Ford Motor Company

Ford is recalling nearly 413,000 Explorer SUVs from model years 2017 through 2019 in the United States because rear suspension toe links can fracture and cause drivers to lose steering control, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The defect increases the risk of a crash if the link fails while the vehicle is in motion. Ford dealers will replace the rear toe links free of charge, and owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed on March 9. Owners can also contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332 or check their VIN on NHTSA’s website to see if their vehicle is covered. The recall underscores ongoing concerns about suspension and steering-component failures in mass-market SUVs and highlights the need for owners to follow through on recall repairs, which safety data show many never do.