NHTSA recall 21V537000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 21V537000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 21S32 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Reported | 2021-07-15 |
| Owners notified | 2022-03-16 |
| Component | SUSPENSION:REAR |
| Units potentially affected | 631176 |
| Part numbers | DB5Z-5B759-B Left Rear Knuckle and DB5Z-5B758-B Right Rear Knuckle |
| Report | Annual report 2, for 2025 quarter 1 to 2025 quarter 4 |
|---|---|
| Filed with NHTSA | 2026-01-13 |
| Vehicles in the campaign | 631176 |
| Reported remedied | 421511 (66%) |
| Reported unreachable | 11911 |
| Reported removed | 101 |
These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2025 quarter 4, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026-10-19.
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 can happen
A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.
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.
| 2013 FORD EXPLORER | |
|---|---|
| 2014 FORD EXPLORER | |
| 2015 FORD EXPLORER | |
| 2016 FORD EXPLORER | |
| 2017 FORD EXPLORER |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| 22N01 S1 | 2023-03-06. Service bulletin. Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Wheel Knuckle Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Program Terms: added 21R01 and 21R02 REASON FOR PROVIDING A NO-COST, ONE-TIME REPAIR: added 21R01 and 21R02 OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE: added mailing schedule for 21R01 and 21R02 OASIS ACTIVATION: added 21R01 and 21R02 |
|---|---|
| 21R02 | 2022-12-02. Service bulletin. Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in certain traditional corrosion areas where road salt is used extensively during winter months, may experience a seized toe link ball joint resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link |
| 21R01 | 2022-12-02. Service bulletin. Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Toe Link Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S32, some of the affected vehicles exposed to a highly corrosive environment where road salt is used extensively during winter months, have experienced a seized toe link ball joint resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link. |
| 22N01 | 2022-02-24. Service bulletin. This program provides a no-cost, one-time repair (if needed) to the rear wheel knuckles for six (6) months from the Repair Order (RO) opening date for field service actions 21S32 or 21S43 provided that the RO opening date occurs on or before July 31, 2023. This is a one time repair. In some of the affected vehicles exposed to a corrosive environment where road salt is used during winter months, the rear toe link ball joint located in the rear knuckle could seize. A seized toe link ball joint could wear out and develop a knocking noise after installation of the updated toe links in the FSAs 21S32 or 21S43 |
| 21B14 | 2021-04-03. Service bulletin. Certain 2013 through 2017 Model Year Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles that are Registered or Sold in Certain States/Provinces Rear Toe Link Ball Joint Inspection This program is a proactive investigation by Ford Motor Company to obtain field data and parts for testing. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to inspect the toe link ball joint and, if necessary, replace both rear toe links and wheel knuckles on vehicles always registered and always residing in the Nashville (and Calgary) area. The replacement toe links and knuckles being installed contain no enhancements and are identical to the parts being removed. It is very important that any parts obtained from this program be returned to Ford for this study |
| 21B14-S1 | 2021-04-03. Service bulletin. Certain 2013 through 2017 Model Year Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles that are Registered or Sold in Certain States/Provinces; Rear Toe Link Ball Joint Inspection This program is a proactive investigation by Ford Motor Company to obtain field data and parts for testing. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to inspect the toe link ball joint and, if necessary, replace both rear toe links and wheel knuckles on vehicles always registered and always residing in the Nashville, Houston, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Winnipeg, and Calgary areas. The replacement toe links and knuckles being installed contain no enhancements and are identical to the parts being removed. It is very important that any parts obtained from this program be returned to Ford for this study. |
| SSM 48876 | 2020-07-07. Service bulletin. For 2013-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles that require rear wheel knuckle and bushing assembly repairs, dealers are advised to follow Workshop Manual (WSM) Procedures and use service parts recommended by Ford only. Ford has received reports of toe link failures after the installation of non-OEM cross-axial ball joints (aka bushings) in the rear wheel knuckle, and if service of the rear wheel knuckle and bushing assembly is required, the recommended repair is to replace the affected 5B758/9 as an assembly only. Refer to WSM, Section 204-02, and the Ford Service Parts Catalog as needed. |
| DOR-J9K8E-10 | 2019-10-21. Service bulletin. This SKU is a Suspension Lateral Link. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to revise the design similar to the OEM supercession associated with 19V435. We have received no defects associated with the current design. |
| 17G01-S2 | 2018-09-24. Service bulletin. Certain 2013-2017 Model Year Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles - Rear Suspension Toe Link Replacement |
| 17G01-S1 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. Certain 2013-2016 Model Year Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles - Rear Suspension Toe Link Replacement |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.