TSB SSM-54809 — Ford Service bulletin

SSM-54809 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for the Ford Explorer, 2024–2025 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

What the bulletin says. Some 20242025 Explorer vehicles built on 01-Feb-2024 and through 31-Jul-2024 may exhibit a rattle/clunk/knock noise from the front suspension at low speeds between 830 mph (1348 km/h) over harsh/uneven pavement such as cracks and small bumps while driving straight (not while…

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

1Document filed
1Vehicle named
2Model years

Vehicles and model years SSM-54809 names

VehicleModel years
Ford Explorer 2024, 2025

Every document filed under SSM-54809

Document IDFiledType
SSM 54809 May 7, 2026 Service bulletin

What SSM-54809 covers

Suspension — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.

← All Ford Explorer TSB years TSB lookup by model

Questions buyers ask

What is TSB SSM-54809?

SSM-54809 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford, covering the Ford Explorer across the 2024–2025 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: Some 20242025 Explorer vehicles built on 01-Feb-2024 and through 31-Jul-2024 may exhibit a rattle/clunk/knock noise from the front suspension at low speeds between 830 mph (1348 km/h) over harsh/uneven pavement such as cracks and small bumps while driving straight (not while…

Which vehicles does SSM-54809 cover?

NHTSA's file names Ford Explorer (2024–2025). 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 SSM-54809 a recall, and is the repair free?

No. SSM-54809 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 SSM-54809?

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 SSM-54809, 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 SSM-54809. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.