The Ford Motor Company released details on three unrelated recalls today affecting 851,630 vehicles in all. The largest among them is a recall involving nearly 775,000 Ford Explorers.
According to the automaker, Explorers sold between 2013 and 2017 may have a seized cross-axis ball joint which may cause a fractured rear suspension toe link. Ford says the vehicles may make a clunking noise and that drivers could experience unusual handling and a misaligned rear wheel. A fractured rear toe link will significantly diminish steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
According to Ford, vehicles that are likely to be affected by this problem are in high-corrosion parts of the country. Unfortunately, it’s aware of six reported injuries related to this problem in North America where 676,152 vehicles are affected by the recall. A further 59,935 are affected in China, and 38,609 in other parts of the world for a total of 774,696 around the world.
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Owner notifications will begin on the week of August 23. Dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint and replace joint/knuckle assembly as necessary with a part whose design has been revised. For vehicles sold or registered in high-corrosion states, Ford is providing a customer satisfaction program.
Separately, Ford announced that it would recall 40,995 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviators equipped with the 3.0-liter petrol engine. In these vehicles, a battery cable wire harness may not be properly secured, allowing it to make contact with the A/C compressor pulley. Over time, the wire’s insulation may be worn away, which could lead to a short circuit and a potential fire.
Ford is not aware of any incidents related to this issue, but it is recalling 36,258 vehicles in North America, 2,136 in China, and 2,601 in other markets. Owner notifications will begin on July 30 and dealers will inspect the part and take appropriate action.
Finally, the Blue Oval is recalling 34,939 2020-2021 F-350 Super Duty trucks with the 6.7-liter engine and single rear wheel axle for a weld issue. The defect could lead to a driveline disconnection and customers could experience vibration and shaking while driving at highway speed. In the event of a disconnected driveshaft, customers would experience a sudden loss of power and the transmission’s park feature may not function properly.
Again, Ford is not aware of any accidents related to this issue. Owner notifications will start on August 16, whereupon dealers will inspect the rear axle to determine if the axle housing has to be replaced.