Ford is recalling 125,322 vehicles as an engine failure can lead to oil or vapor igniting under the hood.. The move affects the Ford Escape, Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair, all with 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Ford says that “isolated engine manufacturing issues” are at the heart of the issue here. Evidently, they’re to blame for premature engine failure in some of the aforementioned population of vehicles. When that engine failure happens, the oil or vapor that can escape the engine itself can at times ignite under the hood and cause a conflagration.
Ford notes that, because these vehicles are hybrids, customers might, at times, continue driving even though the engine is toast. In those situations, the potential for fire is even higher as the oil or vapor can accumulate on ignition sources.
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Ford points out in its filing with the NHTSA that engine failure “is expected to produce loud noises.” As such, it’s notifying owners by mail to safely park and shut off the engine as soon as possible if they hear “unexpected engine noises.” It also says to be on the lookout for decreased torque or observable smoke from the engine bay.
Of the 125,322 cars, 3,165 are Lincoln Corsairs (MY 2021-2023), 35,501 are Mavericks (MY 2022-2023), and 86,656 are Escapes (MY 2020-2023). Once again, it’s worth noting that this recall only applies to vehicles with the 2.5-liter hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain.
As we pointed out earlier in the month, Ford already recalled 142,000 Lincoln MKC SUVs last week due to fire risks. In that case, the issue involved the everyday 12-volt battery and Ford plans to install an in-line fuse to eliminate the known issue. Those concerned that they own one of the affected vehicles can search NHTSA.gov with their VIN number or contact their local dealership.
