Ford Recalls 741,195 Trucks and SUVs Over a Park System Flaw That Can Let Them Roll Away

Ford is recalling 741,195 trucks and SUVs in the US — spanning the 2021 F-150, 2020–2021 Explorer, 2018–2021 Expedition, 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigator, and 2020–2021 Lincoln Aviator — over a transmission defect that can let the vehicle roll away even when the driver believes it's safely parked. The recall, filed with NHTSA as No. 26V402, covers vehicles built with Ford's 10R80 automatic transmission and its park-by-wire shift system.

The root cause, according to Ford's filing, is a transmission valve body separator plate that restricts fluid flow to the park valve. That restriction can cause the transmission's parking pawl — the mechanical piece that's supposed to lock the output shaft once the driver shifts into Park — to temporarily engage while the vehicle is still moving, when certain shift sequences are commanded. The unintended engagement can damage components inside the park system, and a damaged park system may not hold the vehicle stationary once it's actually shifted into Park, creating a rollaway risk.

Ford says it's aware of 24 allegations of property damage and 9 alleged injuries — including two described as emotional-injury claims — connected to the condition. The company's remedy is a two-step process: dealers will update the powertrain control module software to prevent the transmission from commanding the shift sequences that trigger the false park-pawl engagement, then inspect the transmission and replace any already-damaged park system components at no charge. Interim notification letters are set to start reaching owners the week of August 3, 2026, with Ford telling regulators it expects the permanent software remedy to be fully available by April 2027, at which point a second letter will go out with repair instructions.

Owners of the affected F-150, Explorer, Expedition, Navigator, and Aviator model years can check their vehicle's recall status now using their VIN at NHTSA.gov, rather than waiting for the mailed notice — Ford's filing notes that dealers were already notified of the campaign in late June.