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Ford Explorer rear suspension toe link may break

NHTSA campaign 26V101000 · Reported 2026-02-20 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This is a serious one — a toe link can snap without warning and leave you unable to steer, so schedule the free repair as soon as possible even though Ford does not tell owners to park the vehicle.

What's wrong, in plain English

The rear suspension on these Explorers uses a metal arm called a toe link that holds the rear wheel pointed straight. On these vehicles that arm can crack and fracture. If it breaks, the rear wheel can suddenly swing out of position and you can lose control of the steering with no warning beforehand. Dealers replace the toe links at no cost. This recall is a larger version of an earlier Ford recall, 21V537.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your Explorer is included.
2. Call your Ford dealer or Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332 (recall 26S08) and book the repair promptly.
3. Have the toe links replaced — the work is free.

Affected vehicles (2)

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford 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

Official notice

Component
SUSPENSION:REAR
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Safety risk
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

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