Recall 20V072 covers 211,207 2013-2018 Ford Flex, Taurus and Mkt vehicles for rear toe-link fractures. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 211,207 2013-2018 Flex, Taurus, and Lincoln Mkt vehicles with Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack equipment because rear suspension toe links can fracture under stress. A fractured toe link causes a sudden change in vehicle handling and increases crash risk; Ford dealers will replace the toe links free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear suspension toe link on 2013-2018 Ford Flex, Taurus, and Mkt vehicles is a metal link that helps hold each rear wheel at the correct angle. That angle is called toe, and it keeps the rear tires tracking straight as the suspension moves over bumps and through turns. The link has to carry those loads without bending or cracking.
On affected vehicles, the recalled toe link uses a welded design. Under high stress from full rear suspension movement, the link can fatigue inboard of the turnbuckle, the threaded adjuster used for alignment. Repeated reverse bending at that area can lead to a fracture, which lets the rear wheel move out of its intended position.
There is no warning sign before failure. A vehicle that feels unstable, pulls, or has a rear wheel that no longer tracks straight needs dealer attention before more driving.
Who's affected?
Spans Ford Flex, Ford Taurus, and Lincoln Mkt vehicles across six model years, all tied to the rear suspension.
| 2013 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
|---|---|
| 2013 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2013 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| 2014 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
| 2014 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2014 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| 2015 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2015 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
| 2015 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| 2016 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
| 2016 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2016 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| 2017 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
| 2017 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2017 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| 2018 Ford Flex | rear suspension |
| 2018 Ford Taurus | rear suspension |
| 2018 Lincoln Mkt | rear suspension |
| Units affected | 211,207 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 6 field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A fractured rear toe link causes a sudden change in vehicle handling and increases the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so treat this as a repair to schedule soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2013-2018 Ford or Lincoln vehicle, including Flex, Taurus, or Mkt, is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free rear toe-link replacement that fixes the fracture risk in the rear suspension.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one, or reference recall number 20V072 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete; a fractured rear toe link can cause a sudden change in handling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the rear suspension toe links covered by the recall. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Ford's remedy is open, so owners can work with a franchised dealer to complete the toe link replacement. If you already paid for this repair before the recall notice, Ford's standard reimbursement plan covers eligible documented costs. Bring repair paperwork and receipts to the service desk when you ask about reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| February 10, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 11, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| February 11, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 2, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 28, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V072?
Recall 20V072 covers 211,207 2013-2018 Ford Flex, Taurus, and Mkt vehicles with rear suspension toe links that can fracture from stress on the rear suspension. A fractured toe link causes a sudden handling change and increases crash risk. Ford dealers replace the rear toe links for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2018 Ford Flex, Taurus, or Mkt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V072. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule rear suspension toe link replacement. Reference recall 20V072 or Ford recall number 20S04 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford's remedy states that dealers replace the rear suspension toe links free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a sudden change in vehicle handling if a rear suspension toe link fractures. That handling change increases the risk of a crash. If your VIN is included, arrange the free dealer repair and ask the service desk what to do if the vehicle feels unstable.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the first owner, so a used 2013-2018 Ford Flex, Taurus, or Mkt still qualifies if its VIN is included. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Ford dealer with recall 20V072.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V072000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V072 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V072000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →