Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall affecting 20,558 units of the 2020–2024 Ford Escape PHEV and 2021–2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV models following reports of potential high-voltage battery cell issues.
According to the company, affected vehicles may experience internal short circuits in one or more battery cells, which could occur whether the vehicle is parked or in operation. If the issue arises while driving, the vehicle will display a “Stop Safely Now” warning and may suffer a loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Although steering, braking, and 12-volt systems remain functional, the defect could lead to battery thermal venting, posing a heightened fire risk.
Linked to Earlier Battery Recall
The vehicles previously underwent a safety update under recall 24S79, aimed at reducing battery thermal venting risks. However, Ford reports several cases of venting in Kuga PHEV models in Europe even after the software fix, prompting the expanded recall.
The company emphasized that no such incidents have been reported in North America involving Escape or Corsair vehicles post-update.
Interim Safety Measures for Owners
Until a permanent fix is developed, Ford is advising customers to:
- Limit battery charging to a maximum of 80% state of charge
- Operate the vehicle only in Auto EV mode
Detailed instructions will be provided directly to affected customers. These precautionary steps apply even to vehicles that previously received the 24S79 remedy.
Permanent Remedy Under Development
Ford engineers are working urgently to identify and implement a final solution. Once ready, customers will be notified by mail to schedule free repairs at authorized dealers.
The company apologized for the inconvenience and encouraged owners to check if their vehicle is affected by entering their VIN on Ford’s official recall page.
