Ford has issued a recall for 42,652 Bronco Sport and Escape small SUVs equipped with 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engines because a cracked fuel injector can lead to an engine fire. The Bronco Sport SUVs are from the 2022 and 2023 model years, while the affected Escape models date from 2022.
Ford tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that “a fuel injector may crack, resulting in fuel or vapor migrating to and accumulating near ignition sources, resulting in potential underhood fire.”
If the issue sounds familiar, this expands an earlier recall. In 2022, Ford recalled a different set of Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs over cracking fuel injectors. Dealers fixed it by installing new software meant to detect and warn of leaks and installing drain tubes that ensured any leaking fuel fell on the ground rather than staying in the engine.
These vehicles weren’t part of that recall because they used a redesigned fuel injector that, Ford thought, didn’t have the same problem. However, the company now says it knows of at least five SUV fires with the new fuel injector.
So dealers will attempt the same fix – installing software meant to detect and warn of dangers and a drain tube to direct any leaked fuel onto the ground where it’s less dangerous.
Manufacturers recall many cars to fix safety defects, sometimes more than once. Automakers try to reach every owner to ask them to bring the vehicle in for repair, but they rarely reach them all. Millions of vehicles on American roads need free recall repairs. Check the easy VIN tool at our recall center to determine if your car is one of them.
