The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The risk
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Ford Focus | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Lincoln MKC | 2015, 2016 |
Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2013 | 2,753 | 18 |
| Ford Escape | 2014 | 2,089 | 16 |
| Ford Escape | 2015 | 1,130 | 9 |
| Ford Escape | 2016 | 1,166 | 4 |
| Ford Escape | 2017 | 2,701 | 4 |
| Ford Escape | 2018 | 1,821 | 4 |
| Ford Escape | 2019 | 596 | 3 |
| Ford Focus | 2013 | 2,112 | 11 |
| Ford Focus | 2014 | 2,604 | 12 |
| Ford Focus | 2015 | 1,022 | 9 |
| Ford Focus | 2016 | 1,183 | 10 |
| Ford Focus | 2017 | 900 | 10 |
| Ford Focus | 2018 | 837 | 7 |
| Lincoln MKC | 2015 | 131 | 12 |
| Lincoln MKC | 2016 | 80 | 5 |
Other equipment recalls in 2026
112 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the equipment; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 26V684000 19 Oct 2026 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 26V675000 15 Oct 2026 | Prevost Car (US) Inc. |
| 26V668000 9 Oct 2026 | Grand Design RV, LLC |
| 26V667000 9 Oct 2026 | Grand Design RV, LLC |
| 26V657000 6 Oct 2026 | Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. |
| 26V654000 6 Oct 2026 | Spartan Fire, LLC |
| 26V646000 5 Oct 2026 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 26V649000 5 Oct 2026 | REV Ambulance Group Orlando, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026