Ford Issues Third Recall Notice for New Escapes

On Wednesday, Ford Motor Company issued a recall notice for its 2013 Escape SUV because an improperly installed plug could cause coolant to leak and catch fire.

It’s the third time Ford has issued a recall notice for the new vehicle since it was launched in June.

The latest Ford Escape recall affects 7,600 SUVs with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The vehicles in question were built between October 5, 2011 and August 31, 2012.

Ford issued the recall following an investigation after a 2013 Escape caught fire at a dealership in Tennessee in early August.

Ford officials say that if a cup plug in the engine cylinder head becomes dislodged, it could result in the release of coolant, which could potentially catch fire if it comes into contact with hot engine parts.

According to Ford, dealers will install an additional plug sealant and a secondary cap will be installed over the original plug. The repair is estimated to take less than four hours and will be done at no cost to Escape owners.

Ford’s second recall for the 2013 Escape was also related to fire risk and also involved 1.6-liter engines. In July, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issued a consumer warning through the State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP) in response to Ford’s recall of more than 11,000 2013 Ford Escapes with 1.6 liter engines built through July 11, 2012.

That recall was issued because it was determined that a fuel line could potentially split and leak gasoline, resulting in a fire under the hood. The fire risk was deemed severe enough that the DCCA urged Ford Escape owners to immediately stop driving their cars until they were repaired.

Also in July, Ford issued its first recall for the Escape because incorrectly positioned carpet padding could interfere with braking. That recall affected 10,000 new vehicles.