Ford recalls over 694,000 vehicles due to fire risk

In July 2025, Ford Motor Company announced a significant recall affecting more than 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. This recall stems from a serious issue where fuel injectors may crack and leak, posing a fire hazard. The impacted vehicles include certain Bronco Sports manufactured between 2021 and 2024, as well as 2020 to 2022 Escapes, all equipped with 1.5-liter engines. The recall process began after Ford identified risky fuel injector conditions during ongoing investigations into underhood fires associated with the models. The problem first emerged in late 2022 when Ford began looking into the fuel injector issue, prompted by reports raised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). By November 2022, the company's field review committee approved initial factory recalls, followed by more actions in March 2024 and March 2025, aimed at applying software updates that would temporarily mitigate risks. Despite these efforts, Ford faced an alarming situation in July 2024, when a vehicle that had received prior fixes exhibited a cracked fuel injector and subsequently caught fire. This incident prompted further investigations, which revealed that at least six of the vehicles involved in previous fire incidents lacked updated engine control software. This lack of updates raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of the initial remedies Ford implemented. As a precaution, Ford decided to proceed with the recall to ensure the safety of vehicle owners while continuing to search for a permanent solution to the fuel injector problem. Customers affected by this recall will receive notifications concerning the safety risks by August 18, 2025. In the meantime, Ford is providing free updates to the engine control software at its dealerships, ensuring that vehicle performance is adjusted appropriately to manage fuel leakage risks until a final resolution is established.