Ford Recalls Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEVs Over High-Voltage Battery Fire and Stall Risk

What Happened

Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall for specific plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models due to a manufacturing defect in the high-voltage battery cells. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one or more cells within the battery pack may experience an internal short circuit, which can lead to total battery failure.

Which Products Are Affected

The recall involves approximately 24,690 units. Affected vehicles include:

• 2023-2025 Ford Escape PHEV
• 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair PHEV

This action, identified by Ford recall number 25SC4, expands upon previous recall campaigns 24V954 and 25V489. Owners can check their specific Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website to confirm if their vehicle is included.

What You Should Do

A final remedy is currently under development. Until the repair is available, Ford advises all affected owners to take the following precautions:

1. Only operate the vehicle in “Auto EV” mode.
2. Limit battery charging to a maximum of 80% capacity.

Interim notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners on March 6, 2026, providing instructions on how to limit the charge. A second letter will be sent once the final remedy is ready. Consumers with questions may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Why This Matters

Battery failure in these vehicles presents two significant safety hazards: a sudden loss of drive power while in motion, which increases the risk of a crash, and the potential for an internal short circuit to ignite a vehicle fire.

Source

Information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Campaign Number 26V091000.