Ford Recalls 400,000 Explorers For Rear Suspension Failures

Ford is recalling 412,774 examples of the 2017–2019 Explorer to address a rear suspension issue that can lead to fractured toe links and, in some cases, a loss of vehicle control.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the affected SUVs are equipped with rear suspension toe links paired with cross-axis ball joints (CABJ) supplied by SAF. Under certain loading conditions, the toe links may fracture. If that occurs, rear wheel alignment can change unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

The combination of the specific CABJ components and rear toe links was introduced into production on May 16, 2017, and phased out on March 3, 2019. Ford says the underlying root cause has not been fully determined. However, some field reports indicate that a seized cross-axis ball joint may create additional stress on the toe link. If the ball joint binds, it can generate a bending force that the toe link was not designed to absorb, potentially leading to a fracture over time.

Ford is aware of two accidents globally that may be related to the condition, both involving vehicles that struck roadside barriers after a toe link failure. The company says it is not aware of any injuries associated with the issue.

As a remedy, Ford dealers will replace the rear toe links at no cost to owners. Notification letters are scheduled to be mailed beginning March 9, 2026. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 26S08. This action expands on a previous recall, NHTSA campaign number 21V537, covering similar concerns.

Vehicle identification numbers for affected Explorers will be searchable on NHTSA’s website starting February 25, 2026.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

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