The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·25V166000·Announced 2026-02-03

2020-2022 Ford Explorer Rear Axle Bolt Fracture Risk

Ford is recalling 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles due to a faulty rear axle mounting bolt that may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, increasing the risk of vehicle rollaway or loss of drive power.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This is a structural vehicle defect with potential for serious consequences (vehicle rollaway, loss of drive power, crash risk), but the source text contains no reports of injuries, crashes, or deaths. Per the severity rubric, risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported score at most 3 (High).

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2020, 2021, and 2022 model year Explorer vehicles. These vehicles were previously repaired under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. In these vehicles, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture.

If the rear axle bolt fractures, the driveshaft can disconnect from the vehicle. A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. It can also result in a loss of drive power. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

Owners of affected vehicles were notified by mail on April 25, 2025. Ford dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software at no charge. Owners should contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 to schedule the repair. Additionally, owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or visit nhtsa.gov for more information.

The recalled product

Product
2020 FORD EXPLORER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — SUV / Structural Defect
Hazard
  • mounting-bolt-fracture
  • driveshaft-disconnect
  • vehicle-rollaway
  • crash-risk
Affected units
4,247

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • EXPLORER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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Same category