Ford officials announced the company’s determined how to resolve the problem causing nearly two dozen underhood fires in 2021 model year Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators.
The company still advises owners of affected vehicles to park outside and away from structures until they get their vehicle serviced. The original recall announced in May covered nearly 40,000 vehicles, but the automaker expanded now it to cover 66,221 Expeditions and Navigators build between July 27, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021.
Previously, the vehicles in question were built during the fourth-month period between Dec. 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021, officials said nearly two months ago. The company began investigating the problem in late March.
What was the problem?
Ford believes the cause of these vehicle fires can be traced to a change in manufacturing location by a 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 window, the company noted.
Company pushed to find an answer
“We are working around the clock to determine the root cause of this issue and subsequent remedy so that customers can continue to enjoy using their vehicles,” Jeffrey Marentic, general manager of Ford passenger vehicles, said in a statement at the time of the original recall. Apparently that diligence paid off.
At the time of the original recall, there were 16 incidents: 14 occurred on vehicles owned by rental companies at multiple locations, and two were retail customer vehicles. Additionally, 12 reportedly occurred while the vehicle was parked and not running, while one reportedly occurred when the vehicle was parked and running, and three reportedly while the vehicle was in motion.
There are now 21 reported incidents. Only one injury has been reported.
What’s next?
Ford’s told dealers how to resolve the issue and now is making the parts available to fix the problem. There is still no stop driving directive from the company. Customers will be notified via FordPass, with follow-up communication to customers of vehicles with 700-watt systems when parts are available.
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, the company noted.