# Ford Motor Company: Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire (26V011000)

**Recall Urgency Score:** 40/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Subject | Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire |
| NHTSA ID | 26V011000 |
| Manufacturer campaign | 26S01 |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | EQUIPMENT |
| Units potentially affected | 116672 |
| Do not drive | No |
| Park outside | No |
| 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. |
| Consequence | An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 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. |

## Why this score
- 116,672 units affected.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls, via data.transportation.gov (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V011000). Last refreshed: 2026-11-03T18:08:10.172Z.
Recall data comes from NHTSA and is summarized automatically; check the official notice and VIN lookup before acting. Informational only.