New Maverick Recall: 2.5 Hybrid Engine Fire Hazard [Updated w/ Safety Recall Notice to Dealers]

[mmahathy]

Gone are any regrets I had in choosing the ecoboost over the hybrid.

You will probably be next for some similar issue. This defect has affected much less than 1% of subject hybrid vehicles.

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[Darnon]

For instance here's the report for the Escape Crankshaft recall
https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/n...ncorrectly-manufactured-crankshaft-182969.pdf

ChEP1 produced 25 crankshafts with potentially out of specification surface finish on crankshaft connecting rod journal #4 due to an emery lapping tape breakage that resulted in incomplete polishing. The 25 suspect crankshafts were not contained. Subsequent investigation showed that the 25 suspect crankshafts were included on a pallet of 200 parts that was forwarded to the engine assembly area. Plant records indicate the crankshafts could have been installed in any of 199 suspect engines. The 199 suspect engines were traced to 204 vehicles based on Louisville Assembly Plant traceability records (including 163 vehicles in the U.S.).

 

[brnpttmn]

Right. I said the same thing yesterday -- they are probably doing the engine shield recall on vehicles that don't have the "manufacturing issue" because the fire hazard exists for any engine block/oil pan breach.

The question is, which models have the manufacturing issue? (Short answer: I don't think we know yet.)

Ford muddied the water by putting out a recall notice that says the issue affects 2.5L HEV/PHEV engines and lists three models that use versions of that engine. Ford could have said (but didn't say) the issue only affected one model. Why didn't they say that?

If Ford knows that only some Escapes are affected, they have done a bad job of communicating that. The recall notice will lead (and has led) a lot of Maverick and Corsair owners to suspect that their engines may also be subject to this failure. Why would Ford do that if they knew better?

My guess (only a guess) is that Ford isn't yet certain of the extent of the issue and is covering the bases. I expect (hope) that Ford will publish something limiting the scope as soon as they have it figured out.

Very few Escapes have the "isolated" manufacturing issue. I don't think they'd use the term "isolated" if they hadn't figured out and corrected the issue (which was out of spec to begin with), or if the issue was common among the three models. Plus, if the issue was with the engines they'd be recalling the engine (like they did with the Escape).

 

[montyql]

Updated with recall notice:

Just saw a new Maverick recall notice came out. https://www.newsmax.com/finance/str...threat-escape-maverick/2022/07/08/id/1077921/

The new recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 model year Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair vehicles with 2.5-liter Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid engines. Ford said in the event of an engine failure, significant quantities of engine oil and fuel vapor may be released that could accumulate near ignition sources resulting in a potential under-hood fire.​

My Mav was already at the dealer because of the wiring issue so thankfully they are going to fix this as well.

 

[hpgirl127]

Gone are any regrets I had in choosing the ecoboost over the hybrid.

Totally agree

 

[jsus]

For instance here's the report for the Escape Crankshaft recall
https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/n...ncorrectly-manufactured-crankshaft-182969.pdf

That's an earlier recall only affecting a small batch of 2021 Escapes. 25 affected crankshafts from Feb last year, 201 vehicles potentially affected. 15 vehicles had warranty claims for related engine failure by Feb this year.

Now Ford has reason to issue this second recall for related issues. This time, they're not going to be inspecting crankshafts for potential long block replacement. Only tring to vent the oil and fuel so as to be below flammable concentrations.

Not sure if that means they have reason to believe the previously found small defective batch is indicative of a larger problem, or that they're proactively modifying the design of the shield and AGS should any similar defect pop up.

 

[ychuck46]

Updated with recall notice:

Just saw a new Maverick recall notice came out. https://www.newsmax.com/finance/str...threat-escape-maverick/2022/07/08/id/1077921/

The new recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 model year Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair vehicles with 2.5-liter Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid engines. Ford said in the event of an engine failure, significant quantities of engine oil and fuel vapor may be released that could accumulate near ignition sources resulting in a potential under-hood fire.​

Thank you for the headsup. Will watch for the recall notice.

 

[Deleted member 7089]

Didn't I see photos of the procedure here? One showing the pan, the other showing the louvers. Not the single screen grab from the video, but two actual shots of the instructions to dealers. Been back and forth here and don't see them.

 

[Jonny44]

So you get the pleasure of working on those 2.0 Volvo I4s, eh? What was it, the 2016 or something XC90 the biggest culprit?

We owned a Volvo briefly - a 2021 XC40 T5 - and while the car itself was nice, the engine and transmission ruined the whole experience. I had just sold a Mercedes E-class and we had a Porsche Macan as well. The Volvo felt like a luxury car until you drove it, and then it felt like an economy car. We had it for 5 months.

FWIW, I ran 10-13,000 mile OCIs across 5 different Mercedes cars from 2008 through 2020 - from supercharged I4s to the M276 V6. I had the oil analyzed regularly and the reports, without exception, always said the oil was fine to keep going. I plan to do the same with the Maverick. If the analysis says the oil life monitor is right, then that's what I will use.

Yep. XC90's, then XC60's. Mostly the early ones (2016-2018). I just wish they would change the service interval for oil changes and put dipsticks back in them. Everybody seems to wait until the trip computer gives an oil level/pressure warning before taking any action (which is usually to ignore it and drive it to the dealer instead of adding oil). As a rule, you should check your oil every other gas fill-up.

I like the XC40 models, but they're too small for me and they don't feel as stable on the roads as the S90/V90/XC90 models. I like them, but too expensive compared to other models out there.

 

[DryHeat]

The reason I believe that Ford knows the affected units is there isn't a simultaneous recall covering more. Ford has to communicate to the NHTSA their team's findings in determination of the issue of noncompliance, the scope, and specific incidences (all this should be available publicly soon on the NHTSA website). I don't think NHTSA would look fondly upon them withholding action if they know of other occurrences that'd indicate the engine failures affected other models directly.

It may turn out that the "manufacturing issues" (plural but unspecified in the recall notice) don't extend to all the models listed. As I said, I don't know. But...

Recall notices go out to consumers. I understand that you think that Ford (1) knew that the "engine failures" part only applied to a small number of Escapes, but (2) decided not to tell the recipients (including Maverick and Corsair owners). That seems weird to me.

Most Corsair and Maverick owners who get these notices will not be tracking earlier Escape recalls online and making the same assumptions/deductions that you are. Why wouldn't Ford tell them if they are not at risk from these "manufacturing issues"?

Maybe Ford will figure it out and clear it up in the letters on August 8.

 

[Deleted member 7089]

You will probably be next for some similar issue. This defect has affected much less than 1% of subject hybrid vehicles.

Let he who hath never had a recall cast the first stone.

 

[Deleted member 7089]

The entire issue is being muddied by the general media. They are rolling three different "possible fire" issues into one giant recall, and telling viewers/listeners not to park their Ford vehicles indoors. This chipmunk hole is turning into a Popocatepetl sized volcanic eruption for Ford. Major publicity disaster, I suspect.

Exactly, just got mine a week ago and now friends and family are calling/messaging to warn me about my Maverick catching on fire. Buzzkill for sure.

 

[Jonny44]

I'm definitely dumber for having read through this entire thread.

All the alarmists and doomsayers running around with their hands in the air over a preventative recall aimed at those who ignore regular vehicle maintenance. Unless you regularly redline your truck (which probably has a rev limiter) or just ignore oil changes, your engine will not "explode" and it won't burn down your house.

 

[xSWMIx]

I got my recall notice today. Called the dealership I purchased from about it. Here's the gist of what they unloaded on me in one breath:
The parts are backordered for 2 months at least but we need to pull the battery and junction box to run a diagnostic which renders the vehicle undrivable so then it has to sit here until the parts come in AND we're out of loaners.

My response was that I use this vehicle to make a living and that it was unacceptable to have it sit at the dealership for 2 plus months. I asked if I should just drive it until it catches fire and then sue Ford. She put me on hold to talk to a manager, then came back and suggested I try another dealer. I called a larger dealership in Kalamazoo and the service guy was like "Uh huh, uh huh, hmm.....I hate to throw any of my colleagues under the bus, buuuut...."

I'm taking it in there in a couple of weeks to have the little venting adjustment done. He said 2 hours tops.

 

[2022EOW]

So it’s ok to have catastrophic engine failure, we just want to make sure it does t burn up so we’ll drill some holes and open her up a bit. WOW, what about the root cause, the crank that was milled incorrectly? WOW AGAIN. Ford has so many recalls it’s scary, just canceled my Bronco after seeing how they are handling the recall on my Maverick. I’ll be looking to dump it now as I plan on traveling a lot, don’t want catastrophic engine failure or even the possibility of it when they know it’s an issue when I’m hundreds of miles from home.

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