🚨 Ford Recalls 492,145 Explorers for Loose B‑Pillar Door Trim
On June 10, 2025, Ford announced a major safety recall (NHTSA 25V347, Ford internal 25S53) involving nearly 492,000 model-year 2016–2017 Explorers. The issue? Exterior B‑pillar door trim on the driver and front passenger sides may come loose or detach while driving—potentially creating dangerous road debris
🔍 Deep Dive: What’s Causing This?
Defect: Insufficient adhesive during assembly, introduced into production starting June 2015. Ford upgraded the assembly process in April 2017
Prevalence: About 4% of the affected Explorers exhibit the defect.
Safety Risk: Detached trim could become a roadway hazard. Though no accidents or injuries have been reported, the potential for causing a crash remains
🛠️ What Ford Is Doing
Owner Notification: Ford began sending letters on June 9, 2025, alerting owners of involved vehicles
Repair Plan: At no cost, dealerships will inspect and properly re-secure the door trim once a remedy is finalized, with details to follow in a second notice.
⚖️ Key Takeaways for California Owners
If your Explorer is a 2016 or 2017 model, here’s what to do:
Check for recall: Ford notifications are being mailed, but you can also verify your VIN on [Ford’s site] or the NHTSA recall lookup
Schedule a free repair: Once the remedy is ready, Ford will fix the trim at no charge.
Document everything: Save copies of communications and repair records—especially if you're experiencing repeated trim failures or related issues.
Monitor for damages: Detached trim can cause scenery damage or injuries to other road users. Document any incidents.
Know your rights: While the recall covers the fix, if the defect led to property damage or injury, you may be entitled to compensation under California’s Lemon Law or tort law.