Ford announced it has identified a remedy for its under hood fire recall that was posted in May. At the time, the recall affected 39,013 Expedition and Navigator SUVs built between Dec. 1 2020 and April 30, 2021.
Since the original recall, Ford has expanded the vehicles affected to now include 66,221 Expedition and Navigator SUVs built between July 27, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021 based on further analysis of the causes for the fires.
According to a report from Ford, the cause of these vehicle fires "can be traced to a change in manufacturing location by a supplier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Printed circuit boards produced at this facility are uniquely susceptible to a high-current short and were supplied to Ford and installed in Expedition and Navigator SUVs produced during the recall window."
Dealers are working quickly to make parts available as soon as possible, the report said.
Customers are still advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until their vehicle is serviced by a dealer as the vehicle may pose a risk of under hood fire even while it is in parked and turned off.
Remedy
Ford reported that dealers will first inspect the battery junction box for melting damage, and if so, will replace the entire component. They will then remove the engine fan ground wire from the battery junction box in affected vehicles with an 800-watt cooling fan system, which represents about one-third of the recalled vehicle population. This repair can be done immediately. For the remaining affected vehicles with a 700-watt cooling fan system, the repair is the same, except for the installation of an auxiliary box with a wire jumper.
Parts for this repair are expected to be available starting in early September.
Customers will be notified via FordPass, with follow-up communication to customers of vehicles with 700-watt systems when parts are available, the report said.
Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving vehicles under this recall and is not aware of any accidents related to this issue. The company is aware of one reported injury.
