Ford Recalls Over 410,000 Explorer SUVs Over Rear Suspension Link Failure Risk

Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of 412,774 model-year 2017–2019 Explorer SUVs due to a potential fracture in the rear suspension toe link under specific conditions, which could reduce steering control and increase the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles are equipped with cross-axis ball joints (CABJs) manufactured by SAF; the issue is suspected to stem from binding in these components, leading to excessive stress and subsequent toe link failure. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) previously reported five incidents involving 2018 models where vehicles lost control due to this defect. Ford’s subsequent investigation uncovered an additional 26 related reports. No injuries or fatalities have been recorded to date, although two incidents involving vehicles striking guardrails may be linked to this issue. Ford will notify owners next month and replace the toe links free of charge with reinforced versions that are more resistant to binding. This is not the first recall of the Explorer for this type of issue—Ford implemented a similar campaign in 2021 for model-year 2013–2017 vehicles.