Ford Expedition and Mustang Recall Issued Over Transmission Problems

Ford Motor Company is recalling nearly 11,000 Mustang and Expedition vehicles because they may not give drivers adequate warning that the vehicle has not been fully shifted into the park position, which could pose a roll-away and injury risk to drivers, occupants, and nearby pedestrians.

The Ford Mustang and Expedition recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 18, after the auto maker determined that a “Transmission Not In Park” warning message and associated chime were only active for three seconds, which could fail to properly warn the driver.

The impacted vehicles are equipped with a “Transmission Not In Park” warning that illuminates on the dash cluster and chimes to alert the driver when the shifter is not in the park position after the engine has been shut off.

According to the recall, the audible chime and warning illumination only occur for three seconds, which does not meet the ten second audible chime and thirty minute message specifications intended for the vehicles.

Ford warns customers that a warning with too short a duration could result in the driver exiting the vehicle when it is not in the park position. Ford and NHTSA officials warn this could pose a roll away hazard and increase the risk of injury to passengers, especially children, and those nearby.

The recall includes model year 2019 through 2020 Ford Mustang vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant from April 26, 2019 to October 10, 2019, and 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles built at Kentucky Truck plant from October 16, 2018, to October 13, 2019.

Approximately 10,460 impacted vehicles were sold throughout the United States and federal territories, while 158 were sold in Canada and another 17 in Mexico.

Ford has needed to issue a number of similar recalls over the last several years, including a recall of nearly 30,000 F-250 and F-350 trucks in October 2019; a Ford Fusion and Ford Escape recall in July 2018 which affected more than half a million vehicles, another Ford Expedition and F-150 recall in April 2018 which impacted about 350,000 vehicles; and a Ford F-250 Super Duty truck recall of nearly 50,000 vehicles. All suffered from various rollaway problems or problems ensuring the vehicles’ shifters were in the “park” position.

Ford indicated the company began notifying customers of the latest recall on May 25. Customers will be instructed to schedule a free repair appointment at their local dealer, who will reprogram the instrument cluster.

Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall are being asked to contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference the recall number 20S21.