2020–2021 Explorer rollaway recall (26V402) has no fix until 2027: what do you do until then?

Question

A buddy of mine just got the interim recall letter for his Explorer, and he’s pretty rattled. The park pawl can apparently engage while the vehicle is moving and damage the park system, which means it might not hold in Park. It’s not only the Explorer either. 2020-21 Expeditions, Aviators, Navigators and some 2021 F-150s are on the list too.

What’s bugging him is that the letter says the real fix won’t be ready until around April 2027. That’s a long time to keep driving it and hope for the best. He’s also seen a few people online saying their Explorer rolled away while sitting in Park, which hasn’t helped.

So he’s been asking a few things, and I figured this crowd would know better than I do:

How worried should someone be about parking it day to day until a fix is available? Is the parking brake every time enough, or should he also turn the wheels into the curb?
What are the warning signs the park system is already damaged? Any odd noises, clunks when shifting into Park, or a little rollback after letting off the brake?
How do you find out if a VIN is included? Is the NHTSA lookup enough, or does he need to call the dealer?

If anyone here owns one of these and has been living with the recall, I’d love to hear how you’re handling it. Thanks!

gnoz · Answer

Answered from the manual for the 2020 Ford Explorer. Use the electric parking brake every time you park; do not rely on Park alone. The Explorer manual specifically says, “When you leave your vehicle, always apply the parking brake.” It also notes the EPB could apply automatically in Park, so confirm the red parking-brake lamp is on rather than assuming it did. The owner’s manual does not cover recall 26V402, its interim instructions, the claimed April 2027 remedy timing, or VIN-recall lookup. Not from the manual: Follow the interim recall letter exactly; for added protection on a slope, park with the wheels turned toward the curb downhill (away from it uphill) and use wheel chocks where practical. Avoid parking on steep grades when another location is available. Before exiting: stop fully, select P, apply the EPB, and verify its red lamp. The manual warns that a vehicle out of Park “can roll freely” and directs fully applying the parking brake and using wheel chocks “if appropriate.” Have it checked promptly for a “Transmission Not in Park,” “Park Not Available,” or “Shift System Fault” message; the manual directs seeing an authorized dealer for a persistent Transmission not in Park message. EPB warnings matter too: “Park Brake Not Applied,” “Park Brake Limited Function Service Required,” or “Park Brake Malfunction Service Now” warrant dealer attention. Not from the manual: A clunk going into P, unexpected movement/rollback after P is selected and the foot brake is released, or any rollaway should be treated as a stop-driving-and-contact-Ford/dealer issue—not something to monitor. Do not test Park by standing outside the vehicle or by deliberately letting it roll. VIN: Not from the manual: NHTSA’s VIN-recall lookup is an appropriate first check; also enter the VIN in Ford’s recall lookup or call a Ford dealer, since the dealer can confirm open campaigns and record the owner’s contact details. The manual lists Ford U.S. Customer Relationship Center at 1-800-392-3673 . Sources Ford Explorer 2020 - Owner's Manual

Jay · Answer

I went and read Ford’s recall report to NHTSA and the 2020 Explorer owner’s manual, so here’s the short version.

What’s going on: Roughly 741,000 vehicles are covered: 2020-21 Explorers and Aviators, 2018-21 Expeditions and Navigators, and 2021 F-150s. A plate in the 10-speed transmission’s valve body can restrict fluid flow to the park valve. During certain shifts, the park pawl can briefly engage while you’re driving, and that can damage the park system. If it’s damaged, the vehicle may not hold in Park unless the parking brake is set. Ford figures only about 1% of the recalled vehicles actually have the problem, so most people are probably fine.

The fix: It isn’t ready yet. It’ll be a powertrain computer update, plus replacing any damaged transmission parts. Ford expects it in April 2027 and says it’ll mail a second letter when it’s available.

What I’d do until then:

Set the parking brake every single time you park, even on flat ground. Ford’s report explains why. These trucks have “roll away detection” that applies the electric parking brake if the vehicle moves in Park, but the computer running it may be asleep after the vehicle has been off for a while. Setting the brake yourself doesn’t depend on that. On the Explorer you pull the parking brake switch up, and the red light comes on when it’s applied. The manual says you can do it with the ignition off.
Keep an eye out for the wrench (Powertrain Fault) light. That’s the warning Ford lists, and the manual says to contact a dealer as soon as possible if it comes on. The report also says the parking brake will set itself if the transmission doesn’t actually reach Park when you select it, so I’d treat that as a warning sign too.
If it ever moves in Park, won’t go into Park, or gets stuck in Park, leave the parking brake on. I’d have it towed to the dealer rather than drive it there.

Is yours included? Ford says these weren’t built in VIN order, so you can’t go by model year alone. Plug your VIN in at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S48.

Hope that helps!

2020–2021 Explorer rollaway recall (26V402) has no fix until 2027: what do you do until then?

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