Ford recalls hybrid SUVs: Battery fires risk alert

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Ford Motor Co. has initiated a recall affecting 20,484 hybrid crossover SUVs due to battery issues that could potentially result in fire hazards, according to documentation submitted to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall encompasses 16,480 Escape and 4,004 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid SUVs manufactured between 2020 and 2024.

Ford Recalling 20,000 Escape, Lincoln Corsair SUVs for Battery Issue

The problem affects 2020–2024 hybrid models' batteries and could lead to a fire, recall documents explain.

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Jan 1, 2025

Ford will recall more than 20,000 Escape and Lincoln Corsair plug-in-hybrid SUVs to fix a… pic.twitter.com/0i3ZJ0aDpI

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According to the NHTSA filings, manufacturing defects have resulted in “microdefects and local stresses” that might compromise the high-voltage battery cell’s separator layer, potentially triggering a short circuit and subsequent fire risk. The NHTSA filing explained in detail:

“In the event of a high voltage battery cell internal short circuit, customers may experience shutdown of the vehicle’s propulsion system. Loss of motive power increases the risk of crash and injury. Steering, braking, and lighting functions are not affected.

In the event of a high voltage battery cell internal short circuit, the customer may also experience battery thermal venting potentially resulting in a vehicle fire, increasing the risk of injury.”

The automaker has indicated that affected vehicles will display a “Stop Safely Now” message on their instrument clusters if this issue manifests.

To address the problem, Ford dealerships will implement a battery energy control module software update and replace high-voltage battery packs where necessary, with no cost to owners, according to the safety regulator.

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Documentation confirms four instances of “thermal venting” related to this issue, though no accidents or injuries have been documented.

The company encourages owners of potentially affected Escape and Corsair SUVs to visit the NHTSA recalls website or reach out to Ford’s customer service at 866-436-7332.

Ford plans to distribute notification letters to affected vehicle owners by January 20, 2025.