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Lincoln engine fire recalls: why Ford says park outside
⚠ 3 carry a park-outside (fire risk) advisory.
Fire in the engine compartment is the thread running through Lincoln's engine recalls. Three campaigns involve electrical hardware under the hood igniting while parked or driving: the battery junction box on the 2020 Navigator and again on the 2021 Navigator, and the battery monitor sensor on the 2015-2019 MKC. All three tell owners to park outside, away from structures and other vehicles. The 2021-2023 Corsair with the 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engine is recalled because engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor near ignition sources — and again in 2025 for vehicles repaired incorrectly the first time. The outlier is the 2020-2021 Aviator, whose right-hand motor mount fasteners can loosen over time and cause a loss of power.
Warning signs to watch for
- Smoke or a burning smell from the engine compartment, whether parked or driving
- Unexpected engine noises or a noticeable drop in power on hybrid Corsair — Ford says park and shut the engine off as quickly as possible
- On the Navigator and MKC, a fire can start with the ignition off and nobody in the vehicle, so there may be no warning at all
- Loss of drive power on the Aviator as the motor mount fasteners loosen
Is it safe to keep driving?
Three of these carry a park-outside instruction: the 2021 Navigator and 2020 Navigator battery junction box recalls, and the 2015-2019 MKC battery monitor sensor recall. None bans driving, but Ford says to park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the repair is done, because a fire can begin with the ignition off. The hybrid Corsair engine fire recalls set no parking restriction, but Ford tells owners to pull over and shut the engine off immediately on unusual noise, power loss or smoke. The Aviator motor mount recall is drivable.
What the free repair involves
The under-hood fire repairs are hardware. Dealers inspect and replace the battery junction box and remove a ground wire on Navigator, and add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit on MKC. Hybrid Corsair vehicles get engine long-block replacement or under-engine shield work, with a powertrain control module software update for the corrected repair. Aviator gets new motor mount fasteners. All free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 5 |
| high | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-19 | Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator fuse box fire risk · park outside | critical |
| 2025-05-23 | Ford Escape and Maverick hybrids: bad repair leaves fire risk | critical |
| 2023-05-26 | Ford Escape, Maverick and Corsair hybrid engines can catch fire | critical |
| 2023-05-26 | Lincoln MKC battery sensor can catch fire under hood · park outside | critical |
| 2022-05-17 | Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator engine compartment fire risk · park outside | critical |
| 2020-12-17 | Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator may lose power | high |
Common questions
Why do I have to park my Navigator outside?
Because a short circuit inside the battery junction box can start an engine compartment fire while the vehicle is parked with the ignition off. Ford asks owners of the 2020 and 2021 Navigator to park outside and away from structures and other vehicles until repaired.
My MKC is a 2015 — is it covered by the fire recall?
Yes. The battery monitor sensor recall covers 2015-2019 MKC vehicles, where the sensor can short-circuit and overheat. Dealers add an in-line fuse to the sensor's power circuit. Until that is done, park outside and away from structures.
What should I do if my Corsair hybrid starts making odd noises?
Ford's instruction is to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if you hear unexpected engine noises, notice reduced vehicle power, or see smoke. Engine oil and fuel vapor can otherwise accumulate near ignition sources in the engine compartment.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.