NHTSA ID Number: 10238283
Manufacturer Communication Number: TSB 23-2181
TSB/Document Date: 2023-06-30
Summary
Some 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a lack of audio and/or a water leak in the rear liftgate area and/or water in the spare tire area. The customer may indicate that this concern is more noticeable after a car wash or rainfall. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to identify the leak path.
6/26/23, 2:46 PM
2023 Explorer
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
Lack Of Audio And/Or Water Leak In Rear Of Vehicle And/Or Spare Tire
Area
23-2181
21 June 2023
This bulletin supersedes 22-2262. Reason for update: Concern Carryover to New Model
Model:
Ford
2020-2023 Explorer
Lincoln
2020-2023 Aviator
Summary
This article supersedes TSB 22-2262 to update the service procedure, and vehicle model years affected.
Issue: Some 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a lack of audio and/or a water leak in the rear liftgate
area and/or water in the spare tire area. The customer may indicate that this concern is more noticeable after a car
wash or rainfall. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to identify the leak path.
Action: Follow the Service Procedure steps to identify the leak path on vehicles that meet all of the following criteria:
• 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator
• Lack of audio after a car wash or rainfall
• Water in the rear liftgate area and/or water in the spare tire area
Parts
Parts To Inspect And Replace Only If Necessary
Service Part
Number
Quantity Description
Unit of
Issue
Piece
Quantity
LC5Z-14B350-B
If
Aviator Power Liftgate Strut - Refer To The Parts Catalog
Needed For The VIN Specific Application
1
1
LB5Z-14B351-A
If
Power Liftgate Strut - Refer To The Parts Catalog For The
Needed VIN Specific Application
1
1
If
Audio Control Module - Refer To The Parts Catalog For
Needed The VIN Specific Application
1
1
If
Rubber Plug
Needed
4
2
18K810
W710014-S300
Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number required to repair the vehicle.
Unit of Issue refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package.
Piece Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle.
As Needed indicates the amount of the part may vary and/or is not a whole number. Parts can be billed out as nonwhole numbers, including less than 1.
If Needed indicates the part is not mandatory.
Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Service Part Warranty
(SPW)/Special Service Part (SSP)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior approvals are not
altered by a TSB. NVLW/SPW/SSP/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified
using the OASIS part coverage tool.
Labor Times
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Operation
No.
Description
2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator: Repair The Audio System And Any Water Leaks Following
The Service Procedure (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)
MT232181
Time
Actual
Time
Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part:
5827840
Condition Code: 12
Service Procedure
1. Is this an Explorer or Aviator?
(1). Explorer - proceed to the Explorer Vehicle Inspection procedure.
(2). Aviator - proceed to the Aviator Vehicle Inspection procedure.
Explorer Vehicle Inspection
1. Open the rear liftgate.
2. Inspect and make sure the following components are correctly seated by pushing:
(1). Power liftgate grommet (if equipped). If not properly seated, replace the affected power liftgate strut. (Figure 1
Callout 1, Figure 2)
(2). Margin seal and margin seal pushpins. (Figure 1 Callout 2, Figure 3 Callout 2)
(3). Electrical wiring grommet. (Figure 1 Callout 3, Figure 3 Callout 3)
(4). Rear washer hose. (Figure 1 Callout 4, Figure 3 Callout 4)
Figure 1
Item
Description
1
Power liftgate grommet (if equipped)
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
4
Figure 2
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Item
2023 Explorer
Description
1
Power liftgate grommet
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
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4
2023 Explorer
3. If a water leak is present on the right side of the vehicle, replace the audio control module (ACM).
(1). Reinstall the rain shield (if equipped) on the new ACM. The rain shield, if present, is attached to the ACM
chassis using a pushpin which can be reused.
4. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
5. Inspect the right side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected, or
missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 4-6 Callout 1) If the tape is
damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the blind spot information system (BLIS) module to make sure it is fully seated into the body.
(Figures 4-6 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 4-6 Callout 3)
Figure 4
Figure 5
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Figure 6
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2023 Explorer
6. Inspect the left side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected, or missing
items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 7-9 Callout 1) If the tape is
damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make sure it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 7-9 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 7-9 Callout 3)
Figure 7
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Figure 8
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Figure 9
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Aviator Vehicle Inspection
1. Open the rear liftgate.
2. Inspect and make sure the following components are correctly seated by pushing:
(1). Power liftgate grommet. If not properly seated, replace the affected power liftgate strut. (Figure 10 Callout 1,
Figure 11)
(2). Margin seal and margin seal pushpins. (Figure 10 Callout 2)
(3). Electrical wiring grommet. (Figure 10 Callout 3)
(4). Rear washer hose. (Figure 10 Callout 4)
Figure 10
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Item
2023 Explorer
Description
1
Power liftgate grommet
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
4
Figure 11
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2023 Explorer
3. If a water leak is present on the right side of the vehicle, replace the ACM.
(1). Reinstall the rain shield (if equipped) on the new ACM. The rain shield, if present, is attached to the ACM
chassis using a pushpin which can be reused.
4. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
5. Inspect the right side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected or
missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 12-14 Callout 1) If the tape is
damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make sure it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 12-14 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 12-14 Callout 3)
(4). Make sure the wire harness grommet for the phone as a key feature is seated or the delete tape is completely
covering the body hole. (Figures 12-14 Callout 4) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(5). BLIS grommet to module wire. (Figures 12-14 Callout 5)
Figure 12
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2023 Explorer
Figure 13
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2023 Explorer
Figure 14
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2023 Explorer
6. Inspect the left side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected or missing
items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 15-17 Callout 1) If the tape is
damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 15-17 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 15-17 Callout 3)
(4). Make sure the wire harness grommet for the phone as a key feature is seated or the delete tape is completely
covering the body hole. (Figures 15-17 Callout 4) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(5). Rear fascia wire. (Figures 15-17 Callout 5)
Figure 15
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Figure 16
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2023 Explorer
Figure 17
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2023 Explorer
© 2023 Ford Motor Company
All rights reserved.
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and
equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information
that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition
described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford or Lincoln dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy
and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article.
The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supersede
this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.
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TSB/Document ID: TSB 23-2181
Replacement Service Bulletin Number:
MFR Communication Date: 2023-06-23
MFR Internal Campaign ID/Software Version:
Communication Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
NHTSA Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
MFR Component System:
MFR Component Subsystem:
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