NHTSA recall 26V101000
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 | 26V101000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 26S08 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Reported | 2026-02-20 |
| Owners notified | 2026-03-16 |
| Component | SUSPENSION:REAR |
| Units potentially affected | 412774 |
| Part numbers | DB53-5A972-D*, DB53-5A972-C* |
| Report | Quarterly report 2, for 2026 quarter 2 |
|---|---|
| Filed with NHTSA | 2026-07-18 |
| Vehicles in the campaign | 412774 |
| Reported remedied | 121649 (29%) |
| Reported unreachable | 13220 |
| Reported removed | 4 |
These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2026 quarter 2, 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 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
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 replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.
| 2017 FORD EXPLORER | Built from 2017-05-16. |
|---|---|
| 2018 FORD EXPLORER | |
| 2019 FORD EXPLORER | Built to 2019-03-03. |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.