Ford recalls over 1 lakh cars over under-hood fire risk

San Francisco, July 11

Automaker Ford is reportedly recalling more than 1 lakh vehicles, including Maverick, Escape and Corsair models, that faces fire risk and will start notifying owners of the recall on August 8. The recall affects vehicles in US all of which come with a 2.5-liter hybrid / plug-in hybrid (HEV / PHEV) engine, reports CNBC.

"The engine oil and fuel vapour could flood ignition sources, causing a possible fire beneath the hood of the car," the report noted.

Ford plans on adjusting affected vehicles' under-engine shield and active grille shutter to allow for better air flow.

The company has so far received 23 reports of the fire issue while engines are switched on, although no injuries have been recorded, according to the report.

Ford in 2021 recalled select 2021 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition SUVs for the risk of under-hood fires.

At the time, the recall affected about 39,000 vehicles.

Later, an update from Ford expanded the recall to 66,221 cars.

The automaker traced the problem to a switch in manufacturers during the pandemic, saying the printed circuit boards from this supplier "are uniquely susceptible to a high-current short."

Ford has asked owners to park their cars outside and away from structures.

In June, Ford Motor recalled nearly 49,000 Mustang Mach-E electric crossovers over battery safety concerns, and told dealers to temporarily halt selling the popular electric vehicle.

The battery safety defect may render the vehicle immobile.

The malfunction involves a potential overheating of the vehicle's battery high-voltage contactors, which can lead the vehicle to fail to start or lose power while in motion, reports CNBC.

"An overheated contactor that opens while driving can result in a loss of motive power, which can increase the risk of an accident," according to the Ford notice.

The battery issue affects Mach-Es that were built from May 27, 2020, through May 24, 2022, at the automaker's Mexico plant.

The recall was also filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

--IANS