Ford Recalls Vehicles Over Faulty Parking Function That Can Cause Rollaway Risk

Ford Motor Company has announced a safety recall involving hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to a defect that may prevent the vehicle from properly engaging the Park function. When this defect occurs, the vehicle may roll away after the driver believes it has been safely parked, creating a serious risk of property damage, injury, or worse.

This issue affects both electric and gasoline-powered Ford vehicles and highlights ongoing concerns about electronic shift-by-wire and software-controlled parking systems.

What’s the Problem

According to federal safety regulators, certain Ford vehicles are equipped with an integrated park function module that may fail to fully engage the transmission into Park. Even when the driver selects Park and exits the vehicle, the system may not mechanically or electronically lock the drivetrain as intended.

When this happens, the vehicle can move unexpectedly, particularly on inclines, leading to rollaway incidents.

Because many modern vehicles rely on electronic controls rather than traditional mechanical linkages, drivers may not receive clear or immediate warning that the vehicle is not securely parked.

Affected Vehicles

Ford’s recall applies to the following models:

• 2022–2026 Ford F-150 Lightning

• 2024–2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E

• 2025–2026 Ford Maverick

These vehicles use electronically controlled parking systems that rely on software and control modules rather than a traditional mechanical parking pawl engagement controlled directly by the driver.

Allegations

The recall stems from concerns that the parking function software or related control logic may fail to confirm or complete proper engagement of Park. As a result:

• Drivers may believe the vehicle is safely parked when it is not

• The vehicle may roll after the driver exits

• The risk increases on sloped surfaces or uneven terrain

Federal regulators have classified this as a safety defect because rollaway incidents can occur without warning and may place pedestrians, occupants, and nearby property at risk.

Recall / TSB

Ford has issued a formal safety recall for this condition.

Proposed Remedy

Ford plans to correct the defect through a software update, which may be delivered in one of two ways:

• An over-the-air software update

• A dealership-installed update performed at no cost to the owner

Owners are expected to receive recall notifications advising them when the fix becomes available for their specific vehicle.

Importantly, while a recall may address the defect going forward, it does not erase prior problems, losses, or damages caused by the defect before the fix is applied.

Symptoms

Some owners may notice warning signs before a rollaway occurs, including:

• The vehicle not feeling securely parked

• Warning messages related to transmission or park function

• The vehicle moving after being placed in Park

• Needing to rely on the parking brake to prevent movement

In many cases, however, there may be no obvious symptoms at all before the defect creates a dangerous situation.

How to Proceed

If you own or lease one of the affected Ford vehicles:

• Document Issues: Keep detailed records of all incidents, warning messages, and dealer visits. If the vehicle rolls or nearly rolls, document the date, location, and conditions.

• Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: While the law doesn’t specify an exact number, repeated failures to safely engage Park or extended time out of service may support a Lemon Law claim.

• Monitor Symptoms: If your vehicle moves unexpectedly after being placed in Park, stop driving it and notify the dealership immediately.

• Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney, like Valero Law: Even if a recall exists, you may still be entitled to relief if the defect caused safety risks, repeated issues, or loss of use.

Call Valero Law

If you own or lease a Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, or Maverick that has experienced parking or rollaway issues, you may be entitled to relief under the California Lemon Law.

At Valero Law, APC, we represent California consumers in vehicle defect cases on a contingency basis, meaning there is no cost to you unless we recover compensation.

Potential remedies may include:

• A full repurchase of your vehicle

• A replacement vehicle

• Or a cash settlement

Call Valero Law or complete our free Lemon Law case evaluation to learn your rights and determine whether your Ford qualifies as a lemon under California law.