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Ford Explorer turbo oil leak may cause engine fire

NHTSA campaign 23V597000 · Reported 2023-08-25 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This one can start an engine fire or stall the vehicle, so treat it as urgent — Ford tells owners to pull over and shut the engine off immediately if the oil pressure light comes on or smoke appears.

What's wrong, in plain English

On Explorers with the 2.3-liter turbo engine, the small line that carries oil to the turbocharger may be damaged and leak oil inside the engine compartment. Oil that drips onto hot engine or exhaust parts can catch fire. Losing oil can also make the engine stall, so the vehicle could quit while you are driving. Ford says that if you see the oil pressure warning light or smoke from under the hood, park and shut the engine off as soon as you safely can.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your 2023 Explorer is part of recall 23V597000.
2. Contact a Ford dealer right away, or call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, and reference recall 23S50.
3. Have the turbocharger oil supply line replaced free of charge, and stop driving and park if you see an oil pressure warning light or smoke.

Affected vehicles (1)

2023 Ford Explorer

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 oil leaks and engine failures: which models are recalled? · all 13 Ford recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines. The turbocharger oil supply line may be damaged, which can result in an oil leak inside the engine compartment.
Safety risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as soon as possible if they see an oil pressure warning light or smoke coming from the engine compartment. Dealers will replace the turbo oil supply line assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S50.

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