Ford has issued three recalls in the US affecting some of its most popular models. The biggest recall affects select 2011-17 Ford Explorer SUVs. According to Ford, Explorers that are" exposed to frequent full rear suspension articulation may experience a fractured rear suspension toe link". If this happens, steering control could be reduced and increase the risk of a crash. Fortunately, Ford is not aware of any injuries related to this issue but notes that one customer reported hitting a curb when the toe link broke.

The recall affects around 1.2 million vehicles in the US, approximately 28,000 in Canada, and one in Mexico. Affected vehicles were built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant from May 17, 2010, to January 25, 2017. To fix the issue, dealers will remove and replace the left and right-hand rear suspension toe links with a new forged toe link and then align the rear suspension.

Another safety recall has been issued for select 2013 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter gasoline engines that had the software on their powertrain control modules reprogrammed during a previous recall. These vehicles may have received an incomplete software update, meaning they won't have the required updates to prevent a potential unintended downshift into first gear.

An abrupt downshift into first gear without warning could result in loss of vehicle control (not to mention damage to the transmission), increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this issue. Around 123,000 F-150 trucks are being recalled in North America and approximately 15,200 in Canada. Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with the appropriate software calibration.

A third safety recall is also being announced for select 2009-16 Ford Econoline vans equipped with 5R110W transmissions, a 5.4-liter engine, and a school bus or ambulance prep package. Affected vehicles contain a capacitive discharge weld within a coast clutch component in the transmission. A substandard weld may fatigue and fail. While all normal engine, braking and steering functionality is unaffected, a failing weld could immobilize the vehicle. Around 4,300 vehicles in North America are affected along with 445 in Canada. Dealers will replace the coast clutch cylinder and the single-engaging coast one-way clutch with a dual-engaging one-way clutch to solve the issue.