On 1/11/2026 while was driving vehicle started making screeching sound. Stopped vehicle and a bolt came off from the rear arm of vehicle and unit was towed for service, which at this moment Ford dealer claimed could not not find any recall notice on file. After researching the internet came across recall 21S11 re Rear Lower Control Arm Bolts May Break announced 3/10/2021.
2020 Ford Explorer: ball joint or control arm failure
5 of the 1,254 complaints about the 2020 Ford Explorer describe ball joint or control arm failure.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 0%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 5 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Ball joint or control arm failure by model year
What owners say
recall in 2022 on rear bolts breaking was done bolts was replace. how ever new bolts are breakng as well, and dealership has put out report but only if rear bolts brake at this time u wreck the car , note two cars has crash do this when i ask they said the not replace them unless they break this incluedes bolts in upper and lower control arms, and related compontents, now why would say replace the bolts but wait untill they break makes no sence to me as total loss control can happen bolts should be replace with stanless steel , mettle wont rust or seze up , my resuch pulled up 5 car crashs all was hurt no one died so what must happen dose people neeed die , ? this must be taken care of asap cars are not safe , and this leads me to bigger probem front end uses same bolts yeat we have no idea how many bolts was replaced and never documented,
The passenger side lower control arm broke in half while backing out of a parking spot at a low rate of speed, not turning very deep.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing there was an abnormal bumping sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to drive forward after the failure. The tow truck was called to the scene; however, while lifting the vehicle onto the tow truck it was discovered that the front passenger’s side control arm had fractured. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Ball joint worked itself loose and the bolt connecting the wheel to the control arm fell out. As a result, the wheel concaved and posed a serious risk of loss of control, crash and injury to vehicle occupants and other drivers.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The rear lower control arm (RLCA) bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the wheel knuckles may not have been heat-treated, which could cause them to break.
- Risk
- Broken RLCA bolts can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace both RLCA bolts, free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S11.
Recall number 21V154000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2020 Ford Explorer ball joint
Is ball joint or control arm failure a common problem on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
5 of 1,254 owner complaints about the 2020 Ford Explorer (0%) mention ball joint or control arm failure. The model year with the most reports is 1995.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
There is 1 recall and 5 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2020 Ford Explorer
Jerking 130Backup camera 104Transmission failure 84Harsh shifting 65Headlights 56Collision warning 54Loss of power 49Check engine light 44Stalling 43Grinding brakes 30Won't shift 29Engine failure 23Hesitation 23Slipping 21Adaptive cruise 19Screen failure 18Fuel smell 17ABS 16Door locks 16Fire or smoke 14Overheating 13Warning lights 13Knocking 11Lane assist 11Whining noise 11Rollaway 10Sudden acceleration 9Won't start 9Key fob 8Water leak 8Wipers 8Brake failure 7Shudder 6Sunroof shattered 6Fuel pump 5Power steering loss 5
VIN decoder
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