Ford Rollaway Recall: What Owners Need to Know

When you pull into your driveway, shift into Park, and walk inside, you trust that your truck will be exactly where you left it. For the owners of more than 741,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, that trust has been shaken. Ford has issued a recall because a transmission defect can damage the parking system — and a damaged parking system may not hold the vehicle once it is parked, letting it roll away on its own.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ford rollaway recall covers 741,195 vehicles, including some of the most popular trucks and SUVs on American roads: the F-150, Expedition, Explorer, Lincoln Navigator, and Lincoln Aviator. And there is a catch that makes this recall different from most — the permanent fix is not expected to be ready until April 2027.

Here is what the recall covers, what you can do to protect your family in the meantime, and what your options are if a defect like this causes serious harm.

What the Ford Rollaway Recall Covers

NHTSA reports that the recall (Ford recall number 26S48; NHTSA campaign number 26V402) includes these models:

• 2018–2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs

• 2020–2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs

• 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks

The problem centers on a small but critical part called the park pawl — the steel lock inside the transmission that physically holds your vehicle still when you shift into Park. Think of it as the deadbolt on your front door: small, hidden, and the only thing standing between “secure” and “not.” According to NHTSA, a defect can cause the park pawl to engage while the vehicle is still moving. When that happens, it can grind against spinning parts and damage the parking system. A damaged system may not hold the vehicle in Park, creating a risk that it rolls away unexpectedly.

Why a Rollaway Is So Dangerous

A rollaway crash is different from most collisions because there is no driver behind the wheel to steer or brake. A full-size truck or SUV can weigh close to three tons, and once it starts rolling down a sloped driveway or through a parking lot, it does not stop on its own.

Tragically, the people most at risk in rollaway incidents are often the owner's own family — a child playing behind the vehicle, a spouse unloading groceries, a neighbor walking by. These incidents can also pin the driver themselves, when someone steps out of a vehicle they believe is safely in Park. That is why federal regulators treat rollaway defects as a serious safety issue rather than a mere inconvenience.

How to Find Out if Your Vehicle Is Included

• Check your VIN. Enter your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Affected VINs became searchable on June 26, 2026.

• Call Ford. Ford customer service is available at 1-866-436-7332; reference recall number 26S48.

• Watch your mail. Ford has said it will begin sending interim notification letters on August 3, 2026, with a second letter to follow once the permanent repair is ready.

What to Do While You Wait for the Repair

This recall has an unusually long runway. According to Ford's filings with NHTSA, dealers will eventually update the powertrain control module software, inspect the transmission, and replace any damaged components at no cost — but that permanent remedy is not expected until April 2027. That leaves owners driving these vehicles for many months in the meantime. Until your vehicle is repaired:

• Always set the parking brake — every time you park, on every surface, not just hills. If the park system fails, the parking brake is your backup.

• Pay attention to warning signs, such as grinding or unusual noises when shifting into Park, or a vehicle that creeps after you have parked it. Report anything unusual to your dealer right away.

• Keep records. Save your recall letters, service invoices, and notes about any symptoms. If something goes wrong later, that paper trail matters.

• Never leave children or pets in or around a parked vehicle covered by this recall, especially on an incline.

If a Recalled Defect Causes an Injury

A recall is a safety announcement, not a court ruling — it does not by itself establish that a manufacturer is legally responsible for any particular crash. But when a vehicle defect injures someone, product liability law may allow the injured person, or a grieving family, to seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other losses. In those cases, the recall record often becomes important evidence about what the manufacturer knew and when.

If you or a loved one is ever hurt in a rollaway or another suspected defect-related incident, two things matter enormously. First, preserve the vehicle — do not let it be repaired, salvaged, or destroyed before it can be inspected, because the vehicle itself is often the single most important piece of evidence. Second, act promptly. In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is generally two years, but exceptions exist and deadlines vary by state and situation, so confirm the deadline that applies to you with an attorney as early as possible.

How Gresham Law Group Can Help

Gresham Law Group is a Dallas-based firm that represents people who have suffered catastrophic injuries — and families who have lost loved ones — in cases involving defective vehicles and other dangerous products, in Texas and nationwide. Defect cases are technical: they turn on engineering evidence, manufacturer records, and expert analysis. Our role is to shoulder that work for you — investigating what happened, preserving the vehicle and the data inside it, working with qualified experts, and dealing with the manufacturer and its insurers — so you can focus on healing.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an incident you believe involved a vehicle defect, you don't have to sort it out alone. Gresham Law Group offers a free, no-obligation consultation to talk through your options. Call (866) 878-3819 or reach us online at www.greshamlawgroup.com.

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Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Gresham Law Group. Every case is different, and laws change over time. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter. If you have a legal question about your specific situation, please consult a licensed attorney.