Ford 2024 Explorer Block Heater Fire Risk - Recall 25SA4
Ford recalls 2024 Explorer vehicles with block heater that may short circuit and cause fire if plugged in. Owners must not use until fixed by dealer. Free replacement or threaded plug option available.
Use caution until it’s fixed
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Contact the company
What happened, in plain English
Ford is recalling 2024 Explorer vehicles where the block heater could crack and leak coolant, leading to electrical short circuits and fire risk when plugged in. Owners must stop using the block heater until the fix is completed. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/81680-ford-2024-explorer-block-heater-fire-risk-recall-25sa4.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/81680-ford-2024-explorer-block-heater-fire-risk-recall-25sa4 · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #26V012000
Cite this page
“Ford 2024 Explorer Block Heater Fire Risk - Recall 25SA4.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/81680-ford-2024-explorer-block-heater-fire-risk-recall-25sa4. Based on NHTSA recall #26V012000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V012000).
Why it’s dangerous
The block heater can crack and leak coolant, which may cause an electrical short circuit when plugged in. This short circuit increases fire risk during normal use.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles with the block heater are affected. Those who plug in the block heater while it's still defective face fire risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2024 Explorer has a block heater. The recall covers vehicles with VINs that became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
- Brand
Ford- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Stop Using Block Heater
Do not plug in the block heater until the vehicle is fixed by a dealer.
Contact Ford Customer Service
Call 1-866-436-7332 to schedule a repair or replacement.
What NHTSA says to do
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 29 days.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Interim owner letters mailed
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Contact Ford
We’ve drafted a message you can send Ford to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 26V012000 — Ford 2024 Explorer Block Heater Fire Risk - Recall 25SA4 Hello, I own a Ford 2024 Explorer Block Heater Fire Risk - Recall 25SA4 that is covered by recall 26V012000 from Ford. The official recall notice states: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #26V012000 (January 15, 2026)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.