Ford's F-Series pickup that was built in Louisville is part of nationwide recall

Ford Motor Co. is recalling selected F-series pickup trucks equipped with engine block heaters that were part of a recall last year.

The problem: Block heater cable splice connectors in some instances were damaged during the original service work, causing plugged in heaters to become inoperable or to trip household breakers or potentially spark electrical shorts.

That poses a risk for overheating or melting wiring, according to a Ford release on the company's website this week.

The affected pickups — 2015 to 2019 F-150s and 2017 to 2019 Super Duty vehicles —  are part of a subset of 874,000 vehicles previously recalled last year (under the 18S45 recall). It includes about 327,000 vehicles in North America, with an estimated 131,068 in the U.S. and federal territories and 196,269 in Canada, where block heaters are more common due to harsh winter weather.

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Ford advised customers to stop using the engine block heater cable because the problems arise only when vehicles are parked and block heaters are plugged into an electrical outlet. 

The Detroit automaker reported that it learned of one fire in the U.S. and one in Canada after the last recall. Another report of a fire in Canada involved one where the vehicle failed the 18S45 inspection, but officials could not say for sure whether the incident was related to the cable problem.

Affected vehicles include F-Series Super Duty vehicles built at Kentucky Truck Plant between Oct. 8, 2015 and Nov. 17, 2018; and at Ohio Assembly Plant between Feb. 5, 2016 and Nov. 17, 2018. 

Previously:Ford F-150 recalls almost 1.5 million pickups due to crash concern

It also impacts a broader swath of F-150s — 2015 to 2019 F-150s built at Dearborn Truck Plant between March 18, 2014 and Nov. 17, 2018; as well as at Kansas City Assembly Plant between Aug. 21, 2014 to Nov. 17, 2018.

Ford said dealers will disable the vehicle’s engine block heater cable by cutting off the plug-end prongs and sealing the end cap with silicone sealant. Customers will be notified when an engine block replacement cable is available. The reference number for the recall is 19S11.

Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; gschneider@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:www.courier-journal.com/graces