Ford Motor Company has made a decision regarding a defect that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety in specific models of Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured between 2015 and 2019. These vehicles, produced during the mentioned time frame, have been found to have a potential for under hood fire, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.
In March 2023, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) was made aware of the issue related to 18 reports of under hood fires involving 2015 to 2017 model year MKC vehicles in North America and China. It is noteworthy that all these incidents occurred when the vehicles were parked and not in use.
Ford’s CCRG initiated a thorough investigation that spanned throughout March, April, and May. The investigation encompassed various activities, such as comprehensive vehicle inspections, reviews of suppliers involved in the manufacturing process, assessments of product designs, detailed analysis of field data, and rigorous examination of components and subsystems in laboratory settings.
At present, the investigation has not been able to find the cause or origin of the fires. Nevertheless, it was observed that the fires seemed to originate in close proximity to the vehicles’ 12-volt batteries, which raised concerns regarding the potential link between the fires and the battery system.
As of May 2023, Ford’s CCRG has received information about 19 potentially related incidents of under hood fires, all of which occurred while the vehicles were parked and turned off.
Ford’s Field Review Committee thoroughly examined the matter and decided to undertake a field action to provide guidance to vehicle owners. As part of this field action, Ford advised owners to park their vehicles outside and away from any structures until the completion of the ongoing investigation. This precautionary measure aims to minimize the risk of potential fires until a conclusive resolution is reached.
For reference, customers and owners can refer to Ford’s designated number for this recall, which is 23S28, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number, which is 23V-378.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is continuing to investigate certain Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans for front brake hoses that could prematurely rupture.