Ford is recalling 1.9 million Explorers
If you hear a clicking noise while driving your Ford Explorer 2011 to 2019, it may be that the windshield trim is about to come off.
For the past three years, Ford has been leading in the US in terms of recalls, and the year 2024 is starting off strong. The blue logo has to recall 1,889,110 Explorers due to a manufacturing issue that can cause the trim around the windshield to detach, posing a danger to following vehicles.
At least, that’s the position of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ford, who originally became aware of a potential issue with the A-pillar trim on fifth-generation Explorers in 2018, initially ignored the problem, believing that the detached trim pieces were so small and blunt that they did not pose a safety risk.
Similar articles:
![[Aggregator] Downloaded image for imported item #249438](https://news-dev.canadamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6a21421711ef8.image_.jpg "Over 400,000 Ford, Hyundai vehicles recalled for crash and fire risks. Is yours on the list?")
![[Aggregator] Downloaded image for imported item #249431](https://news-dev.canadamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6a21421711ef8.image_-1.jpg "Over 400,000 Ford, Hyundai vehicles recalled for crash and fire risks. Is yours on the list?")
However, in February 2023, the NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into the issue, and a few months later, Transport Canada also deemed the problem worthy of an investigation due to the inevitable danger of debris flying off vehicles at high speeds.
In November, Ford gave in and decided to recall all fifth-generation Explorers, covering model years 2011 to 2019. It is aware of 14,337 warranty reports in which owners claim to have lost trim around the windshield.
Ford believes the issue is caused by improperly engaged clip fasteners in the trim. This could be due to either being improperly installed at the factory or incorrectly reinstalled after a repair.
Fortunately, the problem should be relatively easy for an owner to detect. If the A-pillar trim is loose, it will produce an audible clicking noise, and a gap may even be visible before the piece detaches.
Ford plans to contact owners starting from March 13th and will ask them to bring their vehicle to a nearby dealer to have their A-pillar trim inspected and repaired if necessary. To prevent this issue from recurring, a new part will receive additional adhesive, and the inspection process after installation will be more thorough. The car manufacturer has also established a general reimbursement plan for owners who have paid for the repair of this problem themselves.
With information from Carscoops.
