The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·26V101000·Announced 2026-02-20

Ford Recalls 2017-2019 Explorers for Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture Risk

Ford is recalling 2017-2019 Explorers because rear suspension toe links may fracture, potentially causing loss of steering control and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (rear suspension toe link fracture) that can result in loss of steering control, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles due to a defect in the rear suspension system. The rear suspension toe links may fracture, which can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.

This recall affects 2017, 2018, and 2019 model year Ford Explorer vehicles. It is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026, and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

Dealers will replace the toe links free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332 for more information. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08.

The recalled product

Product
FORD EXPLORER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — SUV
Hazard
Affected units
412,774

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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