Ford Engine Recalls Cover Fire Risks and Loss of Power
⚠ 2 carry a park-outside (fire risk) advisory.
Fire risk repeats across Ford's engine notices, but the defects differ. The December 2018 and April 2019 truck recalls concern block heater cables on certain 2015-2019 F-150 and 2017-2019 Super Duty trucks. Engine failure that can release oil and fuel vapor appears repeatedly for 2020-2023 Escape and 2022-2023 Maverick hybrids, alongside Lincoln Corsair vehicles. Separate notices address engine compartment fires in 2021 Expedition and Navigator vehicles and battery junction box shorts in 2020 models. Other problems include damaged wiring on 2021-2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles, cylinder head ball plug failures on 2023-2025 Escape and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles, and loose motor mount fasteners on 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- May 2023 Escape/Maverick/Corsair recall: unexpected engine noises, reduced vehicle power, or smoke.
- August 2024 Explorer Police Interceptor recall: unexpected engine noises, unexpected power reduction, or engine compartment smoke.
- May 2025 Escape/Maverick/Corsair recall: unexpected engine noises, reduced vehicle power, or smoke.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
Two notices require parking outside, away from structures and other vehicles until repaired: the May 2022 Expedition/Navigator engine fire recall and September 2025 Expedition/Navigator battery fire recall. None of the supplied notices carries a blanket stop-driving instruction. The May 2023 and May 2025 Escape/Maverick/Corsair notices instruct owners to park and shut off quickly for unexpected engine noises, reduced power, or smoke. The August 2024 Explorer Police Interceptor notice gives that instruction for unexpected engine noises, unexpected power reduction, or engine compartment smoke. The remaining notices do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Free remedies explicitly include disabling and later replacing block heater cables under the December 2018 notice, replacing motor mount fasteners under the December 2020 Explorer/Aviator notice, and updating powertrain software under the May 2025 hybrid notice. The July 2026 Bronco notice specifies free wiring sheathing installation; the June 2025 Escape notice specifies cylinder head replacement as necessary, free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 8 |
| high | 3 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Where owners report engine problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under engine for the Ford models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Escape | 120 |
| 2020 Ford Explorer | 113 |
| 2023 Ford Maverick | 71 |
| 2021 Ford Bronco | 68 |
| 2021 Ford Expedition | 55 |
| 2020 Ford Expedition | 51 |
| 2022 Ford Bronco | 51 |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | 47 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2026 | Ford Bronco Engine Wiring Can Short Circuit | critical |
| Nov 17, 2025 | Ford E-350 and E-450 engine cover may get hot | medium |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Battery Fire Risk · park outside | critical |
| Jun 3, 2025 | Ford Escape Engine Defect May Cause Oil Leak | high |
| May 23, 2025 | Ford Escape, Maverick, Lincoln Corsair Engine Fire Risk | critical |
| Aug 10, 2024 | Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Engine Fire Risk | critical |
| May 26, 2023 | Ford Escape, Maverick, Corsair Engine Fire Risk | critical |
| May 17, 2022 | Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Engine Fire Risk · park outside | critical |
| Dec 17, 2020 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Motor Mount Bolts Loose | high |
| Dec 17, 2020 | Ford E-350 and E-450 Engine Cover May Overheat | medium |
| Apr 8, 2019 | Ford F-150 and Super Duty trucks: heater cable fire risk | critical |
| Dec 18, 2018 | Ford Pickup Engine Block Heater Cable May Corrode | critical |
| Oct 23, 2017 | Ford F-150 Engine May Stall From Poor Lubrication | high |
Common questions
Why do Escape and Maverick hybrids appear in multiple engine fire notices?
The May 2023 and May 2025 notices describe engine failure releasing oil and fuel vapor near ignition sources. The May 2025 notice specifically covers vehicles repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380 and specifies a free powertrain control module software update.
Which Expedition engine recalls tell owners to park outside?
The May 2022 notice for certain 2021 Expedition and Navigator vehicles and the September 2025 notice for certain 2020 vehicles give this instruction. Both tell owners to park outside, away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed.
Does the Bronco wiring recall require an engine replacement?
The July 2026 notice describes engine compartment wiring harness damage that may cause a short circuit. Its stated remedy is installing sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.