24S04 – Missing or Improperly Torqued Strut Bolt – 2023 Ford Explorer

February 8, 2024 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 24V091000

Fastener Connecting Knuckle and Strut May Be Loose

A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Additionally, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulting in a brake fluid leak and a loss of braking ability. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V091

Manufacturer FordeBay logo Motor Company

Components SUSPENSION, STEERING

Potential Number of Units Affected 118

 

Summary

FordeBay logo Motor Company (FordeBay logo) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles. The right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the fasteners, and tighten or install them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 04, 2024. Owners may contact FordeBay logo customer service at 1-866-436-7332. FordeBay logo’s number for this recall is 24S04.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

 


February 12, 2024

NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD
Safety Recall 24S04
Certain 2023 Model Year Explorer
Missing or Improperly Torqued Strut Bolt

 

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Vehicle Model Year Assembly Plant Build Dates
Explorer2023Chicago Assembly PlantDecember 19, 2023

US population of affected vehicles: 118. Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.

 

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

In some of the affected vehicles, the right front lower knuckle-to-strut fastener may be missing or improperly torqued.

 

SERVICE ACTION

Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to inspect for the presence of the right front knuckle-to-strut fasteners. If the fasteners are present, dealers will check that the fasteners are torqued to the proper specification.  If fasteners are missing or improperly torqued, new fasteners will be installed and torqued according to specification. This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner. For new vehicle storage guidelines, refer to EFC13033, Storage Guidelines for New Vehicles.

To assist vehicle owners to have this repair completed when parts are available, dealers should:

  • Arrange for a mobile repair at the owner’s location, or:
  • Arrange to pick up the owner’s vehicle and drive it to the dealership for repairs (rentals are authorized – see Rental Vehicles) o Re-deliver the owner’s vehicle after repairs have been completed.
  • Pick-Up & Delivery, towing and mobile service should be made available for all customers. Refer to the Rental and Claiming sections for further details.

 

OWNER NOTIFICATION AND MAILING SCHEDULE

Owner letters are expected to be mailed the week of March 4, 2024. Dealers should repair any affected vehicles that arrive at their dealerships, whether or not the customer has received a letter.

PLEASE NOTE:

Federal law requires dealers to complete this recall service before a new vehicle is delivered to the buyer or lessee. Violation of this requirement by a dealer could result in a civil penalty of up to $27,168 per vehicle. Correct all vehicles in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.

 

MOBILE SERVICE REPAIR ASSESSMENT LEVEL

  • All repairs in this program have the following assessment level.

– Enhanced Mobile Service

 

MOBILE REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Confirm with the customer a mobile repair is feasible.
  • Check OASIS before going to the customer’s home or business to confirm if any other outstanding FSA needs to be completed.
  • Transportation – due to the simplicity of this repair, a specialty vehicle is not required.

 

MOBILE REPAIR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please ensure the technician brings the following to the mobile repair destination:

  • Printed Technical Instructions.
  • Printed Repair/Work Order or any other necessary documentation as customer copy(s). o Documents could also be emailed to the customer.
  • Shirt/uniform and vehicle graphic with the dealership or Ford logos are recommended.
  • Recommended specialty tools: minimum two people required, floor jack, and jack stands.

 

SOLD VEHICLES

  • Ford has not issued instructions to stop selling/delivering or driving used vehicles under this safety recall. Owners should contact their dealers for an appointment to have their vehicles remedied as soon as practicable.
  • Immediately contact any of your affected customers whose vehicles are not on your VIN list but are identified in OASIS. Give the customer a copy of the Owner Notification Letter (when available) and schedule a service date.
  • Correct other affected vehicles identified in OASIS which are brought to your dealership.
  • Dealers are to prioritize repairs of customer vehicles over repairs of new and used vehicle inventory.

 

STOCK VEHICLES

  • Correct all affected units in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.
  • Use OASIS to identify any affected vehicles in your used vehicle inventory.

 

DEALER-OPERATED RENTAL VEHICLES

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act law effective June 2016 prohibits a rental company from selling, renting, or leasing vehicles subject to a safety or compliance recall. Please consult your legal counsel for legal advice.

 

BRANDED / SALVAGED TITLE VEHICLES

Affected branded / salvaged title vehicles are eligible for this recall.

 

OWNER REFUNDS

  • This safety recall must still be performed, even if the owner has paid for a previous repair. Claiming a refund will not close the recall on the vehicle.
  • Ford Motor Company is offering a refund for owner-paid repairs covered by this recall if the repair was performed before the date indicated in the reimbursement plan, which is posted with this bulletin. Owners are directed to seek reimbursement through authorized dealers or, at their option, directly through Ford Motor Company at PO Box 6251, Dearborn, MI 48121-6251.
  • Dealers are also pre-approved to refund owner-paid emergency repairs that were performed away from an authorized servicing dealer after the end date specified in the reimbursement plan. Non-covered repairs, or those judged by Ford to be excessive, will not be reimbursed.
  • Refunds will only be provided for the cost associated with damage caused from loose or missing front right hand strut bolt.

 

RENTAL VEHICLES

With proper dealer parts ordering and service appointment scheduling, rental vehicles should not be required. However, if you have a unique owner circumstance that may require a rental vehicle, please contact the SSSC via the SSSC Web Contact Site.

 

TOWING

If towing is required, dealers are authorized to claim up to a maximum value of $250 to provide towing services for this program.

 

PICK-UP & DELIVERY- Participating Dealers

Dealers participating in the Remote Experience Program:

  • Ford Dealers – Refer to EFC14125, 2024 Remote Experience Program, Pick-Up & Delivery Offset section for additional details.

 

PICK-UP & DELIVERY- Non-participating Dealers

Ford Dealers not participating in the 2024 Remote Experience Program for Pick-Up & Delivery are authorized to claim unique services for completing this program.

  • Dealers are authorized to claim one-half labor hour per repair for vehicle Pick-Up & Delivery services. Refer to Labor Allowances for details.
  • Dealers must retain a Vehicle Pick-Up & Delivery Record with the repair order documentation.

 

PARTS REQUIREMENTS / ORDERING INFORMATION

Part Number  Description Order Quantity
W715932-S439Strut Bolt1
W520517-S440Strut Bolt Nut1

 

Less than 10% of the affected vehicle population is expected to require a strut bolt and nut replacement.

 


CERTAIN 2023 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER VEHICLES — RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLE-TO-STRUT BOLT INSPECTION

SERVICE PROCEDURE

NOTE: If you do not have the special tools referenced in the Workshop Manual (WSM) to perform the FSA repair, please contact 1-800 ROTUNDA and choose option 3 to place an order.

1. Remove right hand (RH) front tire. Follow the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures in Section 204-04A.

2. Inspect the front knuckle-to-strut bolts on the RH sides of the vehicle. See Figure 1. Is either of the front knuckle-to-strut bolts missing?

YES – Proceed to Step 4.

NO – Proceed to Step 3.

 

NOTE: Do not attempt to torque the bolt head as the bolt is splined.

3. Using a clicker or digital type torque wrench set at 166 lb.ft (225 Nm), check the torque of the RH front knuckle-to-strut bolts nuts. See Figure 2. Did either of the front lower strut nuts move before the torque wrench actuated?

YES – Remove and discard the affected front knuckle-to-strut bolts bolt(s) and nut(s). Proceed to Step 4.

NO – Install the RH front tire. Follow the WSM procedures in Section 204-04A. This completes the FSA.

 

4. Inspect around the outside area and inside of the wheel knuckle-to-lower strut bolt hole(s) with the affected bolt(s). See Figure 3, Was there any sign of damage to the wheel knuckle-to-lower strut bolt hole(s)?

YES – Submit a photo of the damage to the wheel knuckle-to-lower strut bolt hole(s) and contact the Special Service Support Center (SSSC).

NO – Proceed to Step 5.

NOTE: Bottom bolt shown, upper bolt similar.

 

NOTE: The new bolt being installed could be either the top, bottom or both depending on the inspection results from prior steps.

5. Install the new front lower strut bolt(s) and nut(s). See Figure 4.

  • Torque: 166 lb.ft (225 Nm)

 

 

6. Install the RH front tire. Follow the WSM procedures in Section 204-04A. This completes the FSA.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Federal law prohibits selling motor vehicle parts or components that are under safety, compliance, or emissions recall. Unless a part is requested to be returned to Ford, all parts replaced under this FSA must be scrapped in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal environmental protection and hazardous material regulations. Refer to the Parts Retention, Return, & Scrapping section of the FSA dealer bulletin for further information.

 

 


Chronology :

On January 9, 2024, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into a report of a missing fastener attaching the knuckle-to-strut on a 2023 MY Explorer vehicle. The Plant Vehicle Team (PVT) at the Chicago Assembly Plant (CAP) identified this issue during a daily warranty claim review. Ford confirmed the primary double spindle fixture tool which secures the right front knuckle-to-strut fasteners was offline for repairs for 121 Explorer rotations on December 19, 2023. Of the 121 Explorer rotations, Ford confirmed the fasteners were in place for 2 vehicles and 1 vehicle was fixed at the dealer. CCRG confirmed that this backup tool process did not affect Aviator vehicles because those vehicles do not utilize the same knuckle-to-strut joint and a different process is used to secure the right front corner.

As of January 24, 2024, Ford is aware of one warranty claim related to this concern. Ford has not identified any VOQs related to this condition.

On February 2, 2024, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.

 


1 Affected Product

Vehicle

MAKEMODELYEAR
FORDEXPLORER2023

 


3 Associated Documents

Recall 573 Report

RCLRPT-24V091-8744.PDF 215.427KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-24V091-2719.pdf 645.566KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-24V091-8663.pdf 1248.975KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most recent Recall Information Visit the link below…

 


 

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