Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~890 model year 2019 Expedition vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V263. The “Transmission Not In Park” warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended. During the first half of 2025 Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls. This recall is the result of a complicated and meticulous effort by Ford Motor.
“According to Ford’s records, certain 2019 Expedition vehicles did not have the remedy for Safety Recall 20S21 / 20V-263 installed correctly, but were recorded as having the repair successfully completed. Because the correct software update remedy may not be installed on the vehicle, the underlying condition specified in Safety Recall Ford 20S21 / NHTSA 20V-263 may still exist… the Transmission Not in Park warning message and associated chime are only active for 3 seconds when the transmission is not in Park and the ignition state is OFF with driver door closed. Instead, the chime should be active for 10 seconds and message should display for 30 minutes when the driver’s door is closed,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing (49 CFR § 573) made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
“The underlying safety risk specified in Safety Recall 20S21 / 20V-263 still exists on this specified vehicle. Ford described that safety risk as, “The Transmission Not in Park warning and associated chime is designed to alert the driver that their vehicle is not in the park position. A shorter than designed duration of the Transmission Not in Park warning and associated chime could result in a driver exiting their vehicle while not in park without being sufficiently alerted. This could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash,” Ford said.
Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the Instrument Cluster Panel software updated. Then, the software part numbers will be validated using the Software Validation Form in the Professional Technician System before the FSA is closed. There will be no charge for this service. [As required by Federal Recall law – Autocrat]
Ford provided the general reimbursement plan for the cost of remedies paid for by vehicle owners prior to notification of a safety recall in May 2023. Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense may be eligible for reimbursement, in accordance with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.
Notification to Ford dealers is expected to occur on 15 January 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is expected to begin 26 January 2026, and is expected to be completed by 30 January 2026. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is 15 January 2026
Chronology
- In December 2024, a cross-functional team was formed to audit all software FSAs that used the FDRS service tool, with its first focus being on safety and compliance FSAs. Templates were created to track software lineage part numbers.
- On 19 December 2024, Ford informed NHTSA of this concern — the service tool data confirmed that the software state on the service tool at the time of installation matches the FSA software release for most vehicles. However, there are vehicles that do not have a match between the software state on the service tool and the FSA software release. Ford discussed with NHTSA its plan to address the mismatched vehicles.
- In January 2025, the cross-functional team created database records to store all software lineage part numbers for previously launched FSAs. The team then began auditing the current software level for every VIN repaired under several previously launched FSAs.
- On 9 December 2025, the cross-functional team completed the audit of 20S21 and brought the results to Ford’s CCRG for review, concluding that 89.84% of the repairs conducted under 20S21 had the correct software installed. The team identified the specific vehicles that were recorded as receiving the remedy, but have software that does not remedy the safety risk.
- On 12 December 2025, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Recalls Previous Expedition Roll-Away Recall Repair
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~890 model year 2019 Expedition vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V263. The “Transmission Not In Park” warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended. During the first half of 2025 Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls. This recall is the result of a complicated and meticulous effort by Ford Motor.
“According to Ford’s records, certain 2019 Expedition vehicles did not have the remedy for Safety Recall 20S21 / 20V-263 installed correctly, but were recorded as having the repair successfully completed. Because the correct software update remedy may not be installed on the vehicle, the underlying condition specified in Safety Recall Ford 20S21 / NHTSA 20V-263 may still exist… the Transmission Not in Park warning message and associated chime are only active for 3 seconds when the transmission is not in Park and the ignition state is OFF with driver door closed. Instead, the chime should be active for 10 seconds and message should display for 30 minutes when the driver’s door is closed,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing (49 CFR § 573) made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning.
“The underlying safety risk specified in Safety Recall 20S21 / 20V-263 still exists on this specified vehicle. Ford described that safety risk as, “The Transmission Not in Park warning and associated chime is designed to alert the driver that their vehicle is not in the park position. A shorter than designed duration of the Transmission Not in Park warning and associated chime could result in a driver exiting their vehicle while not in park without being sufficiently alerted. This could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash,” Ford said.
Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the Instrument Cluster Panel software updated. Then, the software part numbers will be validated using the Software Validation Form in the Professional Technician System before the FSA is closed. There will be no charge for this service. [As required by Federal Recall law – Autocrat]
Ford provided the general reimbursement plan for the cost of remedies paid for by vehicle owners prior to notification of a safety recall in May 2023. Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense may be eligible for reimbursement, in accordance with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.
Notification to Ford dealers is expected to occur on 15 January 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is expected to begin 26 January 2026, and is expected to be completed by 30 January 2026. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is 15 January 2026
Chronology
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.