US opens probe into Ford Explorer recall repairs
The NHTSA has received complaints about vehicles being serviced and still allegedly losing power or transmission torque of the rear wheels
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A prior recall by Ford Motor is coming into question by U.S. safety regulators.
The concern is the fix for the recall may not be adequate.
The recalls issued in March and April 2022 involved 710,000 Explorer SUVs over power loss reports.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted the problem involved a rear axle horizontal mounting bolt that may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
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Ford said earlier its recalls were to address a disconnected driveshaft that could result in the vehicle rolling away placed in 'Park' without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
The NHTSA said it has received two complaints alleging a loss of power or transmission torque of the rear wheels in Explorer vehicles that had received the recall fix.
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Ford’s fix is to add a software update that automatically applies the electronic service parking brake to keep the vehicle from rolling away, the agency said.
There is no remedy to address the failed rear axle horizontal mounting bolt "which is the basis of this safety issue and the cause of the impaired vehicle," the agency added.
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| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | FORD MOTOR CO. | 10.81 | +0.09 | +0.79% |
One complaint told NHTSA that after getting the software update "the vehicle would randomly slam to a complete stop while driving. It happened several times with three different drivers (myself, my wife, and my son), each happening at 30-35 mph or less."
In a statement to FOX Business, Ford said "We are working with NHTSA to support their investigation as we always do."
Reuters contributed to this report.