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Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator engine rails may be weak

NHTSA campaign 22V454000 · Reported 2022-06-24 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious: there is no park-it order, but a rail can come loose and hit the road while you are driving and the vehicle may protect you less in a crash, so get it checked right away.

What's wrong, in plain English

The engine rails are heavy steel beams in the front of the vehicle that hold the engine and help absorb a front-end crash. On these vehicles the steel may not have been hardened correctly, so the rails can be weaker than they should be. That means less protection for people inside during a crash, and a rail could break loose and drag on the road while you are driving. Dealers test the rails and replace weak ones.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is included in recall 22C13.
2. Call your Ford or Lincoln dealer, or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, and book the engine rail strength test as soon as possible.
3. If the rails need replacing, the repair is free — and Ford also offers you the choice of a replacement vehicle or a buyback.

Affected vehicles (2)

2022 Ford Explorer
2022 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

Which Ford trim panels, roofs and body structures are under recall? · all 18 Ford recalls in this area
Lincoln recalls for loose trim and weak body structure · all 4 Lincoln recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Safety risk: Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge. If the engine rails require replacement, owners will have the option for a vehicle replacement or buyback. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C13.

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