TSB 21R02 — Ford Service bulletin

21R02 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for the Ford Explorer, 2011–2013 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

What the bulletin says. Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in…

NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.

1Document filed
1Vehicle named
3Model years

Vehicles and model years 21R02 names

VehicleModel years
Ford Explorer 2011, 2012, 2013

Every document filed under 21R02

Document IDFiledType
21R02 November 4, 2022 Service bulletin

What 21R02 covers

Suspension — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.

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Questions buyers ask

What is TSB 21R02?

21R02 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford, covering the Ford Explorer across the 2011–2013 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in…

Which vehicles does 21R02 cover?

NHTSA's file names Ford Explorer (2011–2013). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.

Is TSB 21R02 a recall, and is the repair free?

No. 21R02 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.

How do I get the full text of 21R02?

Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under 21R02, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.

Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under 21R02. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.