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Ford Explorer Rear Suspension Toe Link May Fracture
high How serious is it? About this label
A broken toe link can cause the driver to lose control of the steering, which increases the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V101000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Part affected | Suspension:rear |
| Vehicles covered | 2 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
Ford says a part of the rear suspension called a toe link may fracture, or break, on certain Explorer vehicles. If a toe link fractures, the driver can lose control of the vehicle's steering. This loss of steering control raises the chance of a crash while driving.
What you should do
2. Contact a Ford dealer to schedule the free toe link replacement, or call Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is free of charge.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 26V101000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (2)
Who to contact
Ford — official Ford recall lookup
Customer service: 1-866-436-7332
The bigger picture
- Ford Suspension Recalls Involve Control Arms, Loose Fasteners, and Axles · all 18 Ford recalls in this area
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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.