Driving the news: Ford $F ( ▲ 0.57% ) is recalling 20,558 Escape and Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrids from model years 2020-2024 after discovering that a software fix deployed in December 2024 to prevent battery fires isn't working.
The details: The recall covers 16,543 Escape PHEVs and 4,015 Corsair PHEVs equipped with Samsung SDI battery cells from the supplier's Hungarian plant, though Ford estimates only about 1% actually have the defect.
This is a do-over of recall 24V954 from December 2024, which installed software designed to detect battery cell problems and stop charging before short circuits could occur.
The root cause of the issue traces back to damage in the separator layer between cathode and anode due to variability in Samsung's production process.
Between July and November 2025, Ford logged seven battery fires on European vehicles that had already received the software fix.
The remedy: There isn't one yet. Ford is sending interim instructions telling owners to limit battery charge through the SYNC system or Ford/Lincoln app and only use "Auto EV" mode until a permanent fix is available. Interim owner notifications go out December 1, 2025 and owners can check to see if their vehicles are affected here.
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