by New Year – New Recalls
In 2025, Ford set a record by announcing 153 recalls, and the company wasted no time continuing this trend in 2026. Just three weeks into the new year, the first serious notice has already been announced, and again it concerns a familiar problem – the risk of an engine fire.
Several models equipped with Ford’s 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines are at risk. The issue lies in a potential malfunction of their engine block heaters. These devices, as the name implies, are plugged into the electrical grid in cold regions when parked in winter to keep the engine and oil ready for operation, facilitating starting and reducing wear.
But some of these heaters have developed cracks, and if this happens, they can leak coolant. This creates a risk – albeit small – of a short circuit and fire the next time the heater is plugged into the grid.
Which Models Are Involved?
Ford published three separate recall notices in the USA. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the first concerns 116,672 vehicles, including 2013-2018 Focus models, 2013-2019 Escape, and the 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC SUV.
The second recall, announced the same day for the same problem, concerns 2,403 units of the 2016-2018 Focus RS and the 2019 and 2024 Explorer. The third notice relates to 2,633 block heaters sold as accessories for various Ford and Lincoln models from 2013-2019.
However, a dealer memo dated the next day suggests the problem may be much larger. Models potentially involved include the 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2021-2024 Bronco and Bronco Sport, 2022-2024 Maverick, 2020-2022 Escape, 2016-2024 Explorer, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, and 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC.
It is estimated that an additional 68,083 vehicles could be involved, beyond the nearly 120,000 mentioned in the first two recalls.
Canada Is Also Involved
And this is nothing compared to what is happening in Canada. While most of the US does not face weather severe enough to make a block heater a necessity, the situation is different north of the border. Therefore, Ford is recalling a total of 332,410 vehicles in Canada, with the affected models matching those listed in the US notices.
For those counting, the total number of vehicles involved in the US and Canada reaches 453,828 units.
The Worst Time for a Recall
Ford plans to replace the faulty block heaters and advises owners not to plug them in until the repair is completed. Receiving such news in the middle of winter is not the best news. Before a dealer can sell any involved vehicle from their stock, they must replace the block heater with a threaded plug and hide the power cable in the trunk.
This large-scale recall campaign once again highlights how crucial the proper quality of components is, especially for devices related to electrical power and safety. The problem has emerged precisely during the winter period when these heaters are most in demand, creating additional inconvenience for owners in cold regions. The company must not only organize a prompt replacement but also provide clear instructions for millions of drivers to avoid potential incidents until the repair is made.
