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Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator rear suspension bolts can break

NHTSA campaign 21V154000 · Reported 2021-03-10 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious: a bolt can break with no warning and cause you to lose control, so have it fixed promptly rather than waiting.

What's wrong, in plain English

On certain Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs, the bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the rear wheel hubs were not heat-treated, so they are softer than they should be. A bolt like that can snap. If one breaks, the rear wheel can shift out of position and you can lose control of the vehicle. Ford dealers will replace both bolts. Ford began this recall in April 2021 and the repair is free.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is affected. 2. Call your Ford or Lincoln dealer, or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 (recall 21S11), for an appointment. 3. Have both rear lower control arm bolts replaced — the repair costs you nothing.

Affected vehicles (2)

2020 Ford Explorer
2020 Lincoln Aviator

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Lincoln — official Lincoln recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford suspension recalls: which control arms and toe links break? · all 18 Ford recalls in this area
Why do Lincoln rear suspension parts break or come loose? · all 6 Lincoln recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The rear lower control arm (RLCA) bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the wheel knuckles may not have been heat-treated, which could cause them to break.
Safety risk: Broken RLCA bolts can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace both RLCA bolts, free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S11.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.