Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 740,000 trucks and SUVs to fix a mechanical issue that could cause vehicles to roll away unexpectedly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a component inside the transmission can accidentally engage while the car is moving, destroying the vehicle’s parking mechanism.
The safety notice explains that the transmission’s park pawl—the metal pin that locks the transmission when you shift into park—can drop into place while the vehicle is in motion.
When this happens, it can severely damage the parking system, leaving the vehicle unable to hold itself in place securely once it is stopped and parked.
This recall affects exactly 741,195 vehicles in the United States, spanning several model years across both the Ford and Lincoln brands. The specific vehicles included in the safety action are:
- 2018–2021 Ford Expedition
- 2020–2021 Ford Explorer
- 2021 Ford F-150
- 2020–2021 Lincoln Aviator
- 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigator
To fix the problem, Ford dealers will update the powertrain control module software. Technicians will also inspect the transmission and replace any damaged components. All of these inspections and repairs will be performed completely free of charge to the vehicle owners.
The rollout for the repair will take some time. Ford plans to mail interim letters to affected owners starting August 3 to notify them of the safety risk. A second round of letters will be sent out once the final repair remedy becomes available, which the NHTSA anticipates will happen by April 2027.
Vehicle owners who want to check their vehicle’s status or have questions about the process can reach Ford customer service directly at 1-866-436-7332. When calling, owners should reference Ford’s internal reference number for this recall, which is 26S48.
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