Ford Motor Company (Ford) has recently announced a crucial safety recall for specific models of Ford Escape, Ford Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The recall aims to address a potential issue that could lead to a vehicle fire, urging affected owners to promptly visit their dealers for necessary repairs and precautions.
The vehicles affected by this recall include those equipped with 2.5L HEV/PHEV engines, manufactured during the specified time frames. The identified problem revolves around the premature failure of these engines, which can have severe consequences. When an engine fails, there is a risk of significant quantities of engine oil and/or fuel vapor being released under the vehicle’s hood. These substances may then migrate to and accumulate near potential ignition sources, posing a potential fire hazard. In addition to the risk of fire, localized melting of components or the emission of smoke may also occur.
The specific models affected by this recall are the 2020-2023 Ford Escape, the 2022-2023 Ford Maverick, and the 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair. Ford has identified isolated engine manufacturing issues as the root cause of the 2.5L HEV/PHEV engine failures that result in engine block or oil pan breaches. Despite the breach, the HEV/PHEV system continues to propel the vehicle, allowing the driver to continue operating it. Unfortunately, this means that as the driver continues to drive after a block breach, oil and/or fuel vapor continues to be expelled and accumulate near ignition sources, exacerbating the risk.
Owners of the affected vehicles should be aware of the signs indicating engine failure. These signs include loud noises such as a metal-to-metal clank, which will be audible to the vehicle’s occupants. Additionally, an engine failure will lead to a reduction in engine torque. If drivers notice any unexpected engine noises, experience an unexpected torque reduction, or observe smoke emanating from the engine compartment, they are strongly advised to safely park the vehicle and promptly shut off the engine.
Ford is actively working on developing the remedy for this issue. In the meantime, interim letters have been sent out to notify owners of the safety risk. These letters were mailed on June 23, 2023, to inform owners about the importance of addressing the issue. Once the remedy is available, a second round of letters will be sent out to inform owners and provide instructions for getting the necessary repairs. It’s important to note that this recall, identified by Ford as recall number 23S27, expands and replaces the previous recall number 22V-484. Therefore, even if the vehicles have been previously repaired under recall number 22V-484, owners will still need to have the new remedy completed to ensure their safety.
