Ford Motor Co is Recalling 39,000 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs Over Engine Fire Risk

author: FutureCar Staff    

The 2021 Ford Expedition SUVs produced between Dec 1, 2021 and April 30 are being recalled due to engine fire risk.

Ford Motor Co is issuing a safety recall for its popular Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs because the vehicles pose a risk of fire in the engine bay, including while the vehicle is parked and off.

There have been no reported incidents with vehicles built before or after these dates.

As a precaution, Ford is advising customers of 39,013 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs that were built over a four-month period between late 2020 and early 2021 to park their vehicles outside and away from structures while the automaker investigates the cause of under hood fires.

The affected vehicles were built in the U.S. between Dec. 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. There have been 16 reported incidents of under hood fires in vehicles. Of these 16 incidents, 12 reportedly occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, one reportedly while the vehicle was parked and on, and three reportedly while the vehicle was in motion.

Ford began investigating the issue on March 24, 2022, but has not yet established a cause. According to Ford, the fires are believed to have originated in the rear of the engine compartment near the passenger side of the vehicle.

Fourteen of these Expedition and Navigator SUV fires occurred on vehicles owned by rental companies and the other two were customer vehicles. 

As expected, Ford says its treating this recall with a high sense of urgency due to safety concerns. The automaker will communicate to customers via FordPass and Lincoln Way vehicle smartphone apps and by mail once the company tallies the list of customers driving the vehicles and gathers their addresses for notification.

However, Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving vehicles like Mercedes-Benz earlier this week when it recalled some 292,000 2006 through 2012 ML-, GL-. and R-class SUVs that may have a problem with vacuum-operated braking systems caused by corrosion that can significantly increase the risk of a crash.

Ford is not aware of any accidents related to this issue in the two SUV models, but is aware of one reported injury.

"We are working around-the-clock to determine the root cause of this issue and subsequent remedy so that customers can continue to enjoy using their vehicles," said Jeffrey Marentic, General Manager, Ford Passenger Vehicles. "We recognize the importance of staying in touch with our customers until we resolve this matter."

The latest recall follows the 737,000 vehicles Ford recalled in early April to address oil leaks and The Trailer Brake Controller on some truck models. 

The April recall involved 345,451 of its 2020-2022 Ford Escape SUVs and 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L 4-cylinder engines because the engine oil separator housing could crack and develop an oil leak that might lead to an engine fire. Ford said it had reports of at least eight fires that may be related to the issue in these vehicles.

Ford dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, if needed.

The other recall involves 391,836 2021-2022 F-150 pickups, 2022 Ford Maverick pickups, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 heavy-duty vehicles because a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system might not brake.

The Trailer Brake Controller system in Ford vehicles is designed to apply the brakes electronically on the trailer being towed when the driver applies the brakes on the towing vehicle. Dealers will update the trailer brake control module software on the vehicles. 

Ford said it has 67 reports of improper function potentially related to the issue in the April recall, but no reports of crashes or injuries were reported.

FutureCar Staff