Ford has announced a significant recall affecting more than 238,000 Explorer SUVs in the United States. This recall is due to a critical issue where a rear axle bolt can fail, leading to potential risks such as loss of drive power or the vehicle rolling away even while parked. This move comes in the wake of two complaints that repairs from two previous recalls in 2020 and 2022 were ineffective.
The models impacted by this recall are specific Explorer SUVs from the 2020 to 2022 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which oversees vehicle safety in the U.S., disclosed in its documents that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt might fracture. This fracture can cause the driveshaft to disconnect, significantly increasing the risk of a crash.
To address this issue, Ford dealers will replace the bushing and the rear axle bolt. Furthermore, they will conduct an inspection of the rear axle cover for any damage near the bolt hole and will replace the cover if any damage is found. Owners of the affected vehicles will start receiving notification letters on Monday, November 6.
Ford acknowledged the severity of the problem, citing 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures. However, they noted that less than 5% of these incidents resulted in a loss of drive power or vehicles rolling while in park. The company also stated that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this issue.
The NHTSA initiated an investigation in June after receiving complaints that the rear axle bolts failed, resulting in a loss of power, even after the SUVs were repaired under previous recalls. Initially, Ford’s remedy for the problem involved updating software to automatically apply the parking brake, preventing the vehicles from rolling away. However, this solution did not address the failed axle bolt issue directly.
Before this latest recall, Ford had been replacing axle bolts during service campaigns.