Sahar Nicolette  |  May 10, 2021

Category: Auto News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Recall has been made on Ford Explorer SUV vehicles due to a roof rail defect.
(Photo Credit: jetcityimage2/DepositPhotos.com)

Hundreds of thousands of Ford Explorer SUVs are being recalled over a defect that could result in roof rails detaching while driving. 

The recall affects 661,000 2016 through 2019 SUVs, 620,483 of which were sold in the United States, NBC Philadelphia reports. The vehicles have silver, black and absolute black roof rail covers.

Ford does not currently face legal action over the recalled vehicles, but Top Class Actions tracks recalls because they sometimes end in class action lawsuits. 

In documents posted Sunday, the automaker stated that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had first enquired about the issue in April 2020. The issue was then brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG), and it was determined that the issue did not present a high enough risk to motor vehicle safety to conduct a recall, due to the low chances of the roof rail detaching.

Ford then shared the CCRG’s recommendations with NHTSA and advised the agency that it would provide a customer satisfaction program to approve customers who experienced the issue outside of warranty period with a one-time repair.

In November 2020 Ford stated that it was extending the one-time repair warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. 

After actively monitoring the issue for a few months, Ford agreed to a recall requested by NHTSA in April 2021. 

According to a request made by Ford, warranty analysis showed a lower rate of detachment for roof rails with plated covers and the company asked if vehicles with plated covers could be excluded from the recall. This request was not addressed by NHTSA in Sunday’s report, however.

Ford stated it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect, according to the defect notice. 

Ford will notify owners of the recalled vehicles the week beginning June 28.

In addition to the 620,483 vehicles that have been recalled in the United States, another 36,419 have been recalled in Canada and 4,260 in Mexico.

In recent years Ford has been at the forefront of controversy and consumer complaints regarding faulty vehicles.

In April this year, a nationwide class action lawsuit claimed that Ford knowingly advertised and sold vehicles suffering from a “dangerously defective and unreliable tailgate latch system.”

Are you the owner of a Ford Explorer SUV that has experienced issues? Let us know in the comment section below.


Don’t Miss Out!

Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!


Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

3 thoughts onFord Recalls 661,000 Explorer SUVs Over Potential Roof Rail Defect

  1. WILLIE STOKES says:

    PLEASE ADD ME

  2. Jodie Lynn Shultz says:

    What the recall years

  3. LISA HAWKINS says:

    Add me please

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.