape, Corsair and Maverick in the United States in July 2022 after identifying 23 reports globally of a fire or smoke after a suspected block or oil pan breach.
Ford said on Tuesday it had reports of at least three vehicles that suffered fires after the 2022 recall.
Ford and NHTSA advised owners to park and shut off the engine if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.
Ford said the new recall fix is under development.
The No. 2 U.S. automaker last week said it was recalling 142,000 Lincoln MKC SUVs in the United States due to fire risks and advised owners to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Ford said last week that dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit.
So far, Ford is aware of 19 of the vehicles going up in flames worldwide that may be connected to the sensor problems.
Out of the nineteen cases, 11 were in the United States, 7 in China, and 1 in Canada.
Pictures shared on social media by one user, Dan Lawson who had issued a warning over the issue show a maroon MKC completely burn out.
it comes as reports of spontaneous engine fires not only in the US, but in China and Canada as well, have continued to surface – forcing Ford’s hand Tuesday as it filed the paperwork necessary to have the cars pulled
Ford said on Tuesday it had reports of at least three vehicles that suffered fires after a 2022 recall involving the MKC, which is essentially an older version of the Corsair and boasts the same issue
The front of the car has been stripped away due to the fire and the inner workings are new strewn across the ground underneath it.
The owner, Dan Lawson, said: ‘Buyers and Owners of the Lincoln MKC or Ford models like the MKC beware of the possible hidden dangers.
‘We could have lost our home and our lives due to our MKC catching fire.
‘Lincoln/Ford denies any fault and has left us stranded and not offered to help in any way. Thanks Ford, that’s real customer service for a 30 year loyal customer.’
Another social media user, Teresa Lee Coffman shared images of her burnt out red Lincoln that her husband bought her for Valentines Day in 2021.
Coffman said the vehicle was ‘burning to the ground’ while she was driving it in December of 2021.
Pictures show the front and middle portions of her Lincoln have been completely wrecked in the fire.
The recall, meanwhile, comes days after Ford CEO Jim Farley touted how his company is remaking itself by cutting costs, raising quality and offering software, services and new vehicles designed to boost profit margins.
Last week, Farley and other executives gave details on how it will get there over the next few years during a capital markets day event Monday near its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.
One prospective strategy outlined by the exec is to reduce investment in hypercompetitive market segments such as two-row smaller SUVs.
Owners with the aforementioned models have been told to contact their Ford or Lincoln dealer, or NHSTA directly through their safety hotline.
