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. This Ford SUV recall affects thousands of vehicles, raising serious safety questions. Consequently, the company urges owners to act quickly and take necessary precautions. #FordSUVRecall
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, 13 under-hood fires were reported in North America from engine block breaches on certain Explorer SUVs. These SUVs were manufactured before June 2, 2022, according to the NHTSA. Notably, no fires occurred on non-police SUVs from engine block breaches.
“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. #FordSUVRecall
Software and parts to remedy the issues are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2025.
Moreover, this Ford SUV recall adds to the growing list of recalls in the automotive industry. As a result, customers are advised to stay informed and follow all safety guidelines provided by Ford.
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