Skip to main content

Ford recalls more than 50,000 electric-car charging cords over fire risk

There have been a slew of vehicle recalls over the last few years, but this latest notice from Ford is a little different.

Instead of calling in cars, the U.S. automaker is recalling charging cords sold with a number of its electric vehicles.

Recommended Videos

The concern is that the cord may be used in situations that could potentially lead to a fire. Indeed, the company said in a statement released on Wednesday, August 22 that it is already “aware of some fire reports,” though it didn’t say if any injuries or serious damage had occurred as a result.

Ford is recalling about 50,000 of the 120-volt convenience charging cords that were sold with select vehicles, specifically:

  • 2012-15 Ford Focus Electric vehicles built at its Michigan Assembly Plant, Sept. 15, 2011 through March 14, 2015
  • 2013-15 Ford Fusion Energi vehicles built at its Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Sept. 4, 2012 through March 5, 2015
  • 2013-15 Ford C-MAX Energi vehicles built at its Michigan Assembly Plant, April 13, 2012 through March 14, 2015

In its statement, the car giant explained that using the affected 120-volt “convenience charge cord” with an AC outlet that is not on a dedicated circuit, or is damaged, worn, or corroded “may result in increased temperature at the wall outlet and potentially lead to a fire.”

There are 50,524 vehicles in North America with charging cords that need to be returned — 49,197 in the U.S. and 1,327 in Canada.

Ford said it will be contacting affected owners by mail, instructing them to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer to have the factory-equipped charging cord replaced with the latest version, which includes a thermistor. “The thermistor can identify over-temperature conditions at the plug/outlet interface and will discontinue charging until the temperature decreases to an appropriate level,” Ford said.

The letter to customers will also remind owners of the requirements for adequate wall outlets, and explain that extension cords “should not be used under any circumstance” to charge its vehicles.

The Ford reference number for this recall is 18S24 and the new cord will of course be offered without any cost to the vehicle owner.

In a far smaller recall, Ford has also issued a notice regarding around 100 2018 Ford Edge, 2019 Ford Flex, 2018 Lincoln MKX, and 2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles over a problem with the power supply cable fasteners that could in some circumstances lead to a fire. More details can be found on Ford’s website.

Busy year for recalls

In other notable recalls this year, Kia and its affiliate Hyundai issued a notice in June for more than half a million vehicles in the U.S. because of an airbag problem.

In March, Ford recalled 1.3 million vehicles after a fault was discovered with the steering wheel, and in February, Toyota recalled 65,000 vehicles because of “improperly fastened bolts” and another issue affecting the cars’ vehicle stability control system.

The biggest to date, however, affected airbag-maker Takata, whose faulty and dangerous inflator system forced the recall of more than 100 million vehicles from 19 automakers over several years. Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more