Ford Recalls Green Car Charging Cords Because House Fires Aren't Good For the Environment

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Going green shouldn’t lead to the appearance of orange flames, so Ford Motor Company wants you to bring your charging cord back to the dealer. A number of fires associated with the 120-volt factory charging cord provided with C-Max and Fusion plug-in hybrids, as well as the Focus Electric, forced Ford’s hand in the recall.

It seems some owners’ wall outlets aren’t the beefy piece of infrastructure Ford engineers assumed, but some owners can be faulted for using a cheap extension cord to “refuel” their environmentally sensitive ride.

The recall covers cords provided with Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi models from the 2013 to 2015 model year, plus the 2012-2015 Focus Electric. The 120V convenience charger, also known as a trickle charger, allows owners to plug in their PHEV or EV into a standard wall outlet, but not all wall outlets (or breakers) are made equal.

“Using the 120-volt convenience charge cord originally provided with the affected vehicles with an AC outlet that is not on a dedicated circuit or is damaged, worn or corroded may result in increased temperature at the wall outlet and potentially lead to a fire,” the automaker stated.

Ford claims it’s aware of a number of fires linked to this issue. Continent-wide, some 50,524 vehicles left the factory with this cord on board — 49,197 in the United States and its federalized territories and 1,327 in Canada.

In its mail-out to owners, Ford plans to remind these greenies of what constitutes a proper wall outlet, as well as warn them not to use an extension cord “under any circumstances.” (The owner’s manual originally stated this.) Recalled vehicles gain a new version of the 120V cord, this one containing a thermistor to identify when things are heating up at the wall outlet and shut off the flow of charged particles if necessary.

Most trickle charge cords draw about 12 amps, which theoretically shouldn’t be a problem, as household wall plugs are capable of providing 15 amps. However, unless your garage plug is on a dedicated circuit, lights and appliances can suck away that current. That’s when things heat up at the plug-in point. Connecting your PHEV or EV to the outlet with an extension cord of insufficient gauge also runs the risk of impromptu pyrotechnics.

[Image: Ford]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Gasser Gasser on Aug 23, 2018

    Didn’t the Volt have to downgrade its home charging rate a few years ago, because the charge cable was getting too hot?? Is this the same issue with different solutions?

  • Wheatridger Wheatridger on Aug 24, 2018

    You can blame home owners and builders for this all you want, but didn't Ford prove there was some problem by adding a thermal switch to the cord? That's a good idea in any major appliance. I've heard no word of this on my 2017, and it appears to charge just fine, though it's powered from my home office, with lots of other loads.

  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
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