Ford is recalling more than 741,000 vehicles in the US after identifying a transmission fault that could compromise the park system and increase the risk of unintended movement.
The recall, lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), applies to certain Ford F-150, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Aviator and Lincoln Navigator models built between 2018 and 2021.
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Of the 741,195 vehicles covered, Ford estimates roughly 1% carry the defect.
NHTSA documentation shows that affected vehicles may briefly engage the transmission parking pawl while still moving when specific shifts are triggered, potentially damaging park system components.
Where this occurs, the transmission may lose its ability to hold the vehicle in park if the parking brake has not been engaged, heightening the possibility of the vehicle rolling unexpectedly.
The fault stems from the transmission valve body separator plate, which can obstruct flow to the park valve and trigger momentary pawl engagement during certain shift patterns.
A wrench warning light will appear on the instrument cluster in affected vehicles, and the electronic parking brake will engage automatically if the transmission range sensor cannot confirm park has been reached.
Ford’s investigation started after NHTSA’s office of defects investigation contacted the company about 11 vehicle owner questionnaires covering nine vehicles.
Those reports included vehicles moving after being shifted to park, inability to shift into park, and vehicles moving with the brake applied.
According to NHTSA, Ford has recorded 24 property damage allegations and nine injury claims, two of which cite emotional injury.
Owners will be contacted by mail and directed to dealers for a Powertrain Control Module software update.
The recall follows Ford’s action last month affecting 548,463 Expedition vehicles over peeling chrome trim, and an April recall of roughly 1.39 million F-150 trucks linked to unexpected downshifts.
Ford also topped US manufacturers for recall volume during 2025, issuing 153 recalls covering roughly 12.9 million vehicles – the highest annual total ever recorded for a single carmaker in the country.
