Dec 31 (Reuters) - The National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration said on Tuesday that Ford Motor Co ( F ) would

recall 20,484 hybrid crossover SUVs over battery concerns.

The recall includes certain Ford Escape and luxury

Lincoln Corsair vehicles from model years 2020 to 2024.

"A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high

voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit

and battery failure," the NHTSA said.

Dealers will perform a battery energy control module

software update and replace the high voltage battery pack, as

necessary, for free, the auto safety regulator said.