Ford is recalling 116,672 vehicles in North America after identifying a wiring flaw in engine block heaters that can lead to coolant leaks, electrical short circuits, and, in the worst case, fires while the vehicles are parked and plugged in. The campaign covers popular Ford and Lincoln models built over several years, many of them sold in colder regions where block heaters are a winter necessity. I see this as the latest sign that a long running safety and quality struggle is colliding with the realities of extreme weather and aging hardware in the driveway.
Owners are being urged to park outside and stop using the affected heaters until repairs are completed, even though the vehicles remain drivable. The recall adds to a broader pattern of fire related issues tied to engine components and wiring, including a separate action involving more than 110,000 Ford vehicles with a different heater defect, underscoring how a small crack in a plastic fitting or a frayed wire can ripple into a major safety story.
What is being recalled and why it matters
The latest safety action covers 116,672 vehicles, a figure that has already become shorthand for the scale of the problem as I talk with owners and analysts. Reporting describes it as part of a broader pattern in which Ford and Lincoln are confronting a “Recall Nightmare Spills Into” 2026 as the “Company Recalls” “Cars That May Catch Fire.” The affected models include the compact Ford Escape and Focus, as well as the Lincoln MKC, all of which have been strong sellers in northern states and Canadian provinces where plug in heaters are common in winter.
At the heart of the issue is the engine block heater assembly and its wiring, which can develop cracks and coolant leaks that reach electrical components. In a separate but related recall, regulators in WASHINGTON have already flagged more than 110,000 Ford vehicles for a similar fire hazard tied to engine heaters and low coolant levels. I see the new 116,672 vehicle campaign as part of the same safety arc, one that is forcing the company to revisit how it designs and protects components that sit at the intersection of fluids, electricity, and freezing temperatures.
Which models and years are at risk
Owners trying to figure out whether their car is part of the recall need to look closely at both model and model year. The defect has been traced to specific production runs of the Ford Escape and, as well as the Lincoln MKC, sold across the United States and Canada. These are mainstream crossovers and compact cars, not niche products, which is why the raw number of affected vehicles is so high and why the story resonates far beyond any single region.
Within that group, the scale is particularly striking for the Escape. One breakdown lists a 2013 to 2019 Ford Escape population of 65,683 vehicles, described as “Affected” alongside 2013 to 2018 Ford Focu models that share similar hardware. Another account frames the campaign as a major move by The Ford Mot to pull back nearly 117,000 vehicles, including 2015 and 2016 Ford MKC crossovers, because they “may catch fire.” Taken together, these details show how the recall slices through several popular nameplates and years, leaving few cold weather owners untouched.
How the wiring flaw can lead to a fire
From a technical standpoint, the defect is a chain reaction that starts with coolant and ends with electricity. The engine block heater is designed to warm the engine in freezing conditions, but if its housing or fittings crack, coolant can leak onto wiring and connectors. Over time, that moisture can corrode or bridge electrical contacts, and when the heater is plugged into a household outlet, the compromised wiring can eventually trigger a that overheats components and, in rare cases, ignites surrounding material.
Regulators have echoed that concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has described how these engine block heaters may crack, leak coolant, and then short out when plugged in, a sequence that can lead to fires even when the vehicle is parked and unattended. In one summary, The NHTSA says the vehicles’ heaters can develop leaks that cause exactly this kind of short circuit, and that dealers will perform that service free of charge. When I look at the pattern across multiple recalls, the common thread is a vulnerability where fluids and current meet, a place where a small design compromise can have outsized consequences.
Warning signs drivers should watch for
For owners, the most practical question is how to spot trouble before it escalates. Ford has advised that drivers may notice coolant on the ground, a loss of cabin heat, or warning messages before any fire risk materializes. One detailed account notes that “The customer may notice coolant spots on the driveway or garage floor, a loss of cabin heat, powertrain unit overheating, or a warning light,” all of which are early clues that the heater assembly is failing and that the vehicle should be inspected. I see those symptoms, quoted in an analysis of the recall, as a checklist every owner should keep in mind, and they are captured in guidance linked through Jan.
Other advice is even more concrete. Drivers are being told to Keep an eye out for coolant spots on the driveway or garage floor, a sudden loss of cabin heat, a low coolant warning, or an overheating engine, all of which can signal that the heater circuit is compromised. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also amplified a broader Recall alert covering 116K Ford, Lincolns recalled over fire risk, underscoring that owners should not plug in the heaters until repairs are complete. In practical terms, that means parking outside, watching for leaks, and scheduling dealer visits as soon as parts and appointments are available.
What Ford and regulators are doing next
From the corporate side, Ford is trying to show that it has learned from earlier missteps. The company has already been grappling with a series of safety campaigns tied to fire risks, and the phrase “Recall Nightmare Spills Into” 2026 captures how persistent these issues have become for its brand. In one account, the recall of 116,672 vehicles is framed as part of a broader effort by Ford to work with regulators and dealers so that owners can get repairs at no cost, a standard step in safety campaigns but one that still requires careful coordination across thousands of service bays.
Regulators, for their part, are leaning on public alerts and detailed defect descriptions to keep pressure on the automaker and inform drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has highlighted how the heaters can crack and leak, and how that can lead to fires when the vehicles are plugged in, while other summaries emphasize that the recall affects a mix of Ford and Lincolns across the United States. One overview notes that a major automaker is recalling nearly 117,000 vehicles that may catch fire, including specific Ford MKC years, while another points out that the new campaign impacts owners across the eastern United States who rely heavily on block heaters. As I see it, the combination of corporate outreach, regulatory scrutiny, and owner vigilance will determine how quickly this wiring flaw moves from active hazard to closed chapter.
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