2021 Lincoln Navigator Transmission Recall (26V402)
Ford Motor Company · 741,195 vehicles · Reported June 24, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 741,195 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Ford F-150; 2021 Lincoln Aviator; 2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. Owners first received an interim notice; check NHTSA for whether the remedy is now available for your VIN.
Recall 26V402 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V402000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S48 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 24, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Ford F-150; 2021 Lincoln Aviator; 2021 Lincoln Navigator |
| Units affected | 741,195 |
| Build dates | January 8, 2020 to October 8, 2021 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission |
| Safety risk | Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Interim notice issued; remedy may now be available, check NHTSA for current status |
What is wrong with the 2021 Lincoln Navigator in recall 26V402?
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Navigator with recall 26V402?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Park system damage may result in a vehicle 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 automatic transmission.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V402?
Recall 26V402 covers 741,195 vehicles: 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Ford F-150; 2021 Lincoln Aviator; 2021 Lincoln Navigator.
NHTSA lists 741,195 vehicles in this campaign, built January 8, 2020 to October 8, 2021. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Expedition |
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021 | Ford | F-150 |
| 2021 | Lincoln | Aviator |
| 2021 | Lincoln | Navigator |
What is the fix for the Navigator transmission recall?
An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
When was recall 26V402 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V402 to NHTSA on June 24, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 8, 2020 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| October 8, 2021 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| June 24, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V402000. |
| July 10, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 3 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 639 days. If your Navigator was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Navigator is part of recall 26V402?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V402 is open on your Navigator, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 26V402000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Navigator owners do about recall 26V402?
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 26V402000 applies to your Navigator.
- Call a Lincoln 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the automatic transmission happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Navigator owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,752 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 541 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 26V402 was reported on June 24, 2026, owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 10 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after June 24, 2026, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,752 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 541 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.
- 2021 Ford F-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 304 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 117 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Expedition: 235 complaints in total, 110 about the transmission
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 4 about the transmission
- 2021 Lincoln Navigator: 33 complaints in total, 6 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Transmission suddenly downshifted from 7th to 1st gear when driving along a highway. This significantly slowed the vehicle down and almost caused a following vehicle to collide with me. The vehicle will also shift from 4th to 3rd violently, revving the engine then slammining into gear.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, AK, NHTSA complaint 11638966, filed January 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission experienced hard shifting, gear grinding, and slipping gear while accelerating from a red light. The contact stated that the gear shift indicator showed that the transmission was in 10th gear and the vehicle started drifting backward.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11645274, filed February 27, 2025
I received this recall December of 2023. I was originally advised that a fix would be ready during the 1st quarter of 2024. I inquired on two occasions about the safety of driving my truck with the axle bolt breaking issue recall.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11647490, filed March 10, 2025
Can recall 26V402 make my Navigator 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.
Owners often ask whether this automatic transmission recall means their Navigator qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2021 Lincoln Navigator: 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.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same automatic transmission again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Lincoln Navigator has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V070000, 26V371000.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
A recall with no fix can support a buyback on its own.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 Navigator been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Lincoln Navigator recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V402
Did the recall 26V402 fix work?
Since recall 26V402 was reported on June 24, 2026, owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 10 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 26V402000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Navigator is part of recall 26V402000?
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.
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 26V402000 (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.