Manufacturer recall number

Ford recall 21S32

Q: Is 21S32 the same recall as 21V537000?

Yes. 21S32 is Ford’s own number for it; 21V537000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Ford calls it 21S32. NHTSA filed it as campaign 21V537000 on Jul 15, 2021: suspension on the 2016–2017 Ford Explorer, 631,176 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 21V537000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA Ford’s own VIN lookup →

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
21V537000	2016–2017 Ford Explorer	Suspension	Jul 15, 2021	631,176	high

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link. Risk A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 21V537000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. 21S32 is the number Ford assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 21V537000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Ford’s own VIN lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is 21S32 the same recall as 21V537000?

Yes. 21S32 is Ford’s own number for it; 21V537000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does 21S32 cover?

2016–2017 Ford Explorer, 631,176 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the 21S32 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.