Car Recall Tracker

Home › Ford › Focus › 26V012000

Ford Focus and Explorer block heaters can short, causing fire

NHTSA campaign 26V012000 · Reported 2026-01-15 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This is a fire risk, so leave the block heater unplugged until it is fixed; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving the vehicle otherwise.

What's wrong, in plain English

These vehicles came with an engine block heater, the cord-and-plug heater that warms the engine in cold weather. The heater can crack and leak coolant onto its electrical parts. When you plug it in, that leak can cause an electrical short circuit, and a short circuit can lead to a fire. Ford says do not plug in the block heater until the vehicle is repaired. A dealer will replace the heater at no charge to you.

What you should do

1. Stop using the engine block heater immediately, and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for recall 26V012000 (Ford number 25SA4).
2. Watch for Ford's letter about the final repair, expected around October 2026, then schedule the free block heater replacement at a dealer.
3. Ask the dealer about the free option to remove the heater cord and fit a threaded blanking plug; Ford's number is 1-866-436-7332.

Affected vehicles (3)

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

Official notice

Component
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer 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 February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 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 January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.

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