Ford sued over Lincoln Navigator and Expedition SUVs that may catch fire

Dearborn, MI July 24, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F), which owns the Lincoln brand, is being sued over allegations that it should have known that the vehicles it recently recalled were defective and that it waited too long to launch the said recall.

The allegations are based on reports of fire and consequent damage which plaintiffs experienced even when the vehicle was turned off.

The lawsuit is coming on the back of a recall for the following vehicles:

  • 2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The events that led to this Ford lawsuit  

Vehicles listed above can catch fire while driving or when parked and turned off. In total, 21 SUVs have burst into flames so far, with one of the events leading to an injury. 

Ford first recalled 39,000 of these models in May 2022. The manufacturer, however, did not reveal the source of the problem or the fix for it. Instead, it advised drivers to “park away from structures.”

Earlier this month, the recall was expanded to 66,221 cars, according to a press release. The cause of the issue is believed to be defective “printed circuit boards” which are “uniquely susceptible” to short-circuiting and fires. The repair for some of the vehicles will involve replacing the vehicles’ electronic circuit control center and only one-third of the recalled vehicles can be repaired now.

The allegations

A total of 22 plaintiffs sued Ford on June 7 in the Michigan Eastern District Court and amended the complaint earlier this month on the back of the recall expansion. They are claiming that Ford’s approach to the recall and the fire issue are inadequate in several ways.

First, Ford “either knew or should have known” of the fire defect before it launched the vehicles but “did nothing” to warn consumers of it. Instead, it waited “months” to launch the recall.

In addition, while the fix for the majority of the cars is not available, the manufacturer made no attempts to provide loaner vehicles or offer reimbursements to the owners who still have to make payments on the purchase. These are now considered unusable by some owners because of the risk of fire. 

Lastly, there is a worry that not all affected vehicles are included in the current recall. This claim is backed up by the case of one of the plaintiffs whose 2021 Ford Expedition XLT burst into flames in front of his home last month. This particular vehicle, however, is not a part of the recalled population, because it was built in December 2021, while the recall only includes cars built between July 27, 2020 and August 31, 2021.

The plaintiffs are alleging that by engaging in the actions described above, Ford violated multiple state and federal consumer protection laws, including the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

The asks 

In this Ford engine fire lawsuit, plaintiffs are looking for “restitution,”  including the reimbursement of the purchase price of the vehicles, as well as any damages and other costs associated with the lawsuit. 

They are also asking for a jury trial to help decide their case. 

Recall risks

Vehicle fires carry several risks, as described in this article about a Hyundai fire-related recall.

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

Over 66,000 Ford and Lincoln SUVs are affected by this Ford recall lawsuit. However, this number might increase in the future. To check on other Ford Expedition recalls or Lincoln Navigator recalls, go to MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord sued over Lincoln Navigator and Expedition SUVs that may catch fire

Ford recalls SUVs over unexplained fires, advises owners to park away from structures

Dearborn, MI – May 27, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F), which also owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 39,013 SUVs over mysterious engine-bay fires. These fires, which may happen either while driving or while parked, carry the risk of injury or property damage. 

This recall affects the following vehicles:

  • 2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

The recalled vehicles can catch fire even when the ignition is turned off. The cause of fires is currently under investigation.

Background of the recall

In March 2022, Ford’s Critical Concern Repair Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into eight reports of vehicle fires and one report of a melted battery junction box. By May, the CCRG knew of 16 fires that were potentially related. According to these reports, fires have started under the hood both while driving and while parked, and even with the ignition turned off.

Recall risks

Vehicle fires carry a wide range of risks, as described in this article about a Hyundai fire-related recall.

Warning signs 

Occupants may notice a “burning smell” or see smoke coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment.

Safety tips

Ford advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures to minimize the risk of damage in the event of a fire. This should prevent additional property damage if an affected SUV catches fire while parked. 

Other Ford recalls

There was a Ford Expedition recall last month due to faulty windshield wiper arms. Inoperable wipers can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

Apart from this Lincoln engine fire issue, other recent Lincoln Navigator recalls include one from April this year caused by malfunctioning rearview cameras

The repair

Ford is still investigating the cause of these engine compartment fires, so a solution to the problem is not yet available.

Letters with more information will be sent to owners between May 23, 2022 and July 3, 2022. Additional notices will be sent once a remedy is available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford engine fire recall affects 32,711 Ford Expeditions and 6,302 Lincoln Navigators. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls SUVs over unexplained fires, advises owners to park away from structures