Ford is recalling more than 741,000 trucks and SUVs whose transmissions can be damaged in a way that may let the vehicle roll away, federal regulators said.
The recall covers 741,195 vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: certain 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigators and Ford Expeditions, 2020–2021 Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators, and 2021 Ford F-150s.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission's park pawl, the pin that locks the driveline when the vehicle is shifted into park, can engage while the vehicle is still moving. That can damage the park system, NHTSA said, and a damaged park system may not hold the vehicle.
If the park system fails to hold and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle can roll away, which raises the risk of a crash. Until the repair is ready, setting the parking brake every time is the practical safeguard.
There is no fix available yet. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software and inspect and replace any damaged transmission parts at no charge, but Ford does not expect that remedy to be ready until April 2027, NHTSA said. Interim letters warning owners of the risk are scheduled to go out August 3.
Owners can check whether a specific vehicle is affected by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov, where the recall has been searchable since June 26. Ford's number for the recall is 26S48, and the NHTSA campaign number is 26V402000. Ford's customer service line is 1-866-436-7332.
The list runs straight through the vehicles common to backcountry travel. The F-150 is the best-selling truck in the country, and the Expedition and Explorer are widely used as platforms for long-distance and off-pavement trips. Anyone who leaves one parked on a grade at a trailhead has reason to confirm the parking brake holds, and to run the VIN before the next trip.
How we reported this
- NHTSA, Recall Campaign 26V402000 (Ford Motor Company), report received June 24, 2026. nhtsa.gov. The federal recall record: affected models and counts, the defect and consequence, and the remedy timeline.
- Associated Press, "Ford recalling more than 741,000 vehicles because of park system issue," Michelle Chapman, June 30, 2026. apnews.com. Corroborating coverage of the recall.