The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025-2027 Explorer Hybrid vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
The risk
A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Note: This is an expansion of Recall 25V691. Any vehicles previously repaired under 25V691 must have the new remedy completed. Ford will release an over-the-air (OTA) update or dealers will update the APIM software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module in Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S51. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 7, 2026.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer Hybrid | 2025, 2026, 2027 |
| Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 |
Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer Hybrid | 2025 | 2 | 2 |
| Ford Explorer Hybrid | 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| Ford Explorer Hybrid | 2027 | 0 | 1 |
| Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | 2024 | 13 | 2 |
| Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | 2025 | 9 | 2 |
| Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | 2026 | 3 | 2 |
| Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | 2027 | 0 | 1 |
Other back over prevention recalls in 2026
33 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the back over prevention; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 26V678000 15 Oct 2026 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 26V666000 9 Oct 2026 | Altec Industries, Inc. |
| 26V650000 6 Oct 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V605000 22 Sept 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V597000 16 Sept 2026 | Rivian Automotive, LLC |
| 26V585000 10 Sept 2026 | Forest River Bus, LLC |
| 26V560000 1 Sept 2026 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 26V549000 25 Aug 2026 | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026