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Ford Gasoline Fuel System Recalls Cover Leaks and Stalling
Fuel leaks dominate the supplied Ford gasoline notices, with Explorer appearing repeatedly across 2018, 2020 and 2022 vehicles. Its notices address a leaking pressure sensor, fuel-line chafing, an incomplete tank valve weld, filler-tube detachment during a crash, and a loose fuel-line connection. Maverick appears with separate tank defects for 2022 and 2024. Certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5L engines have a cracked-injector risk. Other notices involve pump welds, tank corrosion and generator fuel hoses. The 2012-2018 Focus notice differs: a malfunctioning canister purge valve can create excessive vacuum, causing an engine stall without warning and preventing restart.
Warning signs to watch for
- 2012-2018 Focus purge valve recall dated October 22, 2018: the engine may stall while driving without warning and cannot be restarted.
- 2024 Maverick fuel tank recall dated March 8, 2024: the notice names a detected fuel leak or an illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp as triggers to park and shut off the engine.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The March 8, 2024 Maverick fuel tank notice gives a conditional instruction: park and shut off the engine immediately if a fuel leak is detected or the Malfunction Indicator Lamp illuminates. This is the one supplied notice with a conditional instruction to stop operating the vehicle; it does not give an unconditional stop-driving instruction. None of the supplied notices gives a park-outside instruction. The remaining supplied gasoline fuel-system notices do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Free remedies include pump replacement for 18S17, fuel-line replacement for 18S35, tank-shell replacement for 20S68, and a locking clip for 22C02. The November 2022 injector notice specifies free software and drain-tube installation; the March 2024 Maverick notice specifies free tank replacement. The Focus notice specifies reprogramming and conditional component replacements but does not state a price.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 17 |
| high | 5 |
Models affected most
Where owners report fuel system, gasoline problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under fuel system, gasoline for the Ford models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Fuel system, gasoline complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Focus | 196 |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 194 |
| 2021 Ford Bronco Sport | 117 |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport | 89 |
| 2022 Ford Escape | 83 |
| 2022 Ford Bronco | 67 |
| 2023 Ford Bronco Sport | 61 |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 44 |
Every recall in this group
Common questions
What does the 2024 Maverick notice say to do if the warning lamp comes on?
The March 8, 2024 Maverick fuel tank notice advises owners to park and shut off the engine immediately if the Malfunction Indicator Lamp illuminates or a fuel leak is detected. Its dealer remedy is free fuel tank replacement.
What repair is specified for the Escape and Bronco Sport injector recall?
The November 18, 2022 notice covers certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5L engines. It specifies an engine control software update adding fuel injector leak detection and installation of a drain tube, free of charge.
What does the Focus stalling recall require dealers to check?
The October 22, 2018 Focus notice specifies powertrain control module reprogramming and fault-code checks, with canister purge valve replacement as needed. If that valve is replaced, dealers inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.