Ford Recalls 238K Explorers Due To Faulty Axle Bolts

(CTN News) – As a result of the failure of a rear axle bolt on a number of Explorer SUVs, Ford has announced the recall of more than 238,000 of them.

It has been reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the horizontal mounting bolt on the rear axle can break, resulting in the disconnection of the driveshaft.

The Associated Press reported that if the bolt fails, vehicles may lose drive power or even roll away when in park mode, depending on the severity of the failure.

As a result of the recall, some Explorers from the model years 2020 and 2022 are affected.

In addition to having the rear axle bushing part number L1MW-4B425-BA, they also have the following powertrains: 3.3L FHEV Police, 3.3L Gas Police, 3.0L Gas Police, 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3L FHEV, 3.0L ST.

The AP reported that there have been 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures. However, there have been no reports of crashes or injuries attributed to the failure of rear axle bolts.

It was reported in June that the NHTSA was investigating complaints of loss of power in Explorers due to the rear axle bolts, despite the fact that Explorers were repaired under other recalls.

It was reported by Ford that a software update would make it so that the parking brake would engage automatically, but according to the NHTSA there is no actual fix for the problem with the axle bolt.

The dealerships will replace the subframe bushing and the real axle bolt on the recalled SUVs for free as part of the recall program.

According to the NHTSA, the inspectors will also inspect the rear axle cover for damage and replace it if necessary, if damage is found.

The Ford owners will begin receiving letters from Ford next month or they can call Ford directly at 866-436-7332 if they prefer to do so. There is an internal recall number 23S55 associated with Ford.

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