Tag Archives: under hood fire

Ford Escape, Ford Maverick And Lincoln Corsair Engine Failure

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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.

Lincoln MKC Fire Risk While Parked

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Lincoln MKC under hood fire

Ford Motor Company has made a decision regarding a defect that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety in specific models of Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured between 2015 and 2019. These vehicles, produced during the mentioned time frame, have been found to have a potential for under hood fire, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.

In March 2023, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) was made aware of the issue related to 18 reports of under hood fires involving 2015 to 2017 model year MKC vehicles in North America and China. It is noteworthy that all these incidents occurred when the vehicles were parked and not in use.

Ford’s CCRG initiated a thorough investigation that spanned throughout March, April, and May. The investigation encompassed various activities, such as comprehensive vehicle inspections, reviews of suppliers involved in the manufacturing process, assessments of product designs, detailed analysis of field data, and rigorous examination of components and subsystems in laboratory settings.

At present, the investigation has not been able to find the cause or origin of the fires. Nevertheless, it was observed that the fires seemed to originate in close proximity to the vehicles’ 12-volt batteries, which raised concerns regarding the potential link between the fires and the battery system.

As of May 2023, Ford’s CCRG has received information about 19 potentially related incidents of under hood fires, all of which occurred while the vehicles were parked and turned off.

Ford’s Field Review Committee thoroughly examined the matter and decided to undertake a field action to provide guidance to vehicle owners. As part of this field action, Ford advised owners to park their vehicles outside and away from any structures until the completion of the ongoing investigation. This precautionary measure aims to minimize the risk of potential fires until a conclusive resolution is reached.

For reference, customers and owners can refer to Ford’s designated number for this recall, which is 23S28, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number, which is 23V-378.

Ram Trucks: Potential Fire Risk in Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel Engines

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of certain Ram trucks that are equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines, due to a potential fire hazard that may arise from an electrical short in the heater grid relay located in the engine compartment. The issue was brought to the attention of the FCA Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) organization in October 2022, after the detection of a potential trend of engine compartment fires in vehicles that were built after the recall 21V-798.

According to FCA, there have been six customer assistance records, three warranty claims, and six field reports that may be related to this issue. As a result, the company has identified the potential risks associated with the short circuit and has initiated the recall of affected vehicles to address the issue.

NOTE: Ram truck owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall repair has been completed to avoid any potential fire hazards. It is important for owners to take this recall seriously and to get their vehicles repaired as soon as possible to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants and nearby property.

The FCA US, LLC’s number for this recall is 13A, and the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-060. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.

If you own a Ram truck that has been repeatedly repaired for the same issue, you may be eligible to take advantage of your state’s lemon law. The lemon law is designed to protect consumers who purchase defective vehicles, such as Ram trucks, and provides them with legal recourse to seek a refund, replacement or monetary compensation from the manufacturer.

Under the lemon law, the manufacturer is given a certain number of attempts to fix the same problem before the vehicle is considered a “lemon.” If the repairs are unsuccessful, the manufacturer may be required to buy back the vehicle or replace it with a similar one. The exact details of the lemon law can vary by state, so it’s important to check the laws in your specific location to understand your rights and options.

If you believe that your Ram truck may be a lemon, document all the repairs and contact an attorney who specializes in lemon law cases. They can review your case and help you navigate the legal process to get the compensation or resolution that you deserve. Remember, the lemon law is there to protect you, so don’t hesitate to explore your options if you believe that you have been sold a defective vehicle.

2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator Under Hood Fire Warning

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Ford Motor Company (Ford) has decided that a problem affecting vehicle safety exists in certain 2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator SUVs built between December 2020, and April 2021. The vehicles built during this time have an increased risk of under-hood fires.

Ford became aware of the problem in March 2022 after receiving eight reports of under-hood fires. One of the incidents described a melted battery junction box (BJB) on a 2021 Expedition vehicle. Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into the fires and found that six (6) of the eight (8) fires originated on the passenger side rear engine compartment area, while two (2) had an unclear under-hood origin. Of the eight fire allegations, six occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, and two occurred while driving. Reviewing the incidents, CCRG noted that almost all the vehicles were owned by rental companies.

Ford continues to investigate the cause of the fires, which are believed to originate in the passenger side rear engine compartment area. As of May 12th CCRG is aware of sixteen (16) potentially related reports of under-hood fires on 2021 Expedition and 2021 Navigator vehicles. Of those sixteen (16) reports, fourteen (14) are rental vehicles and two are retail units. Of the sixteen (16) reports, twelve (12) occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, (1) occurred while parked and on, and three (3) occurred while driving. All sixteen (16) vehicles were produced between December 19, 2020, and April 20, 2021. (This period was found to be significant.)

Warning: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures while Ford continues their investigation.

Note: Some customers have reported a burning smell and smoke from the front passenger engine compartment while driving.

Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on May 23, 2022. A second letter will be mailed once a fix for the problem is available. Ford’s number for this recall is 22S36 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-346.