Ford Motor Company has recalled more than 741,000 vehicles in the United States because a transmission defect could increase the risk of a crash by allowing a vehicle to roll away.
The action, one of the largest single passenger-vehicle recalls Ford has filed this year, covers popular trucks and SUVs from model years 2018 through 2021.
Which vehicles are affected
The recall affects 741,195 vehicles, including certain 2018, 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, 2020, 2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs, and 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A full breakdown by model shows 82,570 F-150 units, 246,202 Expeditions, 59,079 Lincoln Navigators, 313,147 Explorers, and 40,197 Lincoln Aviators within the recall population.
All affected vehicles were built with park-by-wire functionality paired with a 10R60, 10R80, or 10R80MHT transmission.
What can go wrong and how it happens
According to Ford’s recall filing with NHTSA, affected vehicles may experience a temporary engagement of the transmission parking pawl while the vehicle is in motion when certain transmission shifts are commanded.
In that event, the transmission park feature may not be able to hold the vehicle in park, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
On April 6, 2026, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation contacted Ford regarding Vehicle Owner Questionnaires involving reports such as vehicles moving after shifting into park, being unable to shift into park, becoming stuck in park, or moving with the brake applied in certain 2020 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. Ford opened an internal investigation shortly after that contact and concluded that the problems could be related to damage to the transmission park system.
Ford has identified more than 280 reports of the rollaway occurring, resulting in 24 allegations of property damage and nine alleged injuries, two of which are alleged emotional injuries.
The repair plan and timeline
Because the final repair is still being developed, Ford will first mail interim notification letters beginning Aug. 3, 2026, informing owners of the safety risk. The company expects to have the permanent remedy available by April 2027, at which time owners will receive a second letter instructing them to schedule the repair.
At that point, dealers will update the powertrain control module software of affected vehicles and inspect the park system for damage, replacing compromised components where needed, all at no charge.
Mailing of interim owner notification letters is expected to begin August 3, 2026, and be completed by August 7, 2026, with remedy owner notification letters to be sent in phases during the second quarter of 2027.
Owners with questions may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 26S48, or contact NHTSA and reference campaign number 26V402000.
VINs can also be checked at NHTSA’s recall lookup.
Broader recall context
Recalls continue to accumulate for Ford in 2026, and it is possible the automaker could break its own annual recall record at the current pace.
The Ford action is among the year’s largest for a single passenger-vehicle model family, and comes as automakers across the industry continue to grapple with software-dependent drivetrain systems that can mask mechanical wear over time.
A separate Ford Mustang Mach-E recall covering 42,784 model-year 2021, 2023 rear-wheel-drive units was filed on June 30, 2026, for a rear differential pinion shaft fracture risk , illustrating the breadth of Ford’s safety workload in 2026.
Any owner unsure of their vehicle’s recall status is encouraged to use NHTSA’s free VIN lookup tool before waiting for a mailed notice.
