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Should I worry about Ford block heater and backup camera recalls?
Three unrelated things land in Ford's equipment column. The biggest is engine block heaters that crack, leak coolant and short out when plugged in, covering a huge span: 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, 2016-2023 Explorer, Lincoln MKC, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, Corsair, Bronco, Bronco Sport and Maverick. Next are ASA Electronics Voyager backup camera monitors on upfitter-built F-450, F-550, E-350, E-450 and Econoline ambulances, shuttle buses and work trucks, which revert to factory defaults and show a reversed image — LGE Coachworks, VCI, Farber, Unicell and SVO each filed one. The rest is paperwork: overstated payload and tire labels on F-350, Bronco, Ranger and Maverick, plus manual and brake cap label errors.
Warning signs to watch for
- A cracked engine block heater or coolant leak, with the short circuit happening once the heater is plugged in
- A backup camera image that appears reversed, or a display that has reset itself to factory default settings
- Payload, tire pressure or spare tire figures on the door label that do not match the vehicle as built
- For the label, owner's manual and brake fluid cap recalls the notices describe no warning sign at all — the vehicle drives normally
Is it safe to keep driving?
Nothing here is a stop-driving or park-outside recall. The one firm rule is the block heater: do not plug it in until it has been replaced, because that is when the short and fire happen; the vehicle otherwise drives normally. With a reversed backup camera image, keep using the vehicle but rely on your mirrors and look behind you instead of the screen. With the wrong payload, tire and certification labels, keep driving but do not load to the printed numbers, and don't top up EcoSport brake fluid until the correct cap arrives.
What the free repair involves
Dealers replace the engine block heater free, and Ford also offers the alternative of a threaded block heater element. For the camera recalls, ASA and the body builders replace the monitors or add a harness relay capacitor module. Ford mails replacement tire and loading and safety certification labels and owner's manual addendums, or a dealer installs them. The EcoSport gets a new brake fluid cap and manual kit. All free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 3 |
| medium | 7 |
| low | 5 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
Common questions
Is my car safe to drive if the block heater is recalled?
Ford does not restrict driving on these. The heater cracks, leaks coolant and shorts when it is plugged in, so leave it unplugged until the dealer replaces it and use the vehicle normally in the meantime.
Do I have to visit a dealer for the label recalls?
Not always. Ford mails new tire and loading labels and owner's manual addendums that you can apply yourself. You also have the option of taking the vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed free.
My backup camera image looks normal. Is it still recalled?
Possibly. The ASA Voyager monitors unexpectedly revert to factory default settings, so the image can flip at any time rather than always being wrong. Have the display replaced or the harness relay capacitor module fitted, free, through the body builder or ASA.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.