Ford Motor Company announced on Friday a recall of 100,000 U.S. vehicles due to fire risks and expanded an earlier recall following reports of vehicle fires. The new recall affects certain 2020-2022 Ford Escape, Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair models equipped with 2.5-liter Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid engines. In the event of an engine failure, the release of significant quantities of engine oil and fuel vapor could lead to an under-hood fire near ignition sources.
To address safety concerns, Ford dealerships will modify the Under Engine Shield and Active Grille Shutter on the affected vehicles. Fortunately, there have been no reported accidents or injuries related to this issue, and Ford clarified that customers do not need to park their vehicles outside as a precautionary measure for this recall.
Separately, Ford is expanding its earlier recall of 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, adding 27,000 U.S. vehicles to the initial recall of 39,000 announced in May. This expansion comes after five additional fires were reported, bringing the total to 21 fire incidents. One injury has been reported in connection with these fires, and Ford continues to advise customers to park these vehicles outside and away from structures until repairs are made.
The company explained that the risk of under-hood fires exists even when vehicles are parked and turned off. For affected SUVs with an 800-watt cooling fan system, recall parts are currently available for approximately one-third of the vehicles. However, repairs for vehicles with a 700-watt cooling fan system will not be possible until parts become available in September.
Ford attributed the fire risks to changes in the manufacturing location of a supplier during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to the underlying issue. The company is actively working to address these safety concerns and ensure that parts are available for all affected vehicles as soon as possible.