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Ford and Lincoln engine block heaters can catch fire

NHTSA campaign 25V685000 · Reported 2025-10-10 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This one can start a fire, so it is the most serious kind of recall — you can still drive the vehicle, but do not plug the block heater in until it has been repaired.

What's wrong, in plain English

An engine block heater is the plug-in warmer some vehicles have to help the engine start in very cold weather. On these Fords and Lincolns the heater can crack and leak coolant, and the leak can cause an electrical short when the heater is plugged in. That short can start a fire. Ford is telling owners not to plug in the block heater at all until the vehicle is fixed. Dealers will replace it, or seal it off and remove the cord, free.

What you should do

1. Stop using the engine block heater now — do not plug it in.
2. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is included.
3. Contact your Ford or Lincoln dealer, or Ford at 1-866-436-7332, about recall 25SA4; the free repair is expected around September 2026, and you will get a second letter when it is ready.

Affected vehicles (28)

2018 Ford Explorer
2018 Lincoln MKC
2019 Ford Fusion
2019 Ford Ranger
2019 Lincoln MKC
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Explorer
2020 Ford Fusion
2020 Ford Ranger
2020 Lincoln Corsair
2021 Ford Bronco
2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Show all 28 vehicles

2021 Ford Escape
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Lincoln Corsair
2022 Ford Bronco
2022 Ford Bronco Sport
2022 Ford Escape
2022 Ford Explorer
2022 Ford Maverick
2022 Lincoln Corsair
2023 Ford Bronco
2023 Ford Bronco Sport
2023 Ford Explorer
2023 Ford Maverick
2024 Ford Bronco
2024 Ford Bronco Sport
2024 Ford Maverick

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Lincoln — official Lincoln 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

Should I worry about Ford block heater and backup camera recalls? · all 15 Ford recalls in this area
Lincoln block heater fire risk and missing safety label recalls · all 3 Lincoln recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Safety risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

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