2021 Ford Expedition Engine Recall (22V346)
Ford Motor Company · 66,221 vehicles · Reported May 17, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 66,221 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 22V346 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V346000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22S36 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 17, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Lincoln Navigator |
| Units affected | 66,221 |
| Component | Engine |
| Safety risk | A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Interim notice issued; remedy may now be available, check NHTSA for current status |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Expedition in recall 22V346?
An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Expedition with recall 22V346?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 22V346, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V346?
Recall 22V346 covers 66,221 vehicles: 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Lincoln Navigator.
NHTSA lists 66,221 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Expedition |
| 2021 | Lincoln | Navigator |
What is the fix for the Expedition engine recall?
An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 25, 2022. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Currently the remedy is available for vehicles equipped with heavy-duty radiator fan motors, and those letters were mailed July 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S36.
When was recall 22V346 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V346 to NHTSA on May 17, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 17, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V346000. |
| May 25, 2022 | Interim owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
| July 21, 2022 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 53 months ago. If your Expedition was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Expedition is part of recall 22V346?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V346 is open on your Expedition, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V346000 is open on your Expedition, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 22S36. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Expedition owners do about recall 22V346?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V346000 applies to your Expedition.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any engine symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Expedition owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 268 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 64 of them about the engine.
Since recall 22V346 was reported on May 17, 2022, owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 2 of them (3%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the engine and were received on or after May 17, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 268 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 64 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Expedition: 235 complaints in total, 56 about the engine
- 2021 Lincoln Navigator: 33 complaints in total, 8 about the engine
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
My Ford expeditions transmission is causing unsafe driving with rough sound and thunking noise. There is a C,D,F issue and valve separator parts that are the initial issue that can cause major issues for me and many others.
2021 Ford Expedition owner, MS, NHTSA complaint 11665325, filed June 6, 2025
Follow up to my previous complaint (11665325)see link below. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.
2021 Ford Expedition owner, MS, NHTSA complaint 11665915, filed June 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle started to shake abnormally, and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact immediately attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start.
2021 Ford Expedition owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11673414, filed July 14, 2025
Can recall 22V346 make my Expedition a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
A recall with no fix can support a buyback on its own.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Expedition been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Expedition recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V346
Did the recall 22V346 fix work?
Since recall 22V346 was reported on May 17, 2022, owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 2 of them (3%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 22V346000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Expedition is part of recall 22V346000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V346000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.