Safety Recall 22S27 Rear Axle Bolt Fractures

[Kevin_FG23]

The "solid core" (improved) bushing shown in the pic immediately above addresses what Ford deemed to be the root cause, namely:

"The joint design is not robust to peak axle input torques and manufacturing variability. The primary contributor is insufficient bearing area for maximum joint loads. This results in bearing area deformation, increasing bending stress on the bolt, which may lead to a fatigue failure."

They are referred to the "webbed" core design of the earlier bushing, P/N L1MW-4B425-BA.

 

[st8]

I have not been paying attention to this at all. So basically they’re just replacing the bolt with supposedly a new and improved version? How long is the dealer taking to do this? I have not inquired about it with my dealer as I try to avoid going there at all cost.

 

[Kevin_FG23]

I have not been paying attention to this at all. So basically they’re just replacing the bolt with supposedly a new and improved version? How long is the dealer taking to do this? I have not inquired about it with my dealer as I try to avoid going there at all cost.

The latest recall is to replace the original rear bushing on pre-'23 "three-bolt" Explorers with a revised design bushing (and install a fresh bolt just in case the original one might be compromised). Ford is saying the new style bushing should prevent bolt damage. Not sure how long it takes.

 

[Boyd]

I have not been paying attention to this at all. So basically they’re just replacing the bolt with supposedly a new and improved version? How long is the dealer taking to do this? I have not inquired about it with my dealer as I try to avoid going there at all cost.

Just replacing the bolt... no. They remove the differential to drive the old bushing out and press a new one in. Also inspect the cover and replace that if needed. I'd plan on having to leave your car there for a full day at least. Its an involved repair.

 

[18Ventura]

My ST is at the dealership as I type, getting both the new camera and bolt/bushing recalls completed.

The service manager said the bolt job was estimated at 3 hours. I'll provide an update when I have the work order in hand.

 

[MrBigglesworrth]

Just replacing the bolt... no. They remove the differential to drive the old bushing out and press a new one in. Also inspect the cover and replace that if needed. I'd plan on having to leave your car there for a full day at least. Its an involved repair.

They are just dropping the diff a little to install new bushing and bolt. They aren’t actually removing anything from the vehicle like that video showed. I wouldn’t count on the techs to actually inspect anything.

 

[Cdubya]

Case closed...

https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2020-2022-ford-explorer-rear-axle-bolt-investigation-closed/

 

[bosephbarking]

Case closed...

https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2020-2022-ford-explorer-rear-axle-bolt-investigation-closed/

Closed because Ford took an action, ie. the recall. They will still monitor and see if any more bolts break. If they do then they will reopen the investigation and actually investigate.

 

[LuxST]

https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2020-2022-ford-explorer-rear-axle-bolt-investigation-closed/amp/

“ Then, last October, Ford issued another recall instructing dealers to replace the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt in affected vehicles, which – coupled with a customer service program – has prompted the NHTSA to close its investigation, which was opened by the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) last July after the agency received three complaints from owners of affected vehicles.”

read this just yesterday

 

[ST Jarmusic]

Good morning,

I’m in the same exact situation. Ordered my ST on February 8th, and it finally came yesterday. The dealer won’t release the vehicle because they’re saying Ford has a safety recall on the rear axle. It must be repaired before I get it. Sucks..

I would be more than mad!

 

[viking]

I picked up my ST yesterday from local dealership for Rear Axle Bolt and Rear Camera Recall fixes.
Got about 6 miles from dealership on interstate and rear end started to whine, then all hell broke loose, made hell of a racket & locked up solid. Luckily was able to maneuver it to the shoulder and had roadside assistance haul back to dealer (after biz hours of course). Left voice message at Service desk to call me ASAP in morning to get S*%! figured out. Can't believe it but NOT surprised that a tech cannot do a simple fix.
Attached is the service write up of what they did.

 

[Cruising68]

^^^Unreal! Glad you are safe. Good luck getting it fixed for real!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[18Ventura]

Wow. That's horrible.

Perhaps fortunately for me, my dealer never received the new bushing, so they have yet to perform the bolt recall. Maybe I'll sit this one out for a while longer.

On a positive note, the new replacement rear camera has been flawless.

 

[scoobysportD]

I picked up my ST yesterday from local dealership for Rear Axle Bolt and Rear Camera Recall fixes.
Got about 6 miles from dealership on interstate and rear end started to whine, then all hell broke loose, made hell of a racket & locked up solid. Luckily was able to maneuver it to the shoulder and had roadside assistance haul back to dealer (after biz hours of course). Left voice message at Service desk to call me ASAP in morning to get S*%! figured out. Can't believe it but NOT surprised that a tech cannot do a simple fix.
Attached is the service write up of what they did.

Damn! Glad you made it safely to the side of the road.

They still have to do mine, parts are on "delay" as per usual with Ford. Thursday i've got an appointmet with other dealer and expert to investigate my car and force replacement through a judge.

 

[viking]

Got a call from the service advisor and he said the tech "misread" the amount of rear diff fluid on re-fill. They have a new diff coming should be here Tuesday for replacement. I live 50 miles away and they are supposed to be delivering a loaner to me this afternoon
I really had low expectations for the dealership before I went in and not to my surprise I set the bar way too high for them. At least the service advisor is trying to accommodate as it's not his fault. But seriously!!
And let it be known that it's not just Ford dealer around here. My wife's rig is a 2022 Suburban High Country and I do all the service work on that too. Local Chevy service techs didn't tighten down the oil filter on 2nd oil change last year and it puked 2 quarts out in my garage. So they are cut from the same torn cloth.

 

[SimonsGTS]

Unfortunately it's the state of the industry now, a dealer is only as good as the techs it hires...and pays for!

 

[FORZDA3]

I picked up my ST yesterday from local dealership for Rear Axle Bolt and Rear Camera Recall fixes.
Got about 6 miles from dealership on interstate and rear end started to whine, then all hell broke loose, made hell of a racket & locked up solid. Luckily was able to maneuver it to the shoulder and had roadside assistance haul back to dealer (after biz hours of course). Left voice message at Service desk to call me ASAP in morning to get S*%! figured out. Can't believe it but NOT surprised that a tech cannot do a simple fix.
Attached is the service write up of what they did.

The service “writer” is covering for the goons’ idiocy. The ticket plainly says he(?) drained the diff “fluid”. If it smoked after just a few miles, it wasn’t “under filled”, it was empty.

 

[viking]

The service “writer” is covering for the goons’ idiocy. The ticket plainly says he(?) drained the diff “fluid”. If it smoked after just a few miles, it wasn’t “under filled”, it was empty.

This is EXACTLY what I told my wife. It wasn't a "misread" it was bone dry.

 

[Flyman]

As a person who manages skilled union labor for a living, I would love to have been a fly on the wall for the interaction between technician and service manager. I can't imagine that the conversation was pleasant.

 

[FORZDA3]

As a person who manages skilled union labor for a living, I would love to have been a fly on the wall for the interaction between technician and service manager. I can't imagine that the conversation was pleasant.

The real shame is that the technicians are likely relatively new because the self-motivated auto repair techs are aging out and replaced with these unfortunate young people who grew up with idiots for parents and teachers who trained them on nothing other than how to be a victim. At least these people trying to work for a living, but they lack the life skills.

Also, the flat-rate pay system is seriously broken, so to make more money the techs are in such a rush to get the job done and out of their bay that simple things are forgotten. It’s a vicious, insidious circle that destroys itself.