Ford Recalling More Than 412,000 Explorers Over Defect That Could Cause Drivers to Lose Steering Control
Due to the potential for abrupt steering loss, Ford announced that it is recalling more than 412,000 Explorers. The recall affects Explorer SUVs from model years 2017 through 2019.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), steering control loss could result from the toe links in the rear suspensions of Ford Explorers breaking. The recall affects a total of 412,774 vehicles.
What is the recall for?
“Affected vehicles are equipped with cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) parts manufactured by SAF and rear suspension toe links that may fracture under certain loading conditions,” the NHTSA wrote in its recall report. “This combination of CABJ and toe link was first used in production on May 16, 2017, and taken out of production on March 3, 2019.”
Some reports indicate Ford Explorers experienced a seized CABJ. A seized CABJ will cause the toe link to bend, which could lead to a fracture. A rear toe link fracture reduces steering control, raising the chance of a collision, according to the NHTSA.
What led to the recall?
The NHTSA contacted Ford on January 13, 2026, in reference to five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires that described a failure of the rear toe link in 2018 model year Explorer SUVs that resulted in a loss of directional control while driving. The automaker’s Critical Concern Review Group later identified 26 reports received by Ford about rear toe link fracture on vehicles.
Ford reported that it knows of two incidents that may connect to this problem. In those cases, drivers of Explorers collided with guardrails or other obstacles after suffering a toe link fracture. As far as Ford knows, no injuries have occurred in connection with this problem.
What Ford Explorer owners should know
2017 to 2019 model year Ford Explorer owners should keep an eye out for a misaligned rear wheel, strange handling, or a clunking sound. To date, Ford has not identified the exact cause of this issue, but it first appeared in July 2021.
Ford has not issued a Do Not Drive warning for this recall. Affected Ford Explorer owners will receive a notification by mail and instructions to take their SUV to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the toe links replaced with revised toe links. This service will be free of charge.
Ford recalled nearly 13 million vehicles in 2025 and set a record for recall notices to consumers in 2025 with 153. Despite those numbers, Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief operating officer, said it was actually a good thing. In fact, the company reportedly gave its employees big bonuses based on improved initial quality.
