Up to a quarter million Ford Explorers recalled for rollaway risk

Up to a quarter million Ford Explorers are being recalled due to a mechanical problem that can cause the SUV to roll away while it’s parked, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Rivian electric truck logo is seen on a parked vehicle near the Nasdaq MarketSite building in Times Square on November 10, 2021 in New York City. Rivian, an electric truck maker backed by Amazon and Ford, made its debut at Nasdaq going public with an IPO valued at close to $70 billion with 153,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at a public offering price of $78.00 per share.

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The document said a bolt in the rear axle mounting could fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of the vehicle accidentally rolling away while parked when the parking brake is not on.

Affected vehicles include various 2020-2022 Explorer models, including the Explorer Hybrid and Explorer Plug-In Hybrid. Some 2020-2021 Explorer Police Interceptor SUV and hybrid models are also affected by the recall.

The NHTSA said dealers will replace any necessary parts or update the electronic parking brake software free of charge. Owners are expected to be notified through the mail beginning on June 6.

Ford did not immediately respond for a request for comment.