Ford Explorer Recall Issued Due to Defective Door Handles

Ford Motor Company is recalling an estimated 213,000 Explorer vehicles due to a risk of problems with the door handle design, which may allow the door to become unlatched during a side impact crash, potentially causing occupants to fall out of the vehicle.

The Ford Explorer recall was announced by the auto maker in a press release issued on March 25, indicating that an estimated 213,000 model year 2011 through 2013 SUV’s may have defective door handles.

According to Ford, the spring that controls the interior door handles may prevent doors from latching completely, which could result in the doors opening during a side-impact crash.

The recall includes certain Ford Explorer and Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles with 365-horsepower, 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engines. The impacted vehicles were built at the Chicago Assembly Plant from February 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012, June 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012, and October 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012.

Ford announced that there are 194,484 of the recalled vehicles in the United States and its federalized territories and another 12,392 in Canada and 6,035 registered in Mexico.

Ford has not announced an official recall schedule at this time but plans to begin notifying owners immediately. Servicing of the recall will require owners to schedule an inspection at licensed Ford dealer who will inspect all four interior door handle assemblies and repair or replace the handles as necessary at no cost to the customers.

The Ford Explorer recall marks the third recall for door handle defects since 2014. Ford recalled over 200,000 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and Police Interceptor vehicles for the same issue in January and over 692,000 Escape models in May for similar handle defects.

Additionally, Ford announced two separate recalls on March 25, to include 1,725 Lincoln MKT limo and hearse vehicles from model years 2013 to 2015 for a vacuum pump relay issue that has reportedly resulted in two fires, and another 6,472 F-Series Super Duty ambulance vehicles from model years 2011 to 2013 for faulty exhaust gas temperature sensors that may fail and incorrectly identify a high temperature condition in the vehicle.