Ford recalls best-selling trucks and SUVs over park-system rollaway risk

Overview

Updated Jul 1

Put one of these Ford trucks in park, step out, and it might not stay put. On June 30, 2026, Ford recalled 741,195 U.S. vehicles because a transmission defect can damage the part that holds the car still.

The recall hits some of Ford's biggest sellers: the F-150 pickup, Expedition, Explorer, and the Lincoln Navigator and Aviator. Regulators have logged 24 property-damage and nine injury reports so far.

Why it matters

If you own one of these trucks or SUVs, parking on any slope without the parking brake could let it roll into people or property.

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Key Indicators

741,195

U.S. vehicles recalled

Trucks and SUVs covered by the June 2026 park-system recall.

Injury allegations

Reported to regulators, including two claims of emotional injury.

Property-damage claims

Incidents tied to the defect that Ford has disclosed.

Apr 2027

Full fix expected

When Ford anticipates a permanent hardware remedy is ready.

153

Ford recalls in 2025

The most of any automaker, covering nearly 13 million vehicles.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

Jim Farley

Chief Executive, Ford Motor Company

Leading Ford through a record run of recalls

Organizations Involved

Ford Motor Company

Automaker

Issuing the recall and covering repairs

The Dearborn, Michigan automaker recalling 741,195 U.S. trucks and SUVs over a park-system defect.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Federal agency

Flagged the defect and posted the recall

The federal auto-safety regulator that oversees U.S. recalls and vehicle defect reporting.

Timeline

April 2018 April 2027

5 events Latest: August 3rd, 2026 · 1 month ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

April 2027
Permanent fix expected
Upcoming Remedy

Ford anticipates a full hardware remedy will be ready. Until then, dealers update the powertrain control module software and replace damaged parts as needed.
April 30th, 2027
August 2026
Ford mails interim owner notification letters
Latest Notification

Ford starts mailing letters to owners of all 741,195 affected vehicles under recall 26S48. The letters warn of the park-system rollaway risk before the full repair is available. A second round of letters directing owners to dealers for the software update and parts inspection will follow in phases through Q2 2027.
August 3rd, 2026
June 2026
Ford recalls 741,195 vehicles over park defect
Recall

NHTSA posts the recall. A transmission valve-body plate can restrict fluid and briefly engage the park pawl while moving, damaging the part that holds the vehicle in park.
June 30th, 2026
December 2025
Ford ends 2025 as recall leader
Context

Ford and Lincoln close the year with 153 separate recalls covering nearly 13 million vehicles, the most of any automaker.
December 31st, 2025
April 2018
Earlier rollaway recall on 10-speed trucks
Recall

Ford recalls about 347,000 North American F-150 and Expedition vehicles. A loose clip on the shift cable could let a truck roll after the driver thought it was in park.
April 6th, 2018

Scenarios

Ford ships the permanent fix on schedule

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Ford recall notice via NHTSA; The Drive

Ford delivers the full hardware remedy around April 2027 as planned. Owners get software now and parts replacement later, and the interim electronic parking-brake safeguard limits new incidents. This is the base case Ford has set out in its own filing.

Recall expands to more models or years

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Auto-safety trade press; NHTSA complaint monitors

New complaints or testing push Ford to add vehicles beyond the current 2018-2021 models. Related transmission families or model years get folded in, growing the count above 741,195. Ford's recent recall pace makes an expansion plausible.

Rollaway injury triggers NHTSA investigation or lawsuit

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Plaintiff attorneys; NHTSA docket watchers

A serious injury or death tied to a covered vehicle rolling away leads NHTSA to open a formal investigation or spurs a notable class-action suit. The existing nine injury claims and long fix timeline raise this risk if incidents keep coming before repairs land.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

February–June 2014

GM ignition-switch recall (2014)

General Motors recalled millions of cars after faulty ignition switches could cut power and disable airbags. The defect was tied to at least 124 deaths. GM had known of the problem for years before acting.

Then

GM paid a $35 million U.S. fine and set up a victim compensation fund.

Now

It reset expectations for how fast automakers must report defects and pushed a wave of precautionary recalls industry-wide.

Why this matters now

It shows the stakes when a known safety defect lingers. Ford's long timeline to a full fix, into 2027, is the kind of gap that draws regulator and legal attention.

April 2018

Ford shift-cable rollaway recall (2018)

Ford recalled about 347,000 North American F-150 and Expedition trucks with the 10-speed transmission. A clip securing the gear-shift cable could slip, letting the truck sit in a different gear than the driver chose. Some vehicles gave no warning they were not in park.

Then

Dealers reworked the shift-cable clip at no cost to owners.

Now

The case put Ford's 10-speed transmission and its park mechanism under lasting regulator scrutiny.

Why this matters now

Same trucks, same rollaway danger, different broken part. It shows this park-hold weakness is a recurring problem for Ford's best-sellers, not a one-off.