Ford Motor has recalled approximately 238,000 Explorers due to a defect that puts the sport utility vehicles at risk of rolling if the parking brake is not applied.
The affected 2020 to 2022 models have been discontinued.
“The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt could break and cause the driveshaft to come loose,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter to Ford on Thursday.
If the shaft, a rod that transmits power to the wheels and sets the vehicle in motion, comes loose, it can result in a loss of traction or the vehicle rolling if the parking brake is not applied, the letter said.
“Each of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash,” wrote Alex Ansley, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall management division.
A Ford spokeswoman said in a statement that “the rollover risk in previous recalls was addressed through a software update.”
The difference from the last recall is the remedy – now Ford has to check all over 230,000 vehicles. Previously, a vehicle was only checked if there was a defect and the parts were then replaced free of charge.
In a previous recall, Ford was aware of 396 reports of defective rear axle bolts, less than 5 percent of which resulted in a roll-in-park condition or loss of power, the statement said.
Letters informing owners of the latest recall are expected to be mailed on November 6th. Drivers can also see if their vehicle has been recalled by entering their vehicle identification number or the year and model of the car on Ford’s website.
Ford said there were no known accidents or injuries related to the defect, according to agency records.
According to a 2019 report from McKinsey & Company, vehicle recalls have become more common in the U.S. over the past two decades or so.
In 2016, there were more than 1,000 vehicle recalls in the US automotive industry for the first time. In 2017, an average of about three vehicles were recalled for every vehicle sold, according to the report.
In 2022, Ford recalled 2.9 million vehicles, including 1.7 million Ford Escape SUVs, because of a possible defect that could cause them to move even when the gear lever appears to be in the park position.
In September, regulators reported that 52 million airbag inflators used by dozens of automakers were at risk of rupture.
According to the McKinsey report, recalls since 2015 have typically been related to airbags. However, as vehicles with more complex features are manufactured, there has been an increase in recalls due to software and electronics problems.