Expedition, Navigator Fire Fix Found After NHTSA Alert

Ford has received 21 reports of under hood fires, including five since the original recall filing.

Ford Motor Company said today that it has identified a remedy for customers affected by an under-hood fire recall on 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The company has communicated repair procedures to dealers. (AutoInformed on: NHTSA Consumer Advisory – 2021 Expedition, Navigator Fires)

Parts are still not available for some vehicles. Moreover, Ford is expanding the population to include a total of 66,221 Expedition and Navigator SUVs in the U.S. built between July 27, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021 based on further analysis of the causes for the fires. Ford has received 21 reports of under hood fires – including five since the original recall filing in May – with 18 incidents on vehicles owned by rental companies.

In any case, Ford is still advising customers to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the dealer services their vehicle for this recall action. “Vehicles may pose a risk of under hood fire, including while the vehicle is parked and off.” This was the reason for the NHTSA Consumer Alert.

Dealers will first inspect the battery junction box for melting damage, and if so, will replace the entire component. They will then remove the engine fan ground wire from the battery junction box in affected vehicles with an 800-watt cooling fan system, which represents about one-third of the recalled vehicle population. This repair can be done immediately.

For the remaining affected vehicles with a 700-watt cooling fan system, the repair is the same, except for the installation of an auxiliary box with a wire jumper. Parts for this repair are expected to be available starting in early September. Customers will be notified via FordPass today, with follow-up communication to customers of vehicles with 700-watt systems when parts are available.

Ford believes the cause of these vehicle fires can be traced to a change in manufacturing location by an unnamed  supplier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Printed circuit boards produced at this facility are uniquely susceptible to a high-current short and were supplied to Ford and installed in Expedition and Navigator SUVs produced during the recall time frame.

Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls  and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is under recall,” said NHTSA. NHTSA also encourages all consumers to report any safety concerns to the agency online or by calling our Vehicle Safety Hotline (Toll-Free: 1-888-327-4236 / Hearing Impaired (TTY): 1-800-424-9153).