My 2019-2020 Ford Fusion Energi has the BECM recall. Can I still charge it or drive it?

Short answer: If your 2019-2020 Fusion Energi is part of recall 23V440000 (Ford 23S33), the BECM can be damaged by excess voltage, and Ford told owners not to plug the car in until the repair is done. You can still drive it as a regular hybrid. Ask the dealer if the final repair is available for your VIN. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free.

Symptom: A recall letter telling you not to charge, a wrench light, check engine light, loss of power while driving, or the car shaking when shut off.

What to check first

1. Look up your VIN for 23V440000 at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2. Don't plug in the car until the dealer says the recall repair is done.
3. Ask the dealer if the final repair is available yet and how long the wait is.
4. If you get a wrench light or lose power, get it to the dealer and ask whether the BECM or battery is damaged.
5. Keep records of every visit and call in case you ask Ford for a buyback.

Likely causes

1. Damaged battery energy control module (BECM). The BECM is the computer that watches and manages the high voltage battery. Recall 23V440000 says it can be damaged by too much voltage and current.
2. High voltage battery problem after BECM damage. One owner was told the car needed a new battery pack and the dealer couldn't fix it until the recall repair was available.
3. Unrelated hybrid fault. A wrench light can also come from other hybrid problems, so a dealer scan is still needed.

What it usually costs

The recall repair is free. Owners who asked for buybacks got different results depending on their state and whether they bought the car new.

Is it safe to keep driving?

It can be driven as a hybrid without plugging in, per the recall guidance owners shared. If you get a wrench light, lose power, or brakes feel off, stop driving and call the dealer.

DIY or shop?

No. This is high voltage recall work for a Ford dealer.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: Recall 23V440000 (Ford 23S33) covers the BECM on certain 2019-2020 Fusion Energi cars. Recall 19V099000 covers high voltage shock protection on certain 2019 Fusion Energi models. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 169 keyword-matched complaints for Ford Fusion and Fusion Energi (NHTSA lists them together) 2019–2020 (of 665 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-05; keywords: stop safely, high voltage, battery, becm, charg, loss of power, lost power, fire). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Fusion Energi Recall Issued: 2019-2020 - BECM Fire Risk (NHTSA: 23V440, Ford: 23S33) on Reddit r/fordfusion, a 2019-2020 Fusion Energi owner shared the recall notice: Ford asked owners not to charge the car until the BECM could be replaced, and the dealer had no fix date yet. One owner who kept charging got a wrench (powertrain) light while driving and said the car shook when shut off. Others reported power loss, and several asked Ford for a buyback. Results varied by state: some were approved, while others were denied because the car was bought used or was out of the state's time limit.
• In Are you still charging your Ford Fusion Energi? on Reddit r/fordfusion, an owner asked if others were still charging their Fusion Energi. They said Ford had sent $250 as a stopgap while owners waited for a fix that didn't seem close.

Quick tip

Stop charging, check your VIN, and keep pushing the dealer for the repair date. Write down everything.

Vehicle focus: Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, 2019-2020 model years. NHTSA's complaint lookup groups it with the regular Fusion, so the count below covers both.

Safety / mechanic note

Recall 23V440000 is about a fire risk and loss of power. Park outside if you're worried, and don't charge until the repair is done. Verify with a mechanic.