2026 Ford Escape Park Pawl Recall (26V301)
Ford Motor Company · 208 vehicles · Reported May 12, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 208 2026 Ford Escape; 2026 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 26V301 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V301000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25C69 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 12, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2026 Ford Escape; 2026 Lincoln Corsair |
| Units affected | 208 |
| Build dates | October 27, 2025 to December 9, 2025 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Internal > Park Pawl |
| Safety risk | A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2026 Ford Escape in recall 26V301?
The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Is it safe to drive a 2026 Escape with recall 26V301?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the park pawl.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V301?
Recall 26V301 covers 208 vehicles: 2026 Ford Escape; 2026 Lincoln Corsair.
NHTSA lists 208 vehicles in this campaign, built October 27, 2025 to December 9, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ford | Escape |
| 2026 | Lincoln | Corsair |
What is the fix for the Escape park pawl recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
The Secondary On Board Diagnostic Module C (SOBDMC) software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 15, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V863.
When was recall 26V301 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V301 to NHTSA on May 12, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| December 9, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| May 12, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V301000. |
| June 5, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 4 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 43 days. If your Escape was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Escape is part of recall 26V301?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V301 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V301000 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 25C69. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Escape owners do about recall 26V301?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V301000 applies to your Escape.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any park pawl symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Escape owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the transmission.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the transmission have been filed since recall 26V301 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 3 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2026 Ford Escape: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2026 Lincoln Corsair: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
Can recall 26V301 make my Escape a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 26V301000 does not automatically make your Escape a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2026 Ford Escape: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2026 Ford Escape in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 25V863000.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Escape went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Escape been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Escape recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V301
Is the 26V301000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Escape is part of recall 26V301000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 26V301000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.