Following 19 reports of fires in the United States, Canada, and China, Lincoln is initiating a recall campaign of 142,734 MKC crossovers in America. A problem stemming from the 12-volt battery system may lead to an under hood fire whether the vehicle is on or off, the automaker says.
Lincoln launched an investigation into this issue on March 14, 2023, following the reported fires, 11 of which were in the U.S., seven in China, and one in Canada. At the time of the fires, it reports that the vehicles were off.
All of the vehicles included in the recall were produced at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant and were from the 2015 to 2019 model years, but they were not all built consecutively. However, the automaker has identified that it is the wire assembly junction box that is behind the issue.
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In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Lincoln reports that it is the location of the battery monitor sensor (contained within the box) that may make it susceptible to damage when the battery or other related components are serviced.
If the sensor’s housing is damaged, a short could develop on the battery monitor sensor’s printed circuit board. A lack of fusing there could allow for sufficient electrical load to overheat the surrounding material, and could ultimately lead to a fire.
It’s not hard to imagine why a fire might be a bad thing when occupants are in the vehicle. However, since the blaze can occur when the vehicle is off, it is important not to park these MKCs in a garage or close to a building, since the fire could spread. If owners cannot park outside, it is recommended that they disconnect their battery’s negative terminal and tape it so that it remains clear of the battery.
Fortunately, Lincoln is not aware of any injuries or accidents relating to these issues, and will seek to repair all affected vehicles before any happen. It will start reaching out to owners on June 26, and they will be asked to take their vehicle to a nearby dealership. There, an inline fuse will be added to the battery monitor power circuit where necessary.
