NHTSA recall 26V012000 · Jan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company: Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire
Product
2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles
Hazard
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
What to do
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Got a car, truck or motorcycle? The surest check is your 17-character VIN, which is on your registration, insurance card, or the driver-side dashboard. NHTSA's free lookup shows any open recall that hasn't been repaired on that exact vehicle.
Check my VIN on NHTSA.govRecall details
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- Component
- EQUIPMENT
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Potentially affected
- 2,403
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 25SA4
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notice.
Copied from the agency record without changes. Data as of Oct 14, 2026, 1:15 AM EDT. The agency notice is the final word.
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