Staff Reports
Ford is being forced to pull more than 741,000 trucks and SUVs back into dealers because a transmission defect can damage the park system and let them roll away. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week filed a recall that puts the burden back on Ford to fix a safety problem that should never have left the factory in the first place.
What went wrong: the park system defect
The recall covers certain Ford and Lincoln models — including select 2021 F-150s, 2020–2021 Explorers and Lincoln Aviators, and some 2018–2021 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators. The technical short version is this: a transmission component can limit fluid flow to the park valve. During some shifts the parking pawl can engage while the vehicle is still moving. That can damage park-system parts and later make the vehicle unable to stay in Park unless the driver also sets the parking brake.
What Ford will do to fix it
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, inspect the parking components, and replace any damaged parts at no charge. Ford’s internal campaign is listed as 26S48, and owner notification letters and dealer remedies are expected to begin in the weeks ahead. The recall filing notes about two dozen property-damage reports and nine alleged injuries tied to this issue.
Why this matters — again
Rollaway risk is not a minor inconvenience. A vehicle that won’t hold in Park can become a deadly hazard, especially with heavy pickups and large SUVs. Ford has had several recalls recently, so this isn’t an isolated bad day on the assembly line — it’s a pattern that deserves scrutiny. Regulators should keep pushing, and Ford needs to answer why so many units required corrective action after they hit the road.
What owners should do right now
If you own one of the affected vehicles, set your parking brake every time you park until the dealer inspects and updates the car. Check your VIN with the NHTSA recall tool or Ford’s recall resources and watch your mail for the official owner letter. For help, call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Bottom line: don’t assume Park is a substitute for the parking brake — and expect Ford to make this right, quickly and publicly.
