2015-2016 Ford F-150 Block Heater Fire Risk Recall
Ford has issued a recall for certain 2015-2016 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines and block immersion heaters. The heater's incorrect location can damage its cable, leading to a resistive short and increasing the risk of fire. Owners will receive a free inspection and repair.
S'applique également à
- Ford F-150
- 2015
Why This Matters: Safety Risk
This recall is critical due to a potential fire hazard. If the block immersion heater is located too close to hot engine components, its cable can become damaged. This damage can lead to a resistive short, which increases the risk of overheated or melted wiring, significantly raising the chance of a fire.
What's Being Recalled
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pickup trucks. Specifically, the recall applies to vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines that have block immersion heaters. The issue stems from these heaters being potentially relocated from their originally installed position, leading to the safety concern.
How to Check if Your Vehicle is Affected
Owners of 2015-2016 Ford F-150 trucks with 3.5L GTDI engines should be aware of this recall. Ford began notifying owners on April 9, 2020. You can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference Ford's recall number 20S08, or visit the NHTSA website at www.safercar.gov and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to confirm if your specific vehicle is included in the Ford F-150 block heater recall.
Manufacturer's Remedy
Ford will address this issue by notifying affected owners. Dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable. If necessary, they will replace the affected components free of charge. If replacement parts are not immediately available, dealers will temporarily disable the existing block heater cable to prevent its use until the proper parts can be installed.
Important Warnings for Owners
Owners should be aware that if replacement parts for the Ford F-150 block heater are not available at the time of their service appointment, dealers will disable the existing block heater cable. This means the block heater will not be functional until the permanent repair can be completed. This measure is taken to mitigate the fire risk until the correct components can be installed.
Source: NHTSA Recall ID: 20V098000
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the specific problem with the Ford F-150 block heater?
- The problem involves the block immersion heater in 2015-2016 Ford F-150 trucks with 3.5L GTDI engines. If the heater is improperly located, its cable can be damaged, leading to a resistive short and a risk of fire.
- How will Ford fix the block heater issue?
- Ford dealers will inspect the block heater's location and cable. They will replace any necessary components free of charge. If parts are unavailable, the existing block heater cable will be temporarily disabled until the repair can be completed.
- Is there a cost for the Ford F-150 block heater recall repair?
- No, all inspections and repairs related to this recall (NHTSA ID 20V098000) will be performed by Ford dealers free of charge to the owner.
- What is the Ford recall number for this issue?
- The Ford recall number for the 2015-2016 F-150 block heater issue is 20S08. The corresponding NHTSA ID is 20V098000.
What Ford F-150 owners report
Counted from the records in our database across 46 model years.
- 39,812
- Owner complaints
- 226
- Recalls
- 2,759
- Service bulletins
- 1,679
- Crashes reported
- 2,104
- Fires reported
- 1,496
- Injuries reported
The 2016 model year
2,093 complaints, the 5th most of 46 model years on file. Owners reported 58 crashes, 25 fires and 51 injuries for this year, which also has 14 recalls on file.
Engine, the system this article covers, accounts for 4,618 of 39,812 complaints (12%), including 319 for 2016.
Complaints by model year
| 1997 | 2,758 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,029 | |
| 2011 | 2,194 | |
| 2012 | 1,784 | |
| 2013 | 2,994 | |
| 2014 | 1,539 | |
| 2015 | 1,746 | |
| 2016 | 2,093 | |
| 2017 | 1,465 | |
| 2018 | 2,327 |
Most-reported systems
- Power Train — 9,483
- Engine — 4,618
- Electrical System — 4,362
- Service Brakes — 3,838
- Vehicle Speed Control — 2,924
Latest recalls for the 2016 model year
- 26V237000 — Power Train (Apr 2026)
- 22V150000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic (Mar 2022)
- 21E027000 — Suspension (Apr 2021)
Recent owner reports about engine
My truck was driving fine since I bought it 9 years ago. Ford sent me a letter saying to come in for a recall (Recall 26S28). I went to my local Ford dealership for the recall work, and after that my truck started driving very poorly.
Read owner complaints →Driving down Highway 6/34. Cruise set at 65 mph. The truck on its own Shifted into 2nd gear and revving up the engine caused the vehicle to slow uncontrollably, which is very unsafe driving. The 2016 has a safety recall to prevent this from happening.
Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.
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