Ford will recall about 85,000 Explorer SUVs equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility package over concerns about the risk of engine fires, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday.
The recall specifically applies to 2020-22 model years equipped with the 3.3-liter gasoline or hybrid engines, the agency said.
“In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapors may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, potentially causing an engine compartment fire,” the safety agency said.
According to NHTSA, as of July 9, there have been 13 reports of underhood fires due to engine block breakage in Explorer SUVs in North America manufactured before June 2, 2022. No fires due to engine block breakage have occurred in non-police SUVs.
“Police applications often involve regular, repeated acceleration to maximum engine speeds at wide open throttle, which may affect engine durability,” NHTSA said in the report.
The Michigan-based automaker plans to notify vehicle owners about the ongoing investigation, and Ford is warning owners to immediately put their car in park and turn off the engine if they hear “unexpected” engine noises.
The department’s report said Ford was not aware of any reports of injuries or accidents related to the engine condition.
Software and parts to fix the issue are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2025.
A Ford spokesperson told The Hill that the company has “approved a customer satisfaction program that provides an extended warranty for a one-time engine long block replacement in the event of a connecting rod bearing failure.”
The spokesman added that the extension should help customers “if issues arise before a solution is available”.
The incident marks at least the fourth major recall of Ford vehicles this year. The company recalled about 2 million SUVs in January for a tire-trim problem, 450,000 SUVs in April for a loss of traction and about 552,000 pickup trucks in June for transmission concerns.
