Dearborn, Michigan – In a recent announcement, Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power and allowing the SUVs to roll away while parked.
The recall comes after the U.S safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after receiving two complaints that repairs didn’t work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.
The vehicles affected include some Explorers in the model years of 2020 to 2022.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in an open document posted to its website on Friday, that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture over time, causing the driveshaft to disconnect and increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They will also inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified beginning November 6, 2023.
In a document released by Ford, the automaker stated that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than five percent caused loss of power or let vehicles roll away while parked. The company said it’s not aware at this time of any injuries or crashes.
The NHTSA opened its investigation in June. At the time, Ford’s strategy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. The NHTSA stated that this did not address the issue.
While Explorers in Canada are currently not affected, drivers are encouraged to stay up-to-date on dealership and OEM news.
