2021-2024 Ford Escape Electrical Management System Recall (24V954)
Ford Motor Company · 20,484 vehicles · Reported December 20, 2024
Ford Motor Company is recalling 20,484 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V954 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V954000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 24S79 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 20, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair |
| Units affected | 20,484 |
| Build dates | July 10, 2019 to April 17, 2024 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery > Management System / Energy Control Module (Bms / Becm) |
| Safety risk | Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2024 Ford Escape in recall 24V954?
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2024 Escape with recall 24V954?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Escape shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the management system and energy control module, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V954?
Recall 24V954 covers 20,484 vehicles: 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair.
NHTSA lists 20,484 vehicles in this campaign, built July 10, 2019 to April 17, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | Ford | Escape |
| 2021-2024 | Lincoln | Corsair |
What is the fix for the Escape electrical management system recall?
Yes. Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed.
Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S79.
When was recall 24V954 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 24V954 to NHTSA on December 20, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 10, 2019 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| April 17, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| December 20, 2024 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V954000. |
| May 30, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 21 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 1743 days. If your Escape was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Escape is part of recall 24V954?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V954 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 24V954000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Escape owners do about recall 24V954?
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 24V954000 applies to your Escape.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the management system and energy control module 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Escape owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 859 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 145 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 24V954 was reported on December 20, 2024, owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 17 of them (15%) 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 ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after December 20, 2024, 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 ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 859 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 145 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.
- 2021 Ford Escape: 348 complaints in total, 31 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Ford Escape: 232 complaints in total, 19 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Ford Escape: 99 complaints in total, 39 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2024 Ford Escape: 76 complaints in total, 25 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Lincoln Corsair: 35 complaints in total, 8 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2021 Lincoln Corsair: 34 complaints in total, 6 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2024 Lincoln Corsair: 21 complaints in total, 10 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Lincoln Corsair: 14 complaints in total, 7 about the ev and hybrid battery
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "Blind Spot Detection System Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the trailer tow wiring harness (Part Number: LX6Z-15A416-B).
2023 Ford Escape owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11648311, filed March 14, 2025
Summary of Issues: 1. March 2024 – First Incident: •Warning lights appeared on the dashboard while driving (including ABS and power steering). •Vehicle was taken to Camelback Ford. •Dealership diagnosed a software update failure due to low voltage. •Battery was recharged, software updated, and codes cleared. ⸻ 2.
2023 Ford Escape owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11650038, filed March 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the RPM was not increasing on the gauge on the instrument cluster. There was no warning illuminated.
2023 Ford Escape owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11652300, filed April 2, 2025
Can recall 24V954 make my Escape 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 24V954000 does not automatically make your Escape 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 Escape been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Escape recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V954
Did the recall 24V954 fix work?
Since recall 24V954 was reported on December 20, 2024, owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 17 of them (15%) 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 24V954000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Escape is part of recall 24V954000?
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 24V954000 (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.