Safety Recall 22S27 Rear Axle Bolt Fractures

[TheHypnoToad]

Let's do some math:

252,936 Explorers are involved in the Recall.
Parts and Installation for a 4 bolt is ~$3,000.
252,936 x $3,000 = $758,808,000

That's 3/4 of a billion dollars.

Not happening.

I agree that if all Explorers that are involved in the CSP were to have the correct fix done, the costs are prohibitive but the CSP only deals with those Explorers which had a failure of the bolt. Given Ford’s numbers of Explorers having had the failure and what we’ve seen in the poll here, that number is a fraction of the total number covered. So most Explorer owners will likely never have a failure occur or can get by with just an upgraded bolt. Throw in the vague wording of the letter and the question of what specifically Ford will do in the case of a failure occurring remains unclear. We’ve heard from a couple of ST owners who experienced the bolt failure say that they had the subframe replaced as part of the repair. So yes, it’s wishful thinking on my part and I agree with what you and others have said that Ford (unless pushed) will likely do the cheapest fix possible. Which is good for their bottom line but sad that because of bean counting, a vehicle with huge potential is limited by that decision.

 

[ZookaRoo]

Received my recall letter in the mail yesterday. They put the extended warranty on the bolt fracture in writing.

The extended coverage of the fracture is honestly great, this should give most peace of mind to not worry about.

 

[Cdubya]

The extended coverage of the fracture is honestly great, this should give most peace of mind to not worry about.

Well if you look at the text, it is a little odd to mention the one-time repair of the "rear axle bolts and housing (if needed)" but make no mention of possible damage to axles, and drive shaft that many have reported were damaged from that bolt shearing off.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

... sad that because of bean counting, a vehicle with huge potential is limited by that decision.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely wish my ST came with the 4 bolt.

(still waiting for Cruising68 to man up and install one for me!)

 

[Cruising68]

Except i was man OUT after that weekend. Could have claimed spousal abuse i had so many bruises on my body courtesy of blood thinners

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Tell me about it.

I'm not on blood thinners and when I come back from scrounging around in the shed I usually have blood trickling down my arms.

Everyone always said I was thin skinned, guess they were right.

 

[TheHypnoToad]

Don't get me wrong, I definitely wish my ST came with the 4 bolt.

Never thought that for a moment. I think most of the folks on this forum who have the three bolt subframe have the same wish along with the wish that Crusing68 would install it if Ford won’t.

What makes this whole thing even more frustrating is that the Aviator is apparently still getting the four bolt subframe. I’m not sure if it is just because the Aviator sells in lower volume and the parts were already there or just why that is the case.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Never thought that for a moment. I think most of the folks on this forum who have the three bolt subframe have the same wish along with the wish that Crusing68 would install it if Ford won’t.

What makes this whole thing even more frustrating is that the Aviator is apparently still getting the four bolt subframe. I’m not sure if it is just because the Aviator sells in lower volume and the parts were already there or just why that is the case.

Yeah, there's definitely more questions than answers as to the reasons for the change.

In the mean time, I heard Cruising68 is starting a new business. It's going to be called "Crusing68's 3 Bolt To 4 Bolt Explorer Emporium".

He's going to make millions!

 

[Cruising68]

You guys crack me up!

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

You guys crack me up!

You mean "cracked" like a rear subframe bolt crack?

 

[Cruising68]

Touche!

 

[Cmaximst]

Touche!

Acute bolt-envy!!

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Acute bolt-envy!!

A $3,000 swap and install at a FORD dealer will cure your acute condition.

 

[BlackJack2020]

Chiming in super late here but currently searching for an ST. Had a family member who is a gear head tell me not to buy one based on this Axle bolt potential issue. He stated he has a friend whom it happened to and the local Ford dealership told him they would fix but would have to detune the car by 100 horse. I truly find that hard to believe. Anyone seen or heard of something of the sort?

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Chiming in super late here but currently searching for an ST. Had a family member who is a gear head tell me not to buy one based on this Axle bolt potential issue. He stated he has a friend whom it happened to and the local Ford dealership told him they would fix but would have to detune the car by 100 horse. I truly find that hard to believe. Anyone seen or heard of something of the sort?

Nope, nope and nope.

Potential is extremely rare, FORD won't fix it unless it breaks, no detune, and the "fix" is for the e-brake to come on in PARK so if a break occurs the vehicle won't roll away.

Check out my thread (now closed) where a poll was taken as to who did/did not have a bolt shear:
https://www.explorerst.org/threads/...r-axle-bolt-fracture-poll-closed-6-4-22.3727/

Short story is our poll shows a 0.7% failure rate and FORD's data (at the time of the e-brake "fix" recall) was 0.09% failure. That means breaks are rarer than hen's teeth.

 

[BlackJack2020]

Appreciate the fast response here @CFG. Test drove a 2021 today and am in love!!!!

 

[TheHypnoToad]

My dealer‘s shop said they don’t have specifics beyond the e-brake upgrade and the replacement of the bolt should it break. So I suspect we’ll see a lot of hypothesizing on the part of dealer shops on what will or won’t be done and what would be covered in a tuned vehicle should that happen. In the meantime, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy an ST just because of the potential of the failure occurring.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

No problem! The ST has little competition at its performance/price point.

Check out my other thread where I do a quick statistics chart of the ST's rivals:
https://www.explorerst.org/threads/st-vs-the-competition.4056/

 

[Planetmail]

I just don't understand the logic behind having the e-brake reprogramed to come on all the time when park is selected. Ford concerned about a roll away vehicle if the axle bolts breaks. Won't one notice there's an issue right away. Wouldn't one use the parking brake on their own at this time? Not a fan of nanny devices, especially if I can't disable them.

As for the 3 bolt vs 4 bolt rear axles, Ford/Lincoln puts 4 bolt axles in all their 3L TT Aviators. So why does the "performance" edition of the Explorer, the ST, get a 3 bolt rear??

It's BS what Ford is doing with regard to this issue.

 

[StoneColdBlue22]

I just don't understand the logic behind having the e-brake reprogramed to come on all the time when park is selected. Ford concerned about a roll away vehicle if the axle bolts breaks. Won't one notice there's an issue right away. Wouldn't one use the parking brake on their own at this time? Not a fan of nanny devices, especially if I can't disable them.

As for the 3 bolt vs 4 bolt rear axles, Ford/Lincoln puts 4 bolt axles in all their 3L TT Aviators. So why does the "performance" edition of the Explorer, the ST, get a 3 bolt rear??

It's BS what Ford is doing with regard to this issue.

I believe it's an effort to reduce the stress put on the bolt from "roll back" when the trans is in park and you're on a hill or uneven ground.