Ford is prime of the heap on the subject of just a few issues, pickup truck gross sales, and remembers. Sure, the heavyweight champ of automotive remembers is already again within the ring defending its title just some weeks into 2026. Ford issued a recall earlier this month for almost 120,000 of its vehicles fitted with engine block heaters, which can crack and develop a coolant leak inflicting them to brief circuit and probably trigger a fireplace. Ford says homeowners mustn’t plug their block heater in till the fault is remedied, although the recall comes simply in time for a large winter storm.
There are two separate remembers for this challenge, the primary one probably impacts 116,672 2013 to 2018 Focuses, 2013 to 2019 Escapes, and 2015 to 2016 Lincoln MKCs outfitted with a 2.0-liter engine. The second probably impacts 2,403 2016 to 2018 Focuses, in addition to 2019 and 2024 Explorers. Ford expects only one% of the automobiles concerned within the recall have the coolant leak challenge.
Look out for coolant spots below your automotive, lack of cabin warmth, engine overheating, or a low coolant warning
The situations that trigger the potential fireplace hazard solely happen when the engine block heater is plugged right into a 110-volt outlet, so Ford recommends homeowners keep away from plugging them in, which is mighty inconvenient for people in areas affected by the present winter storm.
The fault is traced again to the engine block heater’s solder joints which might crack across the factor base which permit coolant to get into the wire interface. Evaporation of the coolant leaves behind conductive salt deposits, and as these deposits accumulate over time, they’ll trigger a salt bridge or corrode electrical connections which can end in a brief circuit. Ford is unaware of any accidents or deaths associated to this recall. The treatment entails alternative of the defective engine block heater with a newly designed one, as soon as it turns into out there.
Ford
Sellers ought to already be notified of the recall and VINs ought to be searchable already, however homeowners will not be notified till subsequent month. The newly designed engine block heater is not anticipated to be out there till mid-April when the worst winter climate will seemingly already be a factor of the previous.
