Ford Recalls 140,256 Vehicles Over Fire Risks: Sun Visor Wiring and Expanded Engine Block Heater Issues

Ford has issued two new fire-related recalls impacting a total of 140,256 vehicles, with the majority being 2024-2026 Ford Rangers due to a sun visor wiring issue. The company is also expanding a previous recall related to engine block heater fires. These recalls highlight Ford’s ongoing challenges with vehicle safety and reliability.

Sun Visor Wiring Recall Affects 140,201 Ford Rangers

The largest of the two recalls involves 140,201 Ford Ranger pickups from the 2024 to 2026 model years. The issue stems from faulty sun visor wiring that can short-circuit and potentially cause a fire. Ford became aware of the problem in October 2023 after inspecting a 2024 Ranger that caught fire.

“Visual evidence suggested the fire may have originated from an electrical short in the power lead of the sun visor,” Ford stated, adding that the vehicle had a diagnostic trouble code for a short in the sun visor lamp.

Ford’s investigation revealed two key problems:

• Protective tape around the headliner wiring circuit was too thick, causing the harness to become stuck in a metal opening and damaging wire circuits.
• An improperly routed wiring harness led to unintended contact with metal, resulting in wiring damage.

These issues can cause damaged wires to contact each other or the truck’s sheet metal, leading to arcing, short circuits, body control module restarts, smoke, burns, melting, and fires. Ford has identified three warranty claims, two field reports, and one customer service record related to the issue, involving four vehicles. Only one case reported an actual flame, while the others showed smoke or burn evidence. Fortunately, no injuries or accidents have been reported.

Dealer Inspections and Repairs

To address the fire risk, dealers will:

• Check for a history of B14AA-11 diagnostic trouble codes, which indicate a short in the sun visor lamp.
• Inspect the sun visor wiring harness for damage and replace it if necessary.
• Update all vehicles with new body control module software that cuts power to the sun visor lamp after detecting multiple B14AA trouble codes.

Ford will send interim letters to affected customers later this month. Once a permanent fix is available, a second letter will be sent, likely in August 2024.

Expanded Engine Block Heater Recall Adds 55 More Vehicles

Ford is also expanding a previous recall related to engine block heater fires. The original campaign impacted 6,781 vehicles, and the expansion adds 55 more to the total. This brings the combined number of vehicles affected by fire-related recalls to 140,256.

Ford’s latest recalls underscore the company’s position as a leader in vehicle recalls, with a total of 33 recalls in 2024—three times more than its nearest competitor. The automaker continues to address safety concerns proactively, though the frequency of recalls raises questions about long-term reliability and quality control.