Ford is recalling more than 741,000 vehicles because of a transmission problem that could create a serious safety risk for drivers and passengers.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report cited by ABC News, the recall affects certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles from model years 2018 through 2021. The models included are the Ford F-150, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Navigator.
The issue involves the transmission parking pawl, the component that helps keep a vehicle from moving once it has been shifted into park. The NHTSA report said the affected vehicles could “experience temporary engagement of their transmission parking pawl while the vehicle is in motion when certain shifts are commanded by the transmission.” That could damage parts of the parking system.
The danger comes later, when the driver believes the vehicle is safely parked. If the parking system has been damaged and the driver does not set the parking brake, the vehicle could move unexpectedly.
That kind of rollaway risk is exactly the sort of defect that can turn routine parking into a crash. The NHTSA said the problem could increase the chance of injuries as well as property damage.
Ford has already received reports connected to the defect. According to the NHTSA, the company is aware of 24 property damage claims and nine alleged injuries. Two of those reported injuries were described as emotional injuries.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail. Once the recall repair is available, dealers will update the vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module. They will also inspect the parking system for damage. If damaged components are found, they will be replaced at no cost to the owner.
Vehicle owners who believe their Ford or Lincoln may be affected can contact Ford directly at 1-866-436-7332. They can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Ford also maintains a recall website where owners can enter their vehicle information and check whether it is subject to an open recall.
Ford Motor Company is recalling 741,195 vehicles due to an issue with the park system that could allow them to roll away, federal regulators said in a recall notice. https://t.co/nDbbBX76VW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 30, 2026
This is not the only major recall Ford has dealt with recently.
In January, the automaker recalled roughly 119,000 vehicles because of an issue involving engine block heaters. According to CBS News, that recall applied to certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles, as well as certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles equipped with two-liter engines. Owners of those vehicles were sent recall notices in April.
Ford also issued a recall last year involving more than 100,000 F-150 pickup trucks. Reuters reported that the recall covered about 103,000 trucks with axle hub bolts that could break.
That defect could also create a rollaway hazard if the parking brake was not set. It could also cause a loss of power if the broken bolt damaged the axle hub splines, which are responsible for transferring power to the wheels.
“Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash,” the NHTSA said in that recall notice, according to CBS News.
The latest recall is another reminder that owners should not ignore recall letters or assume a vehicle is safe simply because it appears to drive normally. In this case, the defect may not be obvious until the parking system has already been damaged. For affected owners, setting the parking brake and getting the recall repair completed should be treated as a priority.
