Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is recalling 20,484 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 because of defective batteries, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high-voltage battery cells used in the compact hybrid vehicles may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. The supplier is Samsung SDI Hungary. Ford has been aware of the safety defect since September of 2024.* The high-voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit leading to sudden power loss and battery fires.
“In the event of a high-voltage battery cell internal short circuit, the customer will receive a “Stop Safely Now” message displayed via the instrument cluster,” Ford Motor told NHTSA in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Ford currently anticipates updated software won’t be ready until Q2 of 2025.
Updated Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software will have an improved capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of separator damage, providing advance warning to owners of a high-voltage battery issue before thermal venting occurs. If updated BECM software indicates high-voltage battery pack replacement is required, the replacement high-voltage battery pack (LX6Z-10B759-EB for Ford Escape vehicles, and PZ1Z-10B759-AA for Lincoln Corsair vehicles) will include cells produced after supplier process changes were implemented by the supplier to reduce susceptibility to separator dam.
*Chronology
- On 4 September 2024, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into three field reports from Europe describing battery thermal venting occurring in PHEV vehicles. The venting incidents occurred between April 2024 and August 2024.
- Between September and November 2024, the high voltage battery packs recovered from the three European vehicles were torn down and analyzed by Ford team members with support from the battery cell supplier, Samsung. Additionally, arrays recovered from the packs were CT scanned to identify the cells where the venting originated. Ford team members also held regular discussions with Samsung to identify potential root causes.
- In December 2024, with an understanding of issue root cause developed, Ford team members reviewed supplier production data to determine the affected vehicle population. As of December 11, 2024, Ford is aware of one additional occurrence of battery thermal venting potentially related to this issue.
- On 13 December 2024, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.
Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high-voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety recall regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 20 January 2025. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S79. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 24V9540 or 24V-9540.
Ford Motor Battery Fire Recalls – Escape and Corsair Hybrids
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is recalling 20,484 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 because of defective batteries, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high-voltage battery cells used in the compact hybrid vehicles may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. The supplier is Samsung SDI Hungary. Ford has been aware of the safety defect since September of 2024.* The high-voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit leading to sudden power loss and battery fires.
“In the event of a high-voltage battery cell internal short circuit, the customer will receive a “Stop Safely Now” message displayed via the instrument cluster,” Ford Motor told NHTSA in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Ford currently anticipates updated software won’t be ready until Q2 of 2025.
Updated Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software will have an improved capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of separator damage, providing advance warning to owners of a high-voltage battery issue before thermal venting occurs. If updated BECM software indicates high-voltage battery pack replacement is required, the replacement high-voltage battery pack (LX6Z-10B759-EB for Ford Escape vehicles, and PZ1Z-10B759-AA for Lincoln Corsair vehicles) will include cells produced after supplier process changes were implemented by the supplier to reduce susceptibility to separator dam.
*Chronology
Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high-voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety recall regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 20 January 2025. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S79. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 24V9540 or 24V-9540.