A recall of 741,195 Ford F-150, Expedition, and Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Navigator for a vehicle rollaway risk.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Affected VINs should be searchable now at the NHTSA website.
Here is the relevant information from the NHTSA Recall notice:
NHTSA ID Number: 26V402
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Components: POWER TRAIN
Potential Number of Units Affected: 741,195
Estimated percentage with defect: 1%
Descriptive Information
Ford’s team reviewed transmission plant and vehicle assembly plant records to determine the population of affected vehicles.
Affected F-150s are built from January 8, 2020, to October 8, 2021, and equipped with park-by-wire functionality and 10R80 transmissions.
Affected Aviators are built from October 25, 2018, to August 25, 2021, and equipped with park-by-wire functionality and 10R60 or 10R80MHT transmissions.
Affected Explorers are built from October 28, 2018, to November 9, 2021, and equipped with park-by-wire functionality and 10R60 or 10R80MHT transmissions.
Affected Navigators are built from March 16, 2017, to May 24, 2021, and equipped with park-by-wire functionality and 10R80 transmissions.
Affected Expeditions are built from March 14, 2017, to July 27, 2021, and equipped with park-by-wire functionality and 10R80 transmissions.
82,570 F-150 vehicles are affected.
40,197 Aviator vehicles are affected
313,147 Explorer vehicles are affected.
59,079 Navigator vehicles are affected
246,202 Expedition vehicles are affected
These vehicles are not produced in VIN order. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database.
Description of defect or noncompliance:
Affected vehicles may experience temporary engagement of their transmission parking pawl while the vehicle is in motion when certain shifts are commanded by the transmission, potentially damaging park system components.
Description of the safety risk, including crash, fire, death, injury:
In the event of transmission park system damage, the ability of the transmission park feature to hold the vehicle if the parking brake is not applied may be affected. Unintended movement in Park increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Description of the cause:
The vehicle’s transmission valve body separator plate may limit flow to the park valve causing temporary park pawl engagement when certain shifts are commanded.
Identification of any warning that can occur:
Customers will receive a wrench light in the IPC, and the vehicle’s Electronic Parking Brake will automatically apply in the event the vehicle’s transmission range sensor does not reach the park position when Park is commanded.
Chronology
On April 6, 2026, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) contacted Ford regarding eleven (11) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) on nine (9) vehicles reporting vehicle moves after shifting to Park, unable to shift into Park, vehicle stuck in Park, or vehicle moves with brake applied on 2020 Model Year Explorer and Aviator vehicles. On April 14, 2026, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into this concern.
The CCRG reviewed connected vehicle data, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), and warranty claims for the 9 vehicles associated with the VOQs and determined that 8 of the vehicles’ symptoms could relate to transmission park system damage. The CCRG previously investigated warranty claims citing park system damage on 2020 Model Year Ford Explorer from February 2022 – March 2022. This investigation was closed with the issue assessed as not an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on the determination that in the event of park pawl damage, electric parking brake apply strategies would prevent unintended vehicle movement and customers would be provided notification in the instrument panel cluster.
Through April and May 2026, the CCRG reviewed warranty claims and field data for Explorer and Aviator vehicles and identified additional reports citing vehicle movement in Park and containing DTCs indicative of park system damage. This review identified some reports addressing a condition resulting from the vehicle’s transmission valve body separator plate limiting flow to the park valve causing temporary park pawl engagement when certain shifts are commanded. The investigation team reviewed production records and determined which vehicles utilized the separator plate design with the potential for reduced flow to establish a suspect population.
The CCRG’s investigation determined that while all affected vehicles have “roll away detection”, which will automatically apply the EPB if vehicle movement is detected while the vehicle is in Park, the vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may not be awake in some instances after the vehicle has been powered down after a period of time and unable to detect movement.
As of May 20, 2026, Ford has identified 220 Ford reports in North America and 10 VOQs on 2020-2021 Model Year Explorer and Aviator vehicles, 62 Ford reports in North America and 3 VOQs on 2018-2021 Model Year Expedition Navigator vehicles potentially related to vehicle movement in Park on vehicles equipped with transmissions built using the original separator plate design.
On June 16, 2026, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.
Ford is aware of 24 allegations of property damage and 9 alleged injuries (2 of these are allegations of emotional injuries) related to this issue.
Remedy
Description of Remedy
Remedy Type: Inspect, Repair, Software
Description of remedy program:
Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have their vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated to the latest level software. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle’s transmission for park system damage and replace damaged transmission components as needed. There will be no charge for this service.
How remedy component differs from recalled component:
The updated PCM software will prevent the transmission from commanding those shifts which may result in temporary engagement of the transmission parking pawl while the vehicle is motion. Additionally, transmission park system components will be undamaged following inspection and replacement if necessary.
Description of recall schedule:
Notification to dealers is expected to occur on June 26, 2026. Mailing of interim owner notification letters is expected to begin August 3, 2026, and is expected to be completed by August 7, 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is expected to take place in phases throughout the second quarter of 2027. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is June 26, 2026.
