Ford expands fire recall, has no fix
Move covers more than 125,000 Escapes, Corsairs and Mavericks built from 2020-23
Ford Motor Co. is expanding a recall to include 125,322 SUVs and small pickups built in 2020-23 for risk of engine compartment fires, based on new information that indicates a previous recall repair failed to fix the problem.
The recall covers: 2020-23 Ford Escape (86,656 vehicles), 2021-23 Lincoln Corsair (3,165 vehicles) and the 2022-23 Maverick compact pickup (35,501 vehicles) equipped with a 2.5-liter hybrid electric vehicle engine or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle engine. A hybrid electric vehicle combines a conventional internal combustion engine system with an electric propulsion system.
What’s the risk in the Ford Escape, Maverick, Lincoln Corsair?
“In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire,” Ford wrote in its summary to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted May 26.
How to know there’s a problem
Ford advises owners to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises such as metal-to-metal clanking sounds, notice a reduction in vehicle power or see smoke.
What’s the fix?
The remedy is currently under development. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed to customers on Monday, June 12, with second letters sent once a remedy is available.
What’s the cause of the engine problem?
Isolated engine manufacturing issues have resulted in 2.5L HEV/PHEV engine failures involving engine block or oil pan breach, Ford told federal safety regulators. But the hybrid system continues to propel the vehicle, allowing the driver to continue moving. It is this driving after the breach that allows oil and/or fuel vapor to be expelled and accumulate near ignition sources, primarily expected to be the
exhaust system. The risk of fire is exacerbated by the hybrid system allowing a customer to continue to drive the vehicle following a bearing failure and loss of the gasoline engine torque, Ford wrote to federal regulators.
Why does this Escape, Corsair, Maverick recall sound familiar?
Ford initially recalled 100,689 Escape, Corsair and Maverick vehicles in the U.S. in July 2022 after identifying 23 reports globally of a fire or smoke after a suspected block or oil pan breach. Of the incidents from April 5, 2021, through May 19, 2022, nine were described as under-hood or vehicle fires, six were “localized under-hood melting,” seven were under-hood smoke, and one failed to provide enough detail to characterize, Ford said at the time. Ford reported in its chronology summary to the NHTSA that the automaker had three reports of vehicle fires between August and December 2022 that had been repaired as part of the initial recall. Ford wrote that it is unaware of injuries associated with this problem.
Are only Ford hybrid vehicles a fire risk lately?
No. NHTSA also posted May 26 the recall of certain 2015-19 Lincoln MKC vehicles because the battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine compartment while the vehicle is parked or in drive. The automaker is investigating the cause affecting under-hood fires in 142,734 vehicles. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, Ford said.
Why do people care so much about recalls?
Recall repairs inconvenience customers but they also cost automakers a lot of money, eating into profits. And cutting down recall and warranty repair costs has been a high priority for Ford CEO Jim Farley. The company announced new quality review protocols with its all-new Super Duty. So far in 2023, Ford leads the auto industry with 27 recalls totaling more than 3.1 million vehicles, NHTSA data shows. By comparison, General Motors has 10 recalls
totaling more than 1.9 vehicles. Ford had the most recalls and most vehicles recalled in the industry in 2022.