ford Motor Corporation has announced a recall of about 775,000 Ford Explorer SUVs worldwide for a steering issue linked to reports of six injuries in North America.
According to the automaker in a statement released on Friday, the recall covers 2013-2017 model year vehicles that may experience a seized cross-axis ball joint that could cause a fractured rear-suspension toe link, which could significantly diminish steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
It noted : “Fracture of a rear toe link significantly diminishes steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall affects approximately 676,152 vehicles in North America, 59,935 in China, 25,257 in Ford’s International Markets Group, 13,162 in Europe and 190 in South America.
“In the U.S,” it explains, “the affected vehicles are located in high-corrosion states as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or in regions with a combination of cold winter weather with relative high humidity and substantial road salt use.”
The affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant between Sept. 4, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2017, and Elabuga Assembly Plant in Russia between Jan. 28, 2013 and July 28, 2017.
Ford says it is aware of six allegations of injury related to this condition in North America.
While Ford is providing a customer satisfaction program for vehicles not sold or registered in corrosion states, owner notifications will begin the week of Aug. 23.
Dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint, replace the cross-axis ball joint/knuckle as necessary, and replace the toe links with a revised design part. The Ford reference number for this recall is 21S32.
Ford issued two other small recalls on Friday, nearly all of them in North America. They include about 35,000 2020-2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty vehicles with 6.7-liter engines and single rear wheel axle for a rear-axle housing spring seat interface weld issue and 41,000 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with 3.0-liter gas engines because the battery cable wire harness may not be properly secured.
Although the issue could result in a short circuit and potential fire, Ford says it is unaware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to the two recalls.
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