Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
Ford is recalling about 350,000 Ford Explorer SUVs from the 2013 to 2017 model years in states where corrosion is common. Some customers reported fractures in the rear suspension after a prior recall was performed, also to address a potential fracture in the rear suspension that could occur due to heavy use or hitting a curb. Explorers most likely to experience the original problem are those that frequently travel over rough ground, the automaker says.
A crack in the suspension could reduce steering control and risk a crash. Ford is aware of 13 reports of accidents and six reports of injuries due to the corrosion-related condition.
This action includes vehicles sold or 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, as well as the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
Customers will be notified beginning the week of Nov. 30, 2020.
The Details
Vehicles recalled: 350,000 2013 to 2017 Ford Explorer SUVs in the U.S. and 25,200 in Canada. The affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant from Sept. 4, 2012, to Jan. 25, 2017.
The problem: Corrosion may cause the rear suspension to fracture.
The fix: Dealerships will inspect the suspension and replace components as needed.
How to contact the manufacturer: Ford advises customers to contact their dealer if they have a concern or call the Ford Customer Relationship Center at 800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign number: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not announced a recall number. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S62.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.