Nearly 750,000 Ford and Lincoln Vehicles at Risk of Rolling Away - Fix Delayed Until 2027

If you own a Ford Expedition, Explorer, F-150, or Lincoln Aviator or Navigator, there’s a chance your vehicle might not stay put. A new recall covers roughly 741,000 vehicles equipped with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, where a small internal part can fail over time. That failure could allow the vehicle to roll away after you park it.

Ford has a fix in the works, but it won’t be ready until next year.

The issue stems from a component called the valve body separator plate inside the transmission. According to Ford’s filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this plate can restrict fluid flow to the park valve. That can cause the parking pawl—a small metal tooth that locks the transmission to keep the vehicle stationary—to engage briefly while the vehicle is moving.

Over time, that engagement can damage the pawl, and a damaged pawl may not hold the vehicle in park. Ford notes that the vehicles have roll-away detection that can engage the parking brake, but that system powers down after the engine is off for a while.

The recall affects 2018–2021 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition models, 2020–2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 Ford F-150 trucks. So far, Ford has logged 272 reports of potential issues, along with 24 claims of property damage and nine alleged injuries (two described as emotional).

The fix is a software update for the powertrain control module, which will prevent the transmission from making problematic shifts while driving. Dealers will also inspect and replace any damaged park system components. But here’s the catch: Ford says the software won’t be ready until the second quarter of 2027.

Owner notification letters go out starting August 3, with a second mailing about the fix expected around April 5, 2027. If your vehicle is on the list, consider using the parking brake every time you park—especially on a hill.