The recall campaign concerns hybrid Ford Escape models from 2020-2024 and plug-in hybrids Lincoln Corsair from 2021-2024. The high-voltage battery cells in these vehicles are prone to short circuits, which may lead to fires.
Ford hybrid owners are advised to use only the "Auto EV" mode and limit the maximum battery charge until repairs are made.
During the previous recall for a similar issue, dealers updated the battery control module software with a feature to detect cell anomalies. In the event of abnormal operation, a warning appears, and battery charging is stopped. However, Ford later discovered that this did not resolve the problem.
As of November 5, Ford was aware of seven incidents of thermal runaway in battery cells of vehicles that had previously been repaired, but all incidents occurred in Ford Kuga Hybrid crossovers in Europe.
No new method for correcting the defect has been announced yet.
Source: Carcomplaints
