Ford will update software on 2013 Escapes and Fusions to stop their engines from overheating, a problem that has led to a small number of fires.
Reports of nine fires prompted the automaker to recall more than 89,000 of the SUVs and midsize cars in the U.S. and Canada last month. No injuries were reported, and only models with 1.6-liter turbocharged engines were recalled. Ford offered free loaner cars until it figured out what caused the fires.
The overheating problem occurs when coolant doesn’t flow through the radiator to be cooled, Ford Motor Co. Product Development Chief Raj Nair said Monday. Engineers found that a valve that controls the flow of coolant to the radiator wasn’t opening at the right time.
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