Fire risk Ford: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Ford models it appears in.

- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.6 EcoBoostCracked cylinder head from overheating, with fire riskYes: Ford acknowledges that a loss of coolant circulation can overheat the engine, crack the cylinder head and let oil escape onto hot areas, with a risk of fire. It has issued recalls in South Africa (2017-2018) and in the US/Canada (2013 and 2017); we have not found an identical campaign in Spain.
In C-Max II, Fiesta VII, Focus III, Galaxy II, Kuga II and Mondeo IV and 1 more model
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonFord Kuga IIIFire risk in the plug-in hybrid high-voltage battery (recall 25SC4)The cells of the Kuga PHEV's high-voltage battery (made by Samsung SDI) can suffer an internal short circuit because of a damaged separator, with a risk of power loss and fire; Ford has recalled units built between August 2019 and November 2023.
- Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.5 EcoBoostFuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)Yes: Ford has recalled the Kuga with the three-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost because a high-pressure injector can crack and release fuel onto the engine, with a fire risk. The broadest campaign, 25S76 (2026), covers units built between 2018 and 2024.
In Focus IV and Kuga III
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord TransitWiring damaged by insufficient clearance from the transmission housing: power steering failure and fire riskRecall 25SC5 covers 9,121 Transits built between 10 May 2024 and 11 November 2025: the wiring harness sits too close to the transmission housing and can be damaged, with a risk of power steering failure and a fire caused by a short circuit.
- Critical severityFrequency: RareFord Kuga IIFire risk from the B-pillar insulation after the seatbelt pretensioner is triggeredIn 2017 Ford recalled around 30,000 Kuga models built between July 2012 and June 2014 because the B-pillar insulation could catch fire in a collision in which the front seatbelt's pyrotechnic pretensioner was triggered.

By Ford model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Engines and gearboxes involved

Frequently asked questions

What faults with a fire risk do Ford cars have?

In 10 models from Ford there are 5 documented faults with a fire risk. The most important: cracked cylinder head from overheating, with fire risk, fire risk in the plug-in hybrid high-voltage battery (recall 25SC4) and fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which Ford models have the most problems with a fire risk?

Ford Kuga II (2 faults), Ford Kuga III (2 faults), Ford Galaxy II (1 fault) and Ford S-Max I (1 fault).

Which Ford engines have faults with a fire risk?

1.5 EcoBoost (1 fault) and 1.6 EcoBoost (1 fault).