Ford recalling certain 2019-20 Fusion PHEVs, warns drivers not to charge vehicles

Ford Motor Co. is recalling certain 2019-20 Fusion PHEV models for loss of power and fire risks.

Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed, according to a Ford filing with NHTSA. If charged, the battery energy control module might become damaged because of excessive voltage and current flow.

The number of potential vehicles affected is 14,452. There have been seven fires and 270 warranty claims, according to the filing.

A remedy for the power loss and fire risk is under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 10, according to the filing."

We're instructing customers with 2019 and 2020 Ford Fusion Energi [cars] that have 30Ah plug-in hybrid cell batteries to not charge their vehicles," Ford said in a statement. "Until the remedy is available, lowering the battery's state of charge will reduce the risk of power loss and fire around the vehicle's battery control module, which is located in the trunk. We are committed to keeping customers informed as we work to resolve this issue."

Through 2022, Ford reported the most U.S. recalls of any automaker, according to partial NHTSA data. And so far in 2023, Ford leads the industry with 31 U.S. recalls covering more than 4.1 million vehicles, according to NHTSA data.

In November 2022, Ford recalled nearly 634,000 Bronco Sport and Escape crossovers, citing fire risks. In June 2022, Ford issued a stop-sale to dealers as part of its recall of nearly 50,000 Mustang Mach-E crossovers for potential power loss.