While Ford repeatedly bleats for better quality, its SUV continues to rack up recalls. Today, the National Highway Traffic Administration announced an investigation that indicates another recall is on the way. NHTSA is looking into windshield trim panels that peel off at higher speeds. Includes 2011 thru 2019 Explorers.
Why were there so many problems with the Ford Explorer from the very beginning?
No recalls have been called, yet. And Ford is complying as always. But the Explorer, in particular, is leading the charge of recalling the Blue Oval. And that’s not counting the early Explorers of 2019.
, an improvement over the previous year. And last year Ford improved slightly with just . So at the end of 2022, the Explorer gets a thumbs down with a total of 26 recalls.
Is Ford losing money?
But with this latest survey, it looks like 2023 is starting off just like previous years. Ford had the most automakers in 2021. It did the same in 2022, affecting 8.6 cars and trucks. A recall last week involves nearly 400,000 Lincoln Aviator and Corsair Explorer and SUVs. So 2023 kicked off with a new Explorer recall, with the latter possibility looming.
Unfortunately, Ford is facing a myriad of problems. In addition to the recall’s hit parade, its net income fell 90% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Its profits have remained flat for two consecutive years at approximately $10+ billion. It lost $2.2 billion in 2022. A combination of writedowns and ongoing supply chain problems are to blame.
However, its long-term debt has dropped from more than $100 billion to $88.4 in 2021. However, the recalls have cost the company billions. And they also affect its reputation among consumers. ranks 18 of 24 brands for reliability in 2022. Both the Explorer and the F-150 PowerBoost hybrid ranked low in reliability ratings.
