2018 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems

While driving at 35 MPH over a bump on a snowy road, you heard a popping sound from the rear suspension and lost control of your vehicle. You regained control at 5 MPH and pulled over safely. A mechanic found that your rear driver's side suspension toe link was fractured and replaced it, but afterward the rear suspension made an abnormal squeaking sound that wasn't fixed. This suspension issue may be related to a known recall affecting your vehicle.

Your 2018 Ford Explorer is subject to two active recalls affecting the structure and suspension, but the parts needed to fix them aren't available yet. You've been waiting longer than seems reasonable for the repairs to be completed. The dealer confirmed that the necessary parts haven't arrived, so the recalls haven't been performed yet.

Your Explorer received a safety recall for the rear suspension toe link, and Ford's replacement part fixes the breakage problem but cannot be adjusted. This causes alignment to drift within 6 months, leading to premature rear tire wear and control issues. Many owners are turning to aftermarket toe links instead, which provide better stability. The fix will involve replacing the rear suspension toe link with an adjustable alternative part.

Your 2018 Ford Explorer has been recalled for structural and suspension issues, but the repair parts aren't available yet. While driving at 40 mph, the trim panel on the passenger side of the A-pillar (the vertical support between your windshield and door) detached from the vehicle, and the driver's side A-pillar trim has also become loose. You should contact your dealer to order the recalled parts once they become available.

Your 2018 Ford Explorer is subject to a suspension recall (NHTSA Campaign 26V101000), but Ford hasn't made the repair parts available yet. You've checked with multiple dealers and they've all confirmed the parts are on back order. You're concerned that Ford has taken too long to make these parts available for the recall repair, and you've notified the manufacturer about the delay. The repair will likely involve replacing or servicing a suspension component once the parts become available.

As I made a turn, the toe link broke and caused my car to be thrown to side of road.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his daughter was driving approximately 35 MPH over a bump in the roadway, the steering wheel turned to the left while driving straight on the roadway. The contact stated that his daughter had not seen warning light illuminated. The contact drove to his daughter location and drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver’s side rear wheel rear suspension toe link had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

On the highway doing 70 mph when the 2018 explorer started to sway back n forth and skipping across the road, got it stopped on the side of road and found out that my rear drivers toe link has broke. I see FORD has a RECALL on the 2016 - 2017 explorers for this problem... I'm lucky that I didn't kill someone or crash the vehicle. It was not a fun ride with my wife and kids in the SUV.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the bushing joint had fractured and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer who had confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The manufacturer had confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 62,500.

After dealer inspection of my 2018 Ford Explorer, I was informed that the rear knuckles needed replacement due to cracked bushing. I was informed that this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately, at a cost of $2400.00. After some cursory research I found that there was a recall for 2011-2017 Ford Explorers with the same issue, but not for 2018. This is obviously a known problem and should be addressed for 2018 vehicles.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, and at various speeds, the vehicle would vibrate and then would start to sway, and the contact could not maintain lane control. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the wishbone and motor mounts needed to be replaced; however, the wishbone mount was on a national backorder. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

In wet, or snowy conditions, or when driving over a bump in the road, the rear end of the vehicle jerks sideways. New tires and 4 wheel alignment have not corrected the issue. Vehicle feels like it may lose control. Symptoms feel the same as previous year explorer that had a rear toe link issue.

Driving about 50mph on dry country road, good visibility, when suddenly car pulled hard right. We went onto a grass embankment, I managed to pull left back onto the road, but car fish-tailed uncontrollably, we hit crash barrier, and finally came to a stop. Badly shaken but no injuries. Examining car, besides body damage, most notably rear drivers side wheel was mis-aligned with car by about 15 degrees. Photo of suspension I took shows broken toe-link, subsequently confirmed by body shop and loss adjuster. The car had new rear struts 2 days earlier, but at that time no report of a broken toe-link. I have subsequently learnt there is a recall for broken toe-link for Ford Explorers 2013-2017, but mine is 2018. But I suspect the recall should have been broader - my toe-link looks like one subject to recall.

The contact called in for a client who owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact works at an independently owned auto body shop. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed into the body shop for inspection. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s rear toe link had fractured. The contact stated that while the owner of the vehicle was driving at an undisclosed speed, he lost control of the vehicle and spun out, and ran off the road causing damage to the vehicle. The contact stated that he was called by the State Police to tow the vehicle. The contact was unaware of any injuries being sustained during the failure. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 59,004.

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRAIT STRETCH OF ROAD WHEN A LOUD BACK WAS HEARD AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING RESULTING IN STRIKING THE CURB AS IT CAME TO A STOP. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED JUST BEFORE THE BALLJOINT AND HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THIS APPEARS IT'S AN ISSUE ACROSS A RANGE IF EXPLORERS THAT UTILIZE THE SAME CONTROL ARM.

WHEN TURNING LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER ON A MAIN ROAD AT ~30 MPH, HEARD LOUD POP SOUND AND CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED MOVING. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. UPON INSPECTION THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE NEXT TO BALL JOINT. CAR CURRENTLY HAS LITTLE OVER 2000 MILES.THE POLICE DID RESPOND TO THE INCIDENT TO ASSIST IN GUIDING TRAFFIC AND SECURING A TOW TRUCK. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER WAITING FURTHER ASSESSMENT. IT APPEARS THE CONTROL ARM HAS A WEAK POINT IN THE STRUCTURE. IN REVIEWING INTERNET POST THE ARM APPEARS TO BREAK IN THE SAME PLACE FROM EARLY AND LATE MODEL YEARS OF THE NEW BODY STYLE EXPLORER. THE CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN OFF MAIN ROADS, AND THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO WHEEL (SHOWN IN PHOTO). I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS THIS APPEARS TO BE A ISSUE WITH EXPLORER MODELS AND IF ON A HIGHWAY WOULD CAUSE POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE CAR WAS NOT GOING FASTER AND IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS EVENT HAPPED.