The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently conducting an investigation into a recall issued by Ford Motor Co. for over 250,000 Explorer SUVs in the United States, Your Content has learned.
The investigation was initiated following multiple complaints received by the administration regarding repairs aimed at preventing unexpected vehicle rollaways even when the SUVs are placed in park.
The recall was prompted by concerns over fractures in the rear axle mounting bolt, which could result in the disconnection of the drive shaft.
To address this issue, Ford released a software update intended to activate the electronic parking brake in case of drive shaft failure.
However, two vehicle owners reported experiencing erratic behavior in their SUVs after the repairs were made.
According to one complaint, an Explorer abruptly came to a stop at speeds of up to 30 or 40 miles per hour. In the other complaint, the vehicle unexpectedly moved forward while the driver was attempting to disengage the electronic brake.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these incidents, although the first driver mentioned striking a utility pole when the SUV started rolling downhill after the sudden stop, presumably due to disengagement of the drivetrain.
The recall initially covered specific models, including 2020-2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids, and the 3-liter ST.
It also included 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those equipped with 3.3-liter gas engines. The reported incidents, however, involved 2021 Explorers specifically.
A representative from Ford stated that the company is actively cooperating with the NHTSA regarding this matter, according to U.S. News.