2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid Pedestrian Alert Sound Recall (26V415)
Ford Motor Company · 66,383 vehicles · Reported June 30, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 66,383 2025-2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds. A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 26V415 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V415000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S51 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 30, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025-2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid |
| Units affected | 66,383 |
| Component | Forward Collision Avoidance > Warnings > External / Pedestrian Alert |
| Safety risk | A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid in recall 26V415?
A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025-2027 Explorer Hybrid vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
Is it safe to drive a 2024-2027 Nautilus Hybrid with recall 26V415?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Nautilus Hybrid shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the external and pedestrian alert, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V415?
Recall 26V415 covers 66,383 vehicles: 2025-2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid; 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid.
NHTSA lists 66,383 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2027 | Ford | Explorer Hybrid |
| 2024-2027 | Lincoln | Nautilus Hybrid |
What is the fix for the Nautilus Hybrid pedestrian alert sound recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Note: This is an expansion of Recall 25V691. Any vehicles previously repaired under 25V691 must have the new remedy completed. Ford will release an over-the-air (OTA) update or dealers will update the APIM software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module in Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S51. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 7, 2026.
When was recall 26V415 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V415 to NHTSA on June 30, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 7, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V415000. |
| August 7, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 3 months ago. If your Nautilus Hybrid was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Nautilus Hybrid is part of recall 26V415?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V415 is open on your Nautilus Hybrid, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V415000 is open on your Nautilus Hybrid, it will be listed there, along with Lincoln recall number 26S51. You can also ask any Lincoln dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Nautilus Hybrid owners do about recall 26V415?
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 26V415000 applies to your Nautilus Hybrid.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Lincoln dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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 external and pedestrian alert 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 Nautilus Hybrid owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the driver assistance.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the driver assistance have been filed since recall 26V415 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 25 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the driver assistance. 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.
- 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid: 12 complaints in total, 1 about the driver assistance
- 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the driver assistance
- 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
- 2025 Ford Explorer Hybrid: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
- 2026 Ford Explorer Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
- 2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
- 2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the driver assistance
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Lincoln Navigation has incorrect speed limit detection/programming on rural roads in Fulton County Ohio. When using the Adaptive Cruise, firstly the Speed Limit icon that is stationary on the dash, right in front of the driver, has incorrect speed limits.
2024 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11667220, filed June 16, 2025
The vehicle’s BlueCruise/adaptive cruise system has repeatedly slowed unexpectedly while traveling on interstate highways. In some instances, the vehicle slowed to approximately 40 mph in a 70 mph zone without an apparent traffic reason. The system also slows excessively in curves. These events create a rear-end collision risk and require immediate driver intervention.
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11748209, filed July 3, 2026
Can recall 26V415 make my Nautilus Hybrid 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 26V415000 does not automatically make your Nautilus Hybrid 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))?
When a driver assistance feature on the 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid brakes for no reason or stops working, it affects both safety and value. Software fixes do not always hold, which is why repeat repair records matter.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid 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: 25V691000.
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.
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.
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 Nautilus Hybrid been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V415
Is the 26V415000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 7, 2026.
How do I know if my Nautilus Hybrid is part of recall 26V415000?
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.
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 26V415000 (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.