Recall 25V372 covers 404 2023-2025 Ford Escape and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles for cylinder-head oil leaks. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 404 2023-2025 Escape and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles because improperly manufactured cylinder heads can let ball plugs fail and leak oil. The leak can cut drive power and increase crash risk, or contact hot engine or exhaust parts and raise fire risk; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The cylinder head on the 1.5L engine in the 2023-2025 Ford Escape and 2025 Ford Bronco Sport sits at the top of the engine block. It helps form the combustion chamber and routes oil through passages that keep engine parts lubricated. Small ball plugs seal some of those oil passages so oil stays inside the engine.
On affected vehicles, the cylinder head was not heat treated correctly after power failures at the supplier facility. That left the metal below Ford's hardness specification. With lower hardness, the ball plugs do not stay retained as designed. A plug can come loose or fall out, letting engine oil leak out and lowering oil pressure.
Owners can see a low oil pressure warning light in the instrument cluster. Other warning signs include visible oil leakage, a burning smell, white smoke, or noise from the engine compartment.
Who's affected?
Covers Escape SUVs across 2023, 2024, and 2025 and Bronco Sport SUVs from 2025, all tied to the same engine component.
| 2023 Ford Escape | Engine |
|---|---|
| 2024 Ford Escape | Engine |
| 2025 Ford Escape | Engine |
| 2025 Ford Bronco Sport | Engine |
| Units affected | 404 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
An oil leak can cause loss of drive power, increasing crash risk. Oil on hot engine or exhaust parts also raises fire risk. Watch for a low oil pressure warning light, visible oil, a burning smell, white smoke, or engine compartment noise, and schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023-2025 Ford Escape or Bronco Sport is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask whether recall number 25V372 is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the free cylinder-head inspection and replacement if the dealer confirms repair availability for your vehicle.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one, and give the service desk Ford recall number 25S61.
- Watch for oil leaks, burning oil smell, loss of drive power, or smoke near hot engine or exhaust parts until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Ford has identified the dealer repair for this recall. Once the repair is available, a Ford technician will inspect the cylinder head assembly and replace it if needed. The final dealer repair will be free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. If you've already paid for a related cylinder head or oil leak repair, Ford's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Keep your receipts and ask Ford customer service or the dealer how to submit them.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 3, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 5, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| June 5, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 5, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 23, 2025 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| August 8, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V372?
Recall 25V372 covers 404 2023-2025 Ford Escape and 2025 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles with an improperly manufactured cylinder head. The ball plugs can fail and cause an oil leak. Ford dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2023-2025 Ford Escape or 2025 Ford Bronco Sport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V372. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule inspection and cylinder head assembly replacement as needed. Reference Ford recall number 25S61 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford says dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk in this Ford recall?
The safety risk is an oil leak from the cylinder head area. Ford's filing says the leak can cause loss of drive power, increasing crash risk. Oil near hot engine or exhaust components can also increase fire risk.
What if I bought my Ford Escape or Bronco Sport used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If Ford never mailed you the August 8, 2025 notice, check your VIN and call a franchised Ford dealer with recall number 25S61.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V372000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V372 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V372000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →