2021-2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid Axle Recall (22V255)
Ford Motor Company · 252,936 vehicles · Reported April 14, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 252,936 2021-2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2021 Ford Explorer Intercept Hybrid; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer PHEV; 2021 Ford Explorer Police Intercept vehicles. 3L, and 2020-2022 Explorer 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3L FHEV, and 3.0L ST GAS vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect. A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in 'Park' without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V255 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V255000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22S27 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 14, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2021 Ford Explorer Intercept Hybrid; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer PHEV; 2021 Ford Explorer Police Intercept |
| Units affected | 252,936 |
| Component | Power Train > Axle Assembly |
| Safety risk | A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in 'Park' without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid in recall 22V255?
3L, and 2020-2022 Explorer 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3L FHEV, and 3.0L ST GAS vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer Police FHEV, Explorer Police 3.3L, and 2020-2022 Explorer 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3L FHEV, and 3.0L ST GAS vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Explorer Hybrid with recall 22V255?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in 'Park' without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in 'Park' without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Explorer Hybrid shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the axle assembly, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V255?
Recall 22V255 covers 252,936 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2021 Ford Explorer Intercept Hybrid; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer PHEV; 2021 Ford Explorer Police Intercept.
NHTSA lists 252,936 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Explorer Hybrid |
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer Intercept Hybrid |
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Explorer PHEV |
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer Police Intercept |
What is the fix for the Explorer Hybrid axle recall?
Yes. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the bushing and axle cover, or update the electronic parking brake software.
Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the bushing and axle cover, or update the electronic parking brake software. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2022, and March 10, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S27.
When was recall 22V255 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V255 to NHTSA on April 14, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 9, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 14, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V255000. |
| June 9, 2022 | Interim owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
| June 9, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 54 months ago. If your Explorer Hybrid was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer Hybrid is part of recall 22V255?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V255 is open on your Explorer Hybrid, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V255000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Explorer Hybrid owners do about recall 22V255?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V255000 applies to your Explorer Hybrid.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the axle assembly happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Explorer Hybrid owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the transmission.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the transmission have been filed since recall 22V255 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 9 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid: 7 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
- 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Explorer Police Intercept: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2022 Ford Explorer PHEV: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Explorer PHEV: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Explorer Intercept Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
A Police Officer's Ford Explorer Interceptor Hybrid SUV while driving had a vehicle malfunction where the rear wheels began to wobble/vibrate and while driving in a straight line with front wheels facing straight caused the vehicle to fishtail out of the control (loss of control to the rear wheels) and slam into a tree at…
2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11556088, filed November 20, 2023
Can recall 22V255 make my Explorer Hybrid a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Explorer Hybrid went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Explorer Hybrid been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer Hybrid recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V255
Is the 22V255000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 9, 2022.
How do I know if my Explorer Hybrid is part of recall 22V255000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V255000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.