Ford Explorer Recall Affects 2.24 Million Vehicles Worldwide Over Detaching Trim

The manufacturer has received more than 14,000 warranty claims of Ford Explorer trim detaching from the vehicles.

Ford Motor Company is recalling approximately 2.24 million Ford Explorer vehicles worldwide, including nearly 1.9 million sold in the U.S., due to a risk that the trim may detach while the vehicle is in motion, which could pose auto accident risks.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Ford Explorer recall (PDF) on January 23, after discovering that the A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, causing the trim to detach from the vehicle. This could become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

The recalled Ford Explorer vehicles from the 2011 through 2019 model year use 7 plastic clips to keep the trip attached to the the structure of the SUV. If the clip attachments are not properly secured, they may detach from the trim suddenly, causing parts of the trim to fly off the vehicle.

Ford indicates that it has received at least 14,337 warranty claims involving Ford Explorer trim detachments, however no accidents have been reported in connection to the trim problems.

The NHTSA initiated an investigation into the detaching trim on Ford Explorer vehicles in 2018, after the agency identified a number of reported problems.

In August 2023, Ford received an inquiry from Transport Canada, which also included reports related trim detachment. Following the investigation, Ford reevaluated updated field data associated with other evidence and concluded that the trim is susceptible to detachment.

Ford Explorer Trim Detachment Recall

An estimated 1,889,110 Ford Explorer vehicles from the 2011-2019 model years were sold in the United States.

Ford expects recall notifications letters to be mailed to registered owners beginning March 13, with instructions on how to schedule an appointment with an authorized Ford dealer to receive free vehicle inspections and replace the A-pillar trim if necessary, free of charge.

For more information on the recall, owners may contact Ford customer service by phone at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall 24S02. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.