CarRecallWatch- Component
- SUSPENSION:REAR
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
- Risk
- A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
- Notes
- Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
What this recall means for you
Road salt can corrode the cross-axis ball joint in the rear suspension of certain 2013-2017 Ford Explorers registered in the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and parts of the South. The corrosion can seize the joint and cause the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link to fracture.
A broken rear toe link can lead to a loss of steering control, which raises the risk of a crash. Owners in the affected states should take this recall seriously, especially if the vehicle has been exposed to road salt over several winters.
Ford will inspect the vehicle and replace the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle and the rear suspension toe links as needed, at no cost, at an authorized Ford dealer. Vehicles previously repaired under earlier recalls may need to return for the new remedy. Owners can call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 (Ford recall 21S32) and should check their VIN for open recalls.
Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle
Official recall notice
Affected vehicles
| Ford Explorer | 20132014201520162017 |
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