Feb. 1, 2023–The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a safety probe into more than 1.8 million 2011-2019 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles over reports of windshield trim panels detaching on the highway, Reuters reports.
According to over 160 complaints filed with the NHTSA, the trim piece would detach and fly behind the Ford, hitting vehicles following and causing the other driver to become startled, disoriented, and “momentarily lose control of the vehicle.”
Many that have been affected by the issue have reported having to repair the trim panels more than once. A driver in Placentia, California sent a complaint in August 2022 that the “right front exterior pillar trim” came off their vehicle and flew into traffic behind them. The repair cost $500 to complete.
NHTSA has notified Ford of the safety probe. They have said that they plan to comply with their investigation, “as we always do.”
