Ford recalling SUVs over engine fire concerns

Ford is set to recall roughly 85,000 Explorer SUVs fitted with the Police Interceptor Utility Package over concerns of engine fire risk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday. 

The recall specifically affects the 2020-22 models that have 3.3-liter gas or hybrid engines, per the agency.

“In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire,” the safety agency said. 

As of July 9 in North America, there were 13 reports of under-hood fires resulting from engine block breaches on these Explorer SUVs that were manufactured before June 2, 2022, according to NHTSA. No fires from engine block breaches occurred on non-police SUVs. 

“Regular and repeated wide open throttle accelerations to maximum engine RPM are far more frequent in police applications which could potentially affect engine durability,” the NHTSA said in the report.  

The Michigan-based automaker will notify the vehicle owners about the ongoing investigation. Ford is cautioning owners to immediately park and turn off their vehicles’ engines if they hear “unexpected” engine noises. 

The agency’s report said Ford is not aware of any reports of injury or accident connected to the engine’s condition.

Software and parts to remedy the issues are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2025. 

Ford spokesperson told The Hill the automaker “approved a customer satisfaction program that provides extended warranty coverage for a one-time replacement of the engine long-block if a connecting rod bearing fails.”

The extension should assist customers “if they experience the issue before the remedy is available,” the spokesperson added.

The incident marks at least the fourth major recall of Ford vehicles this year. The company recalled almost 2 million SUVs in January over tire trim issues, 450,000 SUVs in April over drive power loss and around 552,000 pickup trucks in June over transmission concerns.