Ford expands SUV recall amid engine fires, tells drivers to park outside
DETROIT – A series of engine fires has prompted Ford to expand its SUV recall and advise drivers to park the vehicles outdoors because the blazes can erupt even after the ignitions are switched off.
The automaker also announced Friday that it is recalling a separate batch of about 100,000 SUVs due to a different issue that also causes engine fires, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The recall expansion applies to 66,000 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs sold nationwide after the company fielded five additional fire reports. The expansion brings the total number of recalled Expeditions and Navigators to more than 100,000 since May, when Ford recalled about 39,000 of the vehicles and issued the park outdoors order.
Recall alert: Ford recalls 350K vehicles; owners of 39K SUVS told to park outside
Although Ford was still investigating the cause of the engine fires when the May recall was issued, company officials confirmed Friday the issue has been linked to “printed circuit boards that are susceptible to an electrical short,” according to The Associated Press.
To date, Ford has fielded a total of 21 fire reports, resulting in one injury, but none of the reported fires spread to buildings.
Per the recall expansion, the affected circuit boards are part of the battery junction box, so dealers will inspect the boxes for melting damage and replace them if necessary. In addition, dealers may also remove or repair a cooling fan ground wire that connects to the junction box, the AP reported.
Ford officials also confirmed Friday that roughly one-third of impacted vehicles can be fixed immediately by removing the ground wire and parts needed for more involved fixes are expected to be available in early September, the Free Press reported.
The new recall, meanwhile, applies to 2000 to 2022 model year Ford Escapes and Mavericks, as well as Lincoln Corsairs, sold in the United States with 2.5-liter hybrid / plug-in hybrid engines, The Verge reported.
According to Reuters and CNBC, engine oil and fuel vapor from the affected models can flood ignition sources, posing a fire risk beneath the hoods of the vehicles.
In turn, Ford plans to adjust impacted vehicles’ under-engine shield and active grille shutter to improve air flow, The Verge reported.
Owners of affected vehicles can expect to be contacted by Ford directly, beginning Aug. 8.
Owners check to see if their vehicles are affected by going to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and typing in their 17-digit vehicle identification number.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
