Ford recalls over 741,000 SUVs and pickups due to rollaway risk

Ford is recalling more than 741,000 SUVs and pickups due to a defect that could lead to vehicle rollaway, posing a risk of crashes and injuries.

The Ford recall, announced on June 24, affects several models, including the 2018-2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, and the 2021 Ford F-150.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue arises when the transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, leading to potential damage to the park system.

The NHTSA report indicates that the transmission’s valve body separator plate may restrict fluid flow to the park valve, causing the park pawl to engage unexpectedly.

Drivers can look out for warning signs, Ford recall states

The recall notice explains that drivers might experience issues, such as rollaway after shifting to park, inability to shift into park or vehicles remaining stuck in park. In some cases, vehicles have moved even when the electronic parking brake was applied.

The NHTSA initiated contact with Ford after receiving multiple complaints from vehicle owners. Ford conducted an investigation, which revealed that the symptoms could be due to transmission park system damage.

The investigation also identified 282 reports in North America related to vehicle movement while in park.

Ford is addressing the issue by updating the powertrain control module software and inspecting and replacing any damaged transmission components at no cost to the owners.

Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on July 10, with a complete remedy anticipated by April 2027.

For more information, consumers can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Vehicle identification numbers involved in this Ford recall are searchable on the NHTSA website.

Ford reports 24 cases of property damage and nine alleged injuries linked to this issue. The company is not currently facing legal action over the recall, but Top Class Actions monitors such recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.

In other Ford-related news, more than 140,000 Ford Ranger vehicles from model years 2024 to 2026 were recalled in April due to a potential fire hazard linked to the sun visor wiring.