Ford Explorer

2026: Detecting the marriage that causes the suspension to fall apart

On February 24, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety USA Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall of more than 412 thousand Ford Explorer cars. These cars have a problem with the suspension, which can lead to a deterioration in handling and an increase in the likelihood of a traffic accident.

The regulator's publication says that the defect affects the converging rods of the rear suspension. They are responsible for accurately setting the angle of convergence of the rear wheels, directly affecting the directional stability, handling and uniform wear of the tires. In the event of a breakdown, drivers may encounter a knock in the rear of the vehicle, deterioration of control over the car and/or displacement of the rear wheels.

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Фото: Wikipedia

NHTSA received several notifications from Explorer owners about the loss of manageability. In total, regulators have collected 26 reports of rear suspension arms breaking, while Ford itself is aware of at least two crashes related to the said defect. Nothing was reported about the victims. The root cause of the issue as of the recall date has not been established.

The marriage affects 412,774 Explorer cars produced in 2017-2019. Ford will replace the existing wheel convergent rods with upgraded ones. The updated components are stronger and more resistant to damage. All work will be carried out free of charge for motorists. At the same time, owners of recalled machines can continue to operate them as usual. Notifications of the need to provide a car to the service center will be sent out between March 9 and 13, 2026.

As noted by Reuters, Ford will also recall 40,655 other vehicles due to battery malfunctions and brake pedal defects. These problems can increase the risk of an accident in certain situations.^[1]

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