Ford Recalls Escape, Corsair Hybrids To Fix Battery Problem

Sometimes you wonder why the government or business do the things they do. For example, suppose an automaker finds a significant problem with one or more of its models in the car business. In that case, it will declare there is a problem and file a recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Recalls The Same, Large and Small

Whether it affects one vehicle or a million vehicles, the process is the same. Here's where it gets a bit weird. For example, if the recall is on the smallish side, say one to 50 vehicles, the automaker must file the same amount and type of paperwork as if the recall is for the million vehicles already mentioned.

Then, if you look at the writeups of the recall on places like Torque News or, perhaps, The Ford Authority, which supplied much of the information for this article, it looks like there is a significant recall going on, even if there is not. I am not belittling the recall process that has worked in the automotive world for the last half-century. I am just pointing out that tiny or enormous, the impact of a recall is the same.

Honestly, the recall process is one of those government things that work. It is surprising how well it works, though there have been problems with the reporting/recall process in the past. The problems were resolved, but not without lots of kicking and screaming by the auto industry. Today the industry is willing to publicize even its two- and three-car recalls, which shows to many customers the vehicle industry can be trusted to make things right if there is a problem.

So, we come to this week's second recall of Ford products. In this instance, a total of two vehicles have been recalled. On the Ford side of the house, the automaker has recalled one 2022 Escape Hybrid, while on the Lincoln side of things, the automaker has recalled one 2022 Lincoln Corsair PHEV Grand Touring.

Vehicle Problems Identified

The problem for which the vehicles have been recalled is this: both vehicles run the risk of failure of the high-voltage battery. In turn, this will cut the drive power of the vehicle, causing it to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. So far, Ford has not heard of any accidents or injuries related to this problem.

Ford has begun notifying the owners of the vehicles involved in this issue. Ford assembled the vehicles involved in this tiny recall at the Ford Louisville Truck Assembly Plant.

Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery free of charge to fix this problem. The Ford identification number of this recall is 21S48.

Consumer Information Standards Identified

For more information, owners can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Or they can contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Or, owners can contact the safety agency through its website www.nhtsa.gov.

Photo Courtesy Ford Motor Co.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, "You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent the usual number of misspent hours hanging out at gas stations Shell and Texaco (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper, "You Auto Know," an enterprise that I handled faithfully for 32 years. Not many people know that I also handled computer documentation for a good part of my living while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.