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

Source: NHTSA · United States

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Ford Motor Company is recalling approximately 24,690 plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a battery cell defect that can cause internal short circuits, leading to fires or loss of drive power.

What this NHTSA vehicle recall tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NHTSA on February 24, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Vehicle Recalls — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NHTSA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NHTSA vehicle recall is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (recall, product-safety, nhtsa, automotive) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

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.

Original source: NHTSA Official Notice ↗

All Vehicle Recalls →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NHTSA vehicle recall.

What is this NHTSA vehicle recall about?
Ford Motor Company is recalling approximately 24,690 plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a battery cell defect that can cause internal short circuits, leading to fires or loss of drive power.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NHTSA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects United States. Check with NHTSA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Vehicle Recalls updates?
Browse the full Vehicle Recalls feed on Areazine at areazine.com/recalls/vehicles/ for the latest updates from NHTSA and other agencies.