2024 Ford Explorer Hybrid System Recall (24V685)
Ford Motor Company · 61 vehicles · Reported September 13, 2024
Ford Motor Company is recalling 61 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles. 3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit. A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V685 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V685000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 24S61 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 13, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2024 Ford Explorer |
| Units affected | 61 |
| Component | Hybrid Propulsion System |
| Safety risk | A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024 Ford Explorer in recall 24V685?
3L Hybrid engines.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit.
Is it safe to drive a 2024 Explorer with recall 24V685?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the hybrid propulsion system.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V685?
Recall 24V685 covers 61 vehicles: 2024 Ford Explorer.
NHTSA lists 61 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ford | Explorer |
What is the fix for the Explorer hybrid system recall?
Yes. Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge.
Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S61.
When was recall 24V685 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 24V685 to NHTSA on September 13, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 8, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2024 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V685000. |
| November 8, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 24 months ago. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 24V685?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V685 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V685000 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 24S61. 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 Explorer owners do about recall 24V685?
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 24V685000 applies to your Explorer.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the hybrid propulsion system happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the ev and hybrid battery have been filed since recall 24V685 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 21 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.
- 2024 Ford Explorer: 21 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
• Driver seat not setting its memory for the driver , and will move on its own and go all the way to dash while setting in it or all the way back . Has happened multiple times and also twice while driving.
2024 Ford Explorer owner, WV, NHTSA complaint 11711981, filed January 19, 2026
The center display went blank and a/c controls under it would not work. Stopped vehicle and pushed ignition button to off and waited 1 minute and pushed ignition back to on on and display was still blank. Got to destination and pushed ignition to off.
2024 Ford Explorer owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11746112, filed June 24, 2026
Can recall 24V685 make my Explorer 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.
Recall 24V685000 does not automatically make your Explorer a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.
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.
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.
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 Explorer been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V685
Is the 24V685000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 8, 2024.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 24V685000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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.
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 24V685000 (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. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.