As the Coldest Weather in Decades is Hitting the Country, Ford Recalls 119,000 Vehicles With Engine Block Heaters

National meteorologists are warning that there will be record- breaking cold across two thirds of the U.S. this weekend. The upper Midwest and the Northeast are expected to be hit the hardest with wind chills well below zero. New recalls from Ford are hitting at a terrible time. Ford is recalling 119,075 vehicles because their engine block heaters can crack, leading to a coolant leak. The coolant leaks can cause engine fires. Ford is recalling certain 2013-2018 Ford Focus vehicles, some 2013-2019 Ford Escapes, some 2019 and 2024 Ford Explorers and some 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles. The recalls only apply to vehicles with engine block heaters. 

What is Causing the Problem 

According to paperwork filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the majority of the vehicles being recalled are Ford Escapes and the Ford Focuses with 2.0L engines. “The engine block heater installed in vehicles with a 2.0L engine may experience overheating and develop a coolant leak through its element pins. This could cause a resistive short while the vehicle is parked and the block heater is plugged into an electrical supply.”

Unfortunately, according to the NHTSA Safety Recall Reports, the coolant leaks can lead to engine fires. “A short circuit in the engine block heater increases the risk of an underhood fire. The risk is increased when the block heater is plugged into a 110-volt electrical supply without a functional circuit breaker or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) power outlet. This risk only exists when the block heater is plugged in.”

Ford says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries from the fires. Ford is aware of 12 fires in Ford Escapes because of the faulty engine block heaters. Ford is also aware of 46 other allegations of fires in vehicles, the majority of which came from Canadian owners. 

Ford said owners of affected vehicles should stop using their engine block heater immediately and not plug it into any sort of power source until the recall work has been completed. 

Signs of a Potential Coolant Leak

According to Ford, “The customer may notice coolant spots on the driveway or garage floor, a loss of cabin heat, powertrain unit overheating, or a warning indicator for a low coolant level. Additionally, the condition can cause heat damage to the block heater electrical wiring and connector and the customer may notice an odor or smoke.”

How Ford Will Fix the Problem

Ford is developing a new engine block heater and Ford service technicians will replace the defective engine block heaters as soon as the new parts are available. All work will be done free of charge. 

Ford will send letters notifying owners of the safety risk. The letters are expected to go out Feb. 9 - Feb. 13, 2026. Once the   repair is available, Ford will again notify owners. That is expected to happen Apr 13, - Apr 17, 2026. 

Ford Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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