Ford tells drivers to park outside, expands recall for possible engine fires

A passing auto carrier is mirrored in the grille of a 2017 Ford Motor Co. F-150 pickup truck on display at the Sutton Ford Lincoln automobile dealership in Matteson, Illinois.

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Photos

Ford is increasing a remember of SUVs and telling homeowners to park them outside just after a collection of motor fires that can take place even when the ignition switches are off.

The corporation also declared Friday that it can be recalling a further 100,000 SUVs in the U.S. for a diverse challenge that also triggers engine fires.

In Might Ford recalled about 39,000 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator substantial SUVs in the U.S. and advised house owners to park them outside and away from buildings. On Friday the enterprise expanded that remember to protect far more than 66,000 vehicles from the 2021 model yr after acquiring experiences of five additional fires.

At the time of the to start with remember, Ford did not know what was causing the fires. But on Friday the corporation said it has traced the lead to to printed circuit boards that are susceptible to an electrical limited. The firm says it has reviews of 21 fires and a single injuries, but no reviews of fires extending to buildings.

The circuit boards are part of the battery junction box. Sellers will examine the box for melting harm and replace it if required. They’re going to also take away or mend a cooling enthusiast floor wire that connects to the junction box. Elements are predicted to be obtainable in early September.

About just one-3rd of the recalled SUVs can be set right away by removing the ground wire, Ford mentioned.

The other recall covers specific 2020 via 2022 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs as very well as some Ford Maverick small pickups. All have 2.5-liter hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Ford states if the motor fails, major amounts of oil and gas vapor can leak on to warm components, causing a fireplace. The firm claims it has 23 experiences worldwide of fires when the engines are on, but no accidents.

Engines can are unsuccessful because of to a crankshaft machining trouble. That problem has been fastened in creation, but the recalled automobiles could have it.

The recall mend doesn’t tackle the engine failures. Ford explained in a statement that engine failures are rare with .17 repairs for each 1,000 autos.

Sellers will increase drain holes to an beneath-hood defend and improve the lively grille shutters to make it possible for extra air circulation and decrease below-hood temperatures to below the ignition points of fuel vapor or motor oil.

Homeowners will be notified starting Aug 8.

Homeowners check out to see if their cars are afflicted by heading to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and typing in their 17-digit vehicle identification variety.