Ford ignored a known safety hazard for years, now half a million Explorer owners face potential danger from flying door trim that could injure other motorists or cause crashes.
Key Takeaways
- Ford is recalling 492,145 Explorer SUVs from 2016-2017 model years due to door trim that can detach while driving and create hazards for other vehicles
- The company was aware of the issue since 2019 but initially dismissed it as not being a safety concern
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) forced Ford to take action after receiving numerous owner complaints
- No accidents or injuries have been reported yet, but Ford still lacks a solution and is notifying owners starting June 9
Another Government-Mandated Recall After Corporate Negligence
In a development that raises serious questions about Ford’s commitment to consumer safety, the American auto giant is being forced to recall nearly half a million Explorer SUVs after initially ignoring a serious safety defect for years. The recall affects 492,145 Ford Explorers manufactured between June 11, 2015, and April 19, 2017, specifically targeting 2016-2017 model years. The issue involves door trim panels that can detach while the vehicle is in motion, creating dangerous road hazards for drivers, passengers, and other motorists sharing the road.
Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified the problem as an “unreasonable risk to safety,” declared by Ford. in their official documentation. The agency had to pressure Ford into action after receiving numerous owner complaints about the dangerous defect. The problem stems from improper adhesion methods used during manufacturing, causing the B-pillar trim to detach unexpectedly while driving. This demonstrates yet another example of regulatory agencies having to force large corporations to address safety concerns they’d prefer to ignore.
“unreasonable risk to safety,” according to the NHTSA report.
Years of Awareness, Delayed Action
Perhaps most concerning in this situation is that Ford has reportedly been aware of this defect since 2019 but did not consider it a safety risk worth addressing. It took the intervention of federal safety regulators to finally force the company’s hand, exposing a troubling pattern of corporate negligence regarding customer safety. Only after the NHTSA prompted further investigation in March 2025, following a flood of owner complaints, did Ford finally acknowledge the severity of the problem and initiate the recall process.
“Ford is recalling nearly half a million older Explorer models because part of the door trim can detach while driving and cause a dangerous road hazard, U.S. auto safety regulators said Wednesday,” according to U.S. auto safety regulators.
No Solution Yet for Affected Owners
Despite finally acknowledging the problem, Ford still doesn’t have a fix ready for the nearly 500,000 affected vehicles. The company plans to notify owners starting June 9, but only to inform them that a problem exists – not to provide an actual solution. Ford claims that once a remedy is developed, the repairs will be conducted free of charge at Ford and Lincoln dealerships. The NHTSA has assigned recall number 25V347 to the case, while Ford’s internal recall number is 25S53.
While no accidents or injuries have been reported yet from this specific defect, the potential for harm remains significant. A piece of door trim suddenly detaching at highway speeds could easily startle drivers of other vehicles or cause accidents if drivers swerve to avoid the debris. This recall follows other recent Ford safety issues, including problems with airbags in Maverick models, suggesting potential systemic quality control issues at the American automaker that deserve greater scrutiny.
