Ford says certain Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition owners should park their cars outside and away from structures until the issue is fixed.
Ford Motor Co. today initiated a voluntary recall of 39,013 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. According to the Detroit automaker, the move comes in response to 16 reports of fires igniting under the hood, including while the SUVs are parked and off.
Ford said it is treating this issue “with a high sense of urgency.” The company advised anyone who owns a 2021 model year Expedition or Navigator to park their cars outside until officials identify the cause of this issue.
“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,” said Jeffrey Marentic, general manager, Ford Passenger Vehicles. “We recognize the importance of staying in touch with our customers until we resolve this matter.”
Ford continues to investigate the fires, but here is what is known so far.
Fire Under Hood: Ford Navigator, Expedition Recall
While Ford began investigating the issue in March 2022, it has not yet identified the cause of the fires. The company said it believes the problem to originate in the rear of the engine compartment, near the passenger side of the vehicle.
The specific vehicles Ford is recalling were built between Dec. 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Ford said it will notify impacted customers via the FordPass and Lincoln Way apps and mail as soon as it finalizes the list of owners and addresses within the recalled vehicle population.
Of the 16 reports of fire, 12 reportedly occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, one while the SUV was parked and on. Three of the 16 fires reportedly occurred while the vehicle was driving and in motion.
Ford said that 14 of the 16 reports received took place on vehicles owned by rental companies, across multiple locations in the U.S. The other two were retail customer vehicles.
Ford has filed the issue with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), but has not called for owners to stop driving vehicles under this recall.
At this time, Ford said it is not aware of any accidents related to this issue. But it is “aware of one reported injury.”
We will update this story with new information as it becomes available. You can read the full recall on Ford’s website.
