NHTSA Recall 26V091000: Ford Escape & Lincoln Corsair PHEV Fire Risk
A plain-language breakdown of NHTSA recall 26V091000 — the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEV high-voltage battery short-circuit fire risk, plus your California lemon law rights.
Recall 26V091000 at a glance
- NHTSA campaign number
- 26V091000
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Vehicles affected
- Ford Escape PHEV, Lincoln Corsair PHEV
- Model years
- Escape PHEV 2023–2025; Corsair PHEV 2023–2026
- Units recalled
- 24,690
- Component
- High-voltage battery — internal cell short circuit
- Risk
- Battery short circuit, thermal venting, and fire risk
- Owner letters mailing
- March 6, 2026
Safety notice: Battery short circuit, thermal venting, and fire risk. Follow the manufacturer's interim guidance below until the recall repair is completed.
What the recall covers
Recall 26V091000 covers about 24,690 plug-in hybrids — roughly 17,345 model year 2023–2025 Ford Escape PHEVs and 7,345 model year 2023–2026 Lincoln Corsair PHEVs. A manufacturing defect in one or more high-voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit and battery failure, which may lead to thermal venting and a fire.
The remedy
A final remedy is still under development. In the meantime, Ford advises owners to use only Auto EV mode and to charge the battery to no more than 80% capacity. Interim owner letters were mailed around March 6, 2026, with a second letter once a repair is available.
What owners should do now
- Follow Ford's interim guidance: use Auto EV mode only and charge to no more than 80% until the repair is done.
- Watch for your Ford/Lincoln letters and schedule the repair once a remedy is available.
- Confirm whether your specific VIN is affected.
- Keep your recall letters and every repair order, and note any time the vehicle is unusable.
- If a problem persists after service, save the paperwork.
How to check your VIN
Confirm whether a specific vehicle is included by entering the 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ford.com, or lincoln.com. Inclusion is VIN-specific, not just by model and year.
Ford customer service: 866-436-7332. Lincoln: 800-521-4140. NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.
When this recall can become a California lemon law claim
A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your Ford may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.
Read more on this recall
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles does recall 26V091000 cover?
Recall 26V091000 covers about 24,690 plug-in hybrids — roughly 17,345 model year 2023–2025 Ford Escape PHEVs and 7,345 model year 2023–2026 Lincoln Corsair PHEVs — whose high-voltage battery cells can short-circuit and increase fire risk.
Is there a fix yet for recall 26V091000?
Not yet — the final remedy is under development. Ford advises using Auto EV mode only and charging to no more than 80% until the repair is available. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Could this PHEV fire recall make my vehicle a California lemon?
Possibly. When no repair is available and you must limit how you use the vehicle, that loss of use matters. If the eventual repair is delayed or doesn't work, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects, you may have a California lemon law claim — potentially a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees.
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Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Recall details are summarized from public NHTSA data and are subject to change; confirm current information at nhtsa.gov/recalls. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; for advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney.