SpeedSUVs.com — Ford Motor Company and its luxury brand, Lincoln, have officially issued a safety recall affecting 741,195 trucks and SUVs. According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the massive recall is driven by a transmission defect that could lead to an unexpected rollaway risk, posing a serious safety hazard to vehicle owners and bystanders alike.
Which Ford and Lincoln Models Are Affected?
The recall impacts a wide range of popular, large-scale utility vehicles and pickup trucks manufactured by Ford and Lincoln over several model years. According to the NHTSA filing, the specific vehicle population includes a subset of the following models:
- 2018–2021 Ford Expedition SUVs
- 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigator luxury SUVs
- 2020–2021 Ford Explorer midsize SUVs
- 2020–2021 Lincoln Aviator luxury SUVs
- 2020–2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks
This extensive list covers nearly three-quarters of a million vehicles across both automotive brands. Owners of these specific model years are urged to verify whether their vehicle is included in the recall to prevent potential damage or injury.
The Technical Cause Behind the Rollaway Risk
The core of the issue lies deep within the vehicle’s automatic transmission assembly. According to official recall documentation, a component known as the valve body separator plate may restrict the flow of transmission fluid to the park valve. Depending on the gear shifts commanded by the driver, this limited fluid flow can cause the transmission’s parking pawl to temporarily engage while the vehicle is still in motion.
This unintended, temporary engagement acts as an accidental braking force. Over time, the repeated mechanical stress from this unexpected engagement can severely damage the transmission’s parking system. If the parking system becomes compromised or broken, the parking pawl may fail to secure the vehicle when it is parked, ultimately allowing the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly after the driver has exited.
Reported Incidents, Damage, and Injuries
The consequences of this transmission defect have already manifested in real-world scenarios. At the time of the recall filing, Ford confirmed that it was aware of 24 separate allegations of property damage directly linked to this issue. Additionally, there have been nine alleged injuries reported in connection with the defect. According to official recall documents, two of these reported injuries were classified specifically as emotional injuries resulting from the frightening experience of a rolling vehicle.
Warning Signs for Drivers
Fortunately, the vehicle’s onboard systems are designed to detect this mechanical malfunction and warn the driver before a complete failure occurs. If the transmission parking pawl issue manifests, a warning light will illuminate on the instrument panel. Furthermore, the vehicle’s electronic parking brake is programmed to apply automatically if the transmission range sensor detects that the vehicle has not successfully reached the physical “Park” position when shifted into Park by the driver.
What Should Affected Owners Do Next?
Ford is taking a proactive approach to address the defect. The automaker will notify all affected vehicle owners by mail, instructing them to schedule an appointment with an authorized Ford or Lincoln dealership. To resolve the issue, dealership technicians will perform a software update on the vehicle‘s Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Additionally, technicians will thoroughly inspect the transmission and replace any damaged parking systems or components free of charge.
Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed out between August 5 and August 9. In the meantime, concerned owners who want to check if their vehicle is included in this recall can visit the official NHTSA website and input their 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
