Ford Recalls 741,000 Trucks and SUVs Over Rollaway Risk: What Texas Owners Should Know

What Happened?

Ford Motor Company is recalling 741,195 trucks and SUVs in the United States because of a transmission park-system defect that can allow a parked vehicle to roll away, according to a recall notice federal regulators announced on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the transmission’s park pawl — the part that locks the transmission when you shift into Park — can temporarily engage while the vehicle is moving, which can damage park-system components. A damaged park system may then fail to hold the vehicle once it is parked. If the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle can roll away unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Which Vehicles Are Included?

The recall covers some of the most popular vehicles on Texas roads, according to Kelley Blue Book and NHTSA:

• 2018–2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs
• 2020–2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs
• 2021 Ford F-150 pickups

Full-size pickups and SUVs like these are everywhere in Texas — on driveways, job sites, ranches, and school pick-up lines — so a defect that can let one roll away on its own is worth every Texas owner’s attention.

What Does Ford Say It Will Do?

Ford says dealers will update the powertrain control module software, inspect the transmission for damage, and replace any damaged components at no cost to owners. Interim notification letters are expected to begin mailing on August 3, 2026, and Ford expects the permanent remedy to be available by April 2027, when owners will receive a second letter to schedule the repair.

How Can You Check If Your Vehicle Is Affected?

NHTSA offers a free lookup tool where any owner can enter a VIN (vehicle identification number) and see open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Safety regulators also note that the rollaway risk in this recall arises when the parking brake is not applied — a detail many drivers of automatic-transmission vehicles may not think about day to day.

What If a Rollaway or Vehicle Defect Already Caused an Injury?

Rollaway incidents can be devastating — a driverless vehicle can strike a person standing behind it, roll into traffic, or injure a child in a driveway. Texas law recognizes claims against manufacturers and sellers of defective products under Chapter 82 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and an official recall can be an important piece of evidence in that kind of case. A product-liability lawyer can investigate whether a defect played a role in an injury, preserve the vehicle and its data before it is repaired or destroyed, and deal with the manufacturer on your behalf.

Timing matters as a matter of law: Texas generally gives an injured person two years from the date of injury to file a personal-injury lawsuit. Every situation is different, and no one can promise a particular result — but it costs nothing to find out if you have a case. The referral and the first consultation are free.

Sources

1. NBC News — Ford to recall more than 741,000 U.S. vehicles due to park system issue, NHTSA says
2. CBS News — Ford recalls more than 741,000 vehicles because faulty park system can lead to rollaways
3. Kelley Blue Book — Over 741,000 Ford, Lincoln Vehicles Recalled Due to Rollaway Risk
4. ConsumerAffairs — Ford recalls more than 741,000 vehicles over rollaway risk
5. NHTSA — Check for Recalls by VIN
6. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 82 (Products Liability)
7. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003 (two-year limitations period)