Ford has announced a recall of more than 741,000 vehicles in the United States due to a transmission fault that can damage the vehicle's locking mechanism in parking mode and increase the risk of traffic accidents, the Associated Press reports.
According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall covers a number of Ford F-150, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Aviator and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2018-2021 model years.
According to the regulator, certain gear changes during the race may cause the transmission's parking mechanism to engage briefly, possibly causing damage to its components.
If the parking mechanism is damaged, the vehicle may not be held in place after the selector is turned to Park mode, if the handbrake is not activated at the same time. Unplanned movement like a car increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
Ford reported that they are aware of 24 cases of property damage and 9 cases of alleged injuries related to this malfunction. Moreover, two of them refer to psychological damage claims.
Vehicle owners will receive notices by mail advising them to contact an authorized Ford or Lincoln dealer. Specialists will update the software of the power unit control unit free of charge, as well as check the condition of the parking mechanism of the gearbox. If necessary, damaged parts will be replaced at no cost to car owners.
