Content
Recent Posts
Ford Recall Affects More Than 741,000 Trucks & SUVs
Ford is recalling 741,195 Ford and Lincoln trucks and SUVs in the U.S. because a transmission issue may damage the park system and allow the vehicle to roll away after being shifted into Park. The recall was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under recall number 26V402 and applies to select vehicles with park-by-wire functionality and certain 10-speed transmissions.
The issue comes from the transmission valve body separator plate, which may limit fluid flow to the park valve. When certain shifts are commanded while the vehicle is moving, the transmission parking pawl may temporarily engage. That can damage park system components and reduce the vehicle’s ability to stay in Park if the parking brake is not applied.
Content
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The affected vehicles include certain 2021 Ford F-150 trucks, 2020–2021 Ford Explorer SUVs, 2018–2021 Ford Expedition SUVs, 2020–2021 Lincoln Aviator SUVs, and 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Ford said the vehicles were identified through transmission plant and vehicle assembly records, so owners should check by VIN rather than model year alone.
The largest affected group is the Ford Explorer, with 313,147 vehicles included. The recall also covers:]
- 246,202 Ford Expedition SUVs
- 82,570 Ford F-150 trucks
- 59,079 Lincoln Navigator SUVs
- 40,197 Lincoln Aviator SUVs
Ford estimates that about 1% of the recalled vehicles may have the defect.
How Was the Problem Discovered?
Ford’s investigation began after NHTSA contacted the company in April 2026 about owner reports involving vehicles moving after being shifted to Park, failing to shift into Park, getting stuck in Park, or moving with the brake applied. Ford later reviewed warranty claims, diagnostic data, and field reports tied to possible park system damage.
As of May 20, 2026, Ford had identified hundreds of reports in North America potentially related to vehicle movement in Park. The company said it was aware of 24 allegations of property damage and nine alleged injuries, two of which were emotional injury claims.
Ford said affected vehicles may show a wrench light on the instrument panel. In some cases, the electronic parking brake may apply automatically if the vehicle’s transmission range sensor does not reach the Park position when Park is selected. Still, Ford found that rollaway detection may not always work after the vehicle has been powered down for a period of time because the powertrain control module may not be awake.
What Is Ford Doing to Fix the Issue?
Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module software, inspect the transmission for park system damage, and replace damaged transmission components when needed. The repair will be free for owners. The updated software is designed to stop the transmission from commanding shifts that could cause temporary parking pawl engagement while the vehicle is moving.
Dealer notification was expected on June 26, 2026. Interim owner letters are scheduled to be mailed from August 3 to August 7, 2026, while remedy letters are expected to be sent in phases beginning in April 2027. VINs were expected to be searchable starting June 26, 2026.
Owners should use the parking brake every time they park until the recall repair is completed, especially on slopes or driveways. They should also check their VIN through Ford, Lincoln, a local dealer, or NHTSA’s recall lookup tool to confirm whether their vehicle is included. If the vehicle shows a warning light, has trouble staying in Park, or moves after being shifted into Park, owners should contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer as soon as possible.
For more industry updates, visit our automotive news section.