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Ford F-150 and Super Duty block heater cord fire risk

NHTSA campaign 19V278000 · Reported 2019-04-08 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This is a fire risk, and while the notice does not tell you to stop driving, you should stop plugging in the block heater and get the heater disabled right away.

What's wrong, in plain English

These trucks have an engine block heater, a plug-in cord that warms the engine in cold weather. They were already fixed once under an earlier recall, but that repair may have damaged a connector in the cord. A damaged cord can short out, overheat the wiring and start a fire. Dealers will first disable the block heater so it cannot be used, then replace the cord for free once new parts are available. You will get a second letter when the new cords are ready.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your truck is covered. 2. Stop using the block heater cord and contact your Ford dealer, or Ford at 1-866-436-7332 (recall 19S11), to have the heater disabled. 3. Return for the free cord replacement when Ford mails the second notice.

Affected vehicles (6)

2018 Ford F-150
2019 Ford F-150
2019 Ford F-250 SD
2019 Ford F-350 SD
2019 Ford F-450 SD
2019 Ford F-550 SD

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford engine recalls: block heater, junction box and engine-bay fires · all 13 Ford recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: ENGINE
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Safety risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.