Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for 350,000 vehicles in the U.S. and 25,200 in Canada for 2013-17 Ford Explorer vehicles. Some affected Explorers, sold or registered in rust inducing areas of North American states and provinces where corrosion is common, have experienced a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link after completion of a prior safety recall repair. A fracture of a rear toe link significantly diminishes steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is aware of 13 reports of accidents and six reports of injuries related to this condition.
Affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant from Sept. 4, 2012, to Jan. 25, 2017. Dealers will complete a torque inspection of the cross-axis ball joint and replace it, as necessary. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S.
The actions of Ford dealers do not inspire confidence or reflect a concern for the safety of customers based on the complaints in the NHTSA file. Here’s one:
“Had the rear toe links replaced due to a safety recall December 2, 2019. On 09/27/20, I was returning home after dropping my kids off traveling 70 mph on a highway, when the recall part I had replaced less than a year ago break. This caused me to lose control and have an accident. I notified Ford of this 09/28/20 and I was informed that the recall was completed, nothing they could do. I informed them the part broke at the weld which is a defective part. Again, I was told not their problem. This has caused my vehicle to be towed , damage to the rear bumper and myself buying a new part out of pocket to get vehicle on road again to go to work. This is also any other problems that it may have caused due to stress on vehicle, like other toe link, tires, brakes, other suspension parts. Enclosed is part and part number that was the recall part replaced by a ford dealership and damage to vehicle. I was lucky I did not hit the other vehicles around me, hit head on with center divider or guardrail, roll the vehicle or have serious injury.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Recalls 375,200 Explorer SUVs – Recalling a Prior Recall
Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for 350,000 vehicles in the U.S. and 25,200 in Canada for 2013-17 Ford Explorer vehicles. Some affected Explorers, sold or registered in rust inducing areas of North American states and provinces where corrosion is common, have experienced a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link after completion of a prior safety recall repair. A fracture of a rear toe link significantly diminishes steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is aware of 13 reports of accidents and six reports of injuries related to this condition.
Affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant from Sept. 4, 2012, to Jan. 25, 2017. Dealers will complete a torque inspection of the cross-axis ball joint and replace it, as necessary. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S.
The actions of Ford dealers do not inspire confidence or reflect a concern for the safety of customers based on the complaints in the NHTSA file. Here’s one:
“Had the rear toe links replaced due to a safety recall December 2, 2019. On 09/27/20, I was returning home after dropping my kids off traveling 70 mph on a highway, when the recall part I had replaced less than a year ago break. This caused me to lose control and have an accident. I notified Ford of this 09/28/20 and I was informed that the recall was completed, nothing they could do. I informed them the part broke at the weld which is a defective part. Again, I was told not their problem. This has caused my vehicle to be towed , damage to the rear bumper and myself buying a new part out of pocket to get vehicle on road again to go to work. This is also any other problems that it may have caused due to stress on vehicle, like other toe link, tires, brakes, other suspension parts. Enclosed is part and part number that was the recall part replaced by a ford dealership and damage to vehicle. I was lucky I did not hit the other vehicles around me, hit head on with center divider or guardrail, roll the vehicle or have serious injury.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.