Fire Risks Prompt Ford Bronco, Escape Recall

Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than half a million sport utility vehicles over a defect that could cause the cars to go up in flames.

Fuel injectors may crack in certain Bronco and Escape SUVs, the automaker recently told federal lawmakers. That could result in fires under the hood of the vehicles, according to the company.

“Liquid fuel and/or fuel vapor that accumulates near a sufficiently hot surface, below the combustion initiation flame speed, may ignite resulting in an underhood fire, and increasing the risk of injury,” Ford said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The recall covers certain 2020-2023 Ford Escape and 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs, which are equipped with 1.5-liter and three-cylinder engines.

The company said it has not conclusively determined the cause of the problem.

“The root cause is still under investigation,” Ford told NHTSA. “Based on analysis to date, a cracked fuel injector in the engine allows for fuel to leak at a high rate (19L/hour) into the cylinder head, which can travel out via a drain hole and down onto hot surfaces on the exhaust/turbo system where it may combust."

Ford plans to notify owners of recalled cars by December 23, but it will not have a fix for the problem until the cause is determined.

“Once the repair is available, we will ask customers to schedule service with their preferred dealer,” Jim Azzouz, the company’s executive director of global customer experience products and customer relations, said in a statement provided to Consumer Reports. “They can then take advantage of our complimentary pickup and delivery or a loaner to make sure the repair is completed at their earliest convenience.”

California Ford Owners: Know Your Lemon Law Rights

These kinds of safety recalls have become far too common for Ford and other major vehicle manufacturers, which call back millions of vehicles around the globe every year.

In April, the company recalled roughly 345,000 vehicles, citing the risk of fires stemming from oil leaks. That included some vehicles now subject to the newly announced recall.

A month earlier, Ford announced that it was calling back 18,000 sport utility vehicles at risk of engine fires if the cars are involved in crashes.

There is some good news, however, for Ford owners in California. You have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law, known formally as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, requires auto manufacturers to do a wide variety of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back cars that they cannot or will not fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.