02:45 25-11-2025

Ford issues another recall for Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEVs over battery fire risk

Ford recalls 20,000 Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEVs for a high-voltage battery defect in Samsung SDI cells; fire risk persists and no permanent fix is ready

Ford is running into hybrid trouble again. The company has announced a second large-scale recall of Ford Escape PHEV and Lincoln Corsair PHEV models—more than 20,000 vehicles in the U.S. could catch fire because of a high-voltage battery defect. It’s a sobering repeat of an issue that refuses to go away, and what’s especially worrying is that, as a year ago, the automaker still doesn’t have a ready fix.

The risk stems from internal short circuits in Samsung SDI battery cells made in Hungary. Even the updated battery-management software installed after the first recall can’t detect every faulty module. Europe has already recorded seven fires involving the Kuga PHEV that had undergone the earlier remedy—clear proof a software patch wasn’t enough.

In the new campaign, Ford says the root cause remains unclear. The working theory points to damage to the thin separator between the cathode and anode, arising from instability on the production line. While engineers chase the source, the company is narrowing how owners should use their cars.

Owners are advised to charge only partially, avoid topping the battery to its maximum, and drive exclusively in Auto EV mode. The drivetrain, brakes, and lights stay operational, but if the battery’s protection system intervenes, the pack shuts down and the crossover loses propulsion. It’s familiar guidance—and hardly reassuring.

Ford promises a permanent fix but gives no timeline. For now, that leaves owners with stopgap measures and plenty of uncertainty.