More than one Blue Oval model has been recalled for detaching trim in recent years, including the 2019 Ford Flex, as well as the 2016-2017 Ford Explorer. The Explorer, specifically, experienced an issue where the driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving, which can cause a road hazard and potentially increase the risk of a crash, as one would expect. Now, however, it seems like later versions of the Ford Explorer are dealing with another part that may separate itself from the vehicle as well.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into select 2020 Ford Explorer models after it received a complaint that underbody shields present on those models may be defective. According to the complaint, those plastic shields may experience premature degradation and detach from the vehicle, which could potentially cause them to become road debris and increase the risk of a crash.
While the NHTSA hasn’t opened a formal investigation as of yet, its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a defect investigation into the underbody shields used on the 2020 Ford Explorer, and as such it has opened a defect petition to evaluate the issue and determine whether to grant or deny it. Thus, we’ll have to wait and see if the results of that query are enough to open a formal investigation or even potentially lead to a recall, which remains a possibility pending the results.
The aforementioned recall for earlier Ford Explorer models was issued after some owners did experience B-pillar trim detachment, and impacts 492,145 total vehicles built at the Chicago Assembly Plant between June 11th, 2015, and April 19th, 2017. Issued back in June, Ford hasn’t yet come up with a remedy for that particular problem. In the case of the Flex, ODI opened an investigation after receiving five customer complaints alleging that the B-pillar trim pieces on those vehicles became detached while in motion.
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Also need to start one on the piece of crap fiber board shield under the F-150’s with the 3.5 Ecoboost engines. This has to be removed every time the oil filter is changed, and after five or six changes or before, it breaks were the bolts go through to hold it in place. It then hangs down and gets caught and torn off once it breaks.
$120.00 for a new one, have had to replace mine twice!
Dealers keep these in stock, wonder why!