Ford is recalling about 85,000 Explorer SUVs for fire risk

Ford Motor is recalling about 85,000 Explorer SUVs equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility package because of concerns about an engine fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday.

In the event of an engine failure, oil and fuel can be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources, potentially leading to a fire, the regulator said.

The recall affects SUVs from the 2020-2022 model years equipped with 3.3-liter hybrid and gas engines.

The Ford Explorer with the Police Interceptor Utility package is equipped with better powertrain options, structural reinforcements and cargo storage compared to the base model sold to civilians.

Related: Ford recalls 668,000 2014 F-150 pickups due to transmission problem