Ford Explorer Rear Axle Bolt Recall: Used 2020-2022 Buyer Checklist

If you are buying a used 2020-2022 Ford Explorer, check the VIN for recall 23V-675 (Ford 23S55) and confirm the dealer replaced the rear axle bolt and subframe bushing, not just loaded a software update. The rear axle mounting bolt can snap and let the driveshaft disconnect, which can mean a loss of drive power or the SUV rolling away in Park if the parking brake is not set.

The confusing part is the history. Ford handled this problem with a couple of earlier field actions before the October 2023 recall, and some of those fixes addressed the rollaway risk without fixing the bolt itself. So an Explorer with a "recall done" receipt can still be open on the one that matters.

What the recall covers

NHTSA's acknowledgment of recall 23V-675 lists 238,364 Ford Explorers from model years 2020-2022. The problem description is short: the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect. A disconnected driveshaft can lead to a loss of drive power, or a rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, and either one raises the crash risk.

The fix is mechanical. Dealers replace the subframe bushing and the rear axle bolt, inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if it is damaged. Repairs are free. Ford's own number for this one is 23S55, and owner letters were scheduled to start going out November 6, 2023.

Why an earlier fix may not count

Ford's chronology filed with NHTSA explains how this got layered. In April 2022, Ford approved field action 22S27 on certain 2020-2022 Explorers. For many retail versions, the fix was a powertrain software update that sets the electronic parking brake when the driver selects Park. Certain police versions with a cable-operated park brake got a modified bushing instead. In March 2023, another action, 23S16, went after vehicles that had received an erroneous version of that software.

NHTSA was not satisfied. Its Office of Defects Investigation opened a recall query, RQ 23-002, in June 2023, noting that the software kept vehicles from rolling away but that there was no safety remedy for the failed bolt itself. NHTSA cited complaints of loss of motive power in 2021 Explorers that had already been remedied. Ford then reassessed and, in its words, vehicles from 22S27 that did not get a new bushing, plus certain additional powertrain versions, were folded into the new recall. Ford said it knew of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, with fewer than 5 percent resulting in a roll-in-park or loss of motive power, and no reports of crashes or injuries.

So if the seller hands you a 2022 receipt for a software update, that is the old fix. You want the 23S55 work.

How to check a specific Explorer

Run the VIN through NHTSA and Ford's owner site; our Ford recall check by VIN post shows both. Then:

• Ask for the repair order showing 23S55, with the date and mileage. It should mention the bushing and bolt.
• If the only paperwork says 22S27 or 23S16, treat 23S55 as unconfirmed until the VIN lookup shows it closed.
• Ask whether the axle cover was replaced. If it was, the old bolt may have already been damaging the area, which tells you something about how the car was used.
• For ex-police Explorers, ask the selling agency or auction for fleet service records. Those vehicles got a different early fix.

Our guide on verifying a completed recall helps with reading those repair orders.

Symptoms on the test drive

Ford's chronology says customer reports suggest a driver would usually get extreme noise, vibration and harshness before losing drive power, and NHTSA's query mentions severe noise and vibration too. That is useful for a buyer. On a test drive, listen for clunking from the rear when you shift between Drive and Reverse, a vibration that grows with speed, or a grinding or banging sound from under the back of the vehicle. Any of that on an Explorer with an open recall is a reason to stop the drive, not to keep going.

Park on a slight incline and check that the car holds in Park with the brake released, but only if you are comfortable doing it safely and the seller agrees. Our used car test drive checklist covers the rest of a careful drive.

Is the recall fix itself a problem?

Not that I can see from the filings. The 23S55 remedy replaces hardware rather than masking the failure, which is what NHTSA pushed for in its recall query. The bigger risk for a buyer in November 2026 is simply a car that never went back to the dealer. Recall letters go to whoever is on the registration at the time, and on a three-to-five-year-old SUV that may be two owners back from the person selling to you.

Pricing and the history report

An Explorer with the 23S55 work done and receipts is a normal used SUV. One with an open recall is still buyable since the repair is free, but I would make the sale contingent on the dealer doing it, or at least budget the hassle. One with only the old software fix and a seller who insists it is fine is the one I would be most careful with. See the used Ford Explorer buying guide for the rest of this generation's weak spots.

A history report often lists dealer service visits, which can back up a recall repair, along with accidents, title brands and fleet or police use. As an authorized reseller, CarVins provides CARFAX and AutoCheck reports, but we are not owned by or partnered with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian, and nobody offers the full official versions for free. Our price is typically a few dollars against a much higher retail price, though numbers can shift, so confirm at checkout. If the axle work was done at a non-Ford shop, the report may not show it.

Sources

• NHTSA: Recall acknowledgment 23V-675, 2020-2022 Ford Explorer
• NHTSA: Ford chronology for FSA 23S55, rear axle bolt fractures
• NHTSA ODI: Recall Query RQ 23-002, rear axle bolt failure
• AP News: Ford recall affects over 238,000 2020-2022 Explorers