Ford recalls vehicles over engine failures

WASHINGTON — Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday it is expanding and issuing a new recall for 125,000 sport utility vehicles and trucks because engine failures may cause a fire.

The recall covers various Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVS and Maverick compact pickup trucks from the 2020-23 model years with 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford said isolated engine manufacturing issues can cause the engine to fail prematurely and in that event engine oil or fuel vapor may be released, increasing the risk of fire and injury.

Ford initially recalled 100,000 Escape, Corsair and Maverick in the United States in July 2022 after identifying 23 reports globally of a fire or smoke after a suspected block or oil pan breach.

Ford said on Tuesday it had reports of at least three vehicles that suffered fires after getting the 2022 recall fix.

Ford and NHTSA advised owners to park and shut off the engine if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power or see smoke.