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Ford Electrical Recalls Involving Battery Failures and Fire Risks
High-voltage battery failures and power-cable connections recur in these Ford electrical notices. Certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles have a battery-terminal fastener that may loosen; a separate 2020 F-150 notice identifies an incorrect starter-cable attachment nut. Battery notices distinguish excessive voltage and current damaging the BECM in certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEVs from internal cell short circuits in other vehicles. Escape appears repeatedly, covering certain 2020-2024 vehicles in two notices and certain 2022-2026 plug-in hybrids in another. Other examples include certain 2020 Explorers with unsecured wiring, certain 2020-2022 Explorer PHEVs with battery-cell defects, and block-heater overheating in specified Escape, Lincoln, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- November 12, 2019 F-150 battery-cable fastener recall: vehicle systems may become inoperative, braking or steering assist may be affected, and the engine could stall.
- June 23, 2023 Fusion PHEV battery-module recall: a damaged BECM can cause loss of drive power.
- 17C21, certain 2018 Mustangs: the PRNDL display may not illuminate and the Key in Ignition chime may be absent under the stated ignition and door conditions.
- 18C02, certain 2017-2018 Taurus vehicles: the ignition key may be removable when the transmission is outside PARK.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of the supplied notices carries stop-driving or park-outside instructions; the remaining notices do not tell owners to stop driving. The June 2023 Fusion PHEV notice advises against charging until the remedy is completed. The December 2024 Escape/Corsair battery notice likewise advises against charging until the remedy is completed. The November 2025 Escape/Corsair PHEV notice and February 2026 Escape/Corsair PHEV notice each advise using only Auto EV mode and say owners will receive mailed instructions to limit maximum battery charge until the remedy is completed.
What the free repair involves
Free remedies include a tie strap for Explorer campaign 19S32, a starter-cable nut for F-150 campaign 20S40, and shifter replacement for Taurus campaign 18C02. The June 2023 Fusion PHEV notice specifies free battery replacement and a BECM update, or vehicle repurchase. The November 2025 and February 2026 Escape/Corsair notices specify free BECM and HPCM updates.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 10 |
| high | 21 |
| medium | 10 |
Models affected most
Where owners report electrical system problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under electrical system for the Ford models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Electrical system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Ford Bronco Sport | 207 |
| 2020 Ford Explorer | 182 |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 155 |
| 2019 Ford Fusion | 81 |
| 2023 Ford Maverick | 78 |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport | 73 |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | 42 |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | 42 |
Every recall in this group
Common questions
Which battery notices tell Escape owners to change charging or driving modes?
The December 2024 Escape/Corsair notice advises against charging until the remedy is completed. The November 2025 and February 2026 Escape/Corsair PHEV notices advise using only Auto EV mode and say mailed instructions will limit maximum battery charge pending the remedy.
Do the F-150 electrical notices describe the same cable problem?
The November 2019 notice concerns a potentially loose battery-terminal fastener on certain 2019-2020 F-150s. The August 2020 notice concerns an incorrect starter-cable attachment nut on certain 2020 F-150s. Their remedies address the particular connection described in each notice.
What remedy does the Fusion plug-in hybrid battery notice describe?
The June 2023 notice for certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEVs specifies battery replacement and a BECM software update for free, or vehicle repurchase by Ford. It also advises owners not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.