Home › Ford › Escape › 26V011000
Ford Escape and Focus Block Heater Fire Risk
critical How serious is it? About this label
An electrical short circuit from the leaking block heater can increase the risk of a fire. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V011000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Part affected | Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater |
| Vehicles covered | 3 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
The engine block heater in some Ford Escape and Focus vehicles can crack over time and leak coolant. If coolant leaks while the heater is plugged in, it can cause an electrical short circuit inside the heater. This short circuit raises the chance that a fire could start in the vehicle.
What you should do
2. Until the repair is done, do not plug in the block heater.
3. Contact a Ford dealer (1-866-436-7332) for the free repair.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 26V011000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (3)
Who to contact
Ford — official Ford recall lookup
Customer service: 1-866-436-7332
The bigger picture
- Ford Equipment Recalls Cover Block Heaters, Cameras, and Labels · all 16 Ford recalls in this area
Other Ford Escape recalls
- Mar 3, 2026Ford, Lincoln Wiper Motor May Fail To Workmedium
- Mar 3, 2026Ford and Lincoln Rearview Camera Image May Invertmedium
- Dec 1, 2025Ford Escape liftgate hinge covers may come offlow
- Oct 10, 2025Ford Escape Rear Brake Pads Made Incorrectlyhigh
- Oct 10, 2025Ford and Lincoln Block Heater Fire Riskcritical
- Jul 11, 2025Ford Bronco Sport, Escape: Fuel Injector Fire Riskcritical
Official notice
- Component
- EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. 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 plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.