Ford recall: Suspension
What is wrong
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.
What could happen
A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
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.
Vehicles covered
- Ford Explorer 2013–2017
Facts
- NHTSA recall number
- 21V537000
- Type
- Vehicle
- Filed by
- Ford Motor Company
- Reported to NHTSA
- Jul 15, 2021
- Owners notified
- Mar 16, 2022
- Vehicles or items affected
- 631,176
- Started by
- The manufacturer
- Built
- –
- Part
- Suspension › Rear
- Maker's own recall number
- 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.
Other recalls for the same vehicles
- Ford recall: Air bags Sep 9, 2026
- Ford recall: Engine and engine cooling Aug 25, 2026
- Ford recall: Engine and engine cooling Aug 13, 2026
- Ford / Lincoln recall: Seats Jul 21, 2026
- Ford / Lincoln recall: Seats Jul 14, 2026
- Ford recall: Structure Jul 14, 2026
To check one car, enter its 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA page: a recall may cover only some vehicles of a model year.
Recall data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.