The Ford Motor Company ended 2023 with no fewer than 58 recalls and 6.1 million vehicles recalled in the US market. As if having the most recalls of any vehicle manufacturer in the US for the third year straight wasn't bad enough, the Dearborn-based automaker kicked off 2024 with a massive recall totaling 1.9 million Exolorer SUVs.
Dubbed 24V-031 in the federal watchdog's vernacular, said recall concerns 1,889,110 sport utility vehicles produced for the 2011 through 2019 model years between May 2010 and March 2019. In other words, we're dealing with the previous generation of the Explorer (the one with the D4 platform of the station wagon-inspired Flex and Lincoln MKT sport utility vehicles).
The road to this recall started in 2018 with Ford receiving an inquiry from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration related to A-pillar trim detachments on 2012 to 2014 models. The A-pillar exterior trim is attached to the pillars in question by means of a plastic bracket and seven plastic clips. Ford states that A-pillar trim could fly off the vehicle if all clips aren't properly engaged.
The NHTSA forwarded 25 vehicle owner's questionnaires to the Ford Motor Company's safety boffins, with owners alleging loose or detached A-pillar trim. For some reason or another, FoMoCo initially determined that detaching exterior trim doesn't present an unreasonable risk to safety. How come? As per Ford's explanation to the NHTSA, due to the low mass and size of the parts.
Fast forward to April 2021, and the Ford Motor Company reopened this investigation after being presented with eight additional questionnaires filed with the federal watchdog between January 2021 and April 2021. The matter was closed in July 2021, with Ford giving the same explanation as earlier.
Photo: Ford
Back then, the NHTSA was aware of 158 questionnaires alleging loose or detached trim from fifth-generation Explorer owners. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation into this problem in February 2023. Transport Canada followed suit in August 2023, citing reports alleging loose or detaching A-pillar trim.
In reviewing the NHTSA's preliminary investigation and Transport Canada's inquiry, the Ford Motor Company finally reassessed its view. The recall report attached below clearly states that exterior trim that detaches while driving increases the risk of a crash for other road users. The question is, why does the exterior trim of the fifth-gen Explorer detach while driving?
"Improper assembly or repair" is how Ford puts it in the cited document. Given these circumstances, dealers have been instructed to inspect and – if necessary – install replacement A-pillar trim with extra adhesive. The remedy trim bears part numbers BB53 7803682 AJW and BB53 7803683 AJW.
Notification letters will be mailed to 2011 – 2019 Ford Explorer owners between March 13 and March 25, 2025. In the meantime, you can verify whether your Explorer is recalled or not by running the 17-character vehicle identification number on the NHTSA's website or the automaker's website.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News