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Lincoln transmission and axle recalls involving rollaway and lost power
Lincoln's recurring power train problems involve vehicles failing to remain in Park, losing drive power, or moving contrary to the selected gear. Aviator appears repeatedly: the 2020 model has driveshaft and gear-display recalls; the 2023 model has a loose transmission bolt recall; and the 2025 model has cross member bolt and valve body recalls. The park pawl recall covers 2020-2021 Aviator and 2018-2021 Navigator. Corsair's 2021-2022 models appear in both HPCM software notices involving unexpected shifts into neutral. Separate axle problems affect the 2020 Nautilus and 2021 Corsair through inadequate lubricant, and the 2023 Navigator through a potentially fractured front axle pinion.
Warning signs to watch for
- 24S33 and 25S16: The vehicle may shift into neutral unexpectedly and lose drive power.
- 25S19: Reverse gear may fail, or the vehicle may move forward unexpectedly in reverse or neutral.
- 18S09: The vehicle may roll away after exit despite the shift lever and instrument panel indicating Park.
- The August 5, 2019 Aviator recall: Warning alerts and the selected transmission gear may not appear on the instrument cluster.
- The February 24, 2023 Navigator axle recall: Four-wheel drive may be lost and the front wheels may lock up.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of the supplied Lincoln power train notices tells owners to stop driving or park outside. The notices for 20S49, 20S65, 18S09, 23S06, 24S33, 25S16, and 25S19 do not tell owners to stop driving. Neither do the January 2021 rear axle, February 2023 front axle pinion, January 2025 cross member bolt, June 2026 park system, or August 2019 gear-display notices. These statements describe the instructions in the supplied notices; they do not establish that an affected vehicle is safe to drive.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are free under the supplied notices. For 20S49, dealers replace the start/stop accumulator; for 20S65, they inspect the driveshaft label and replace the driveshaft as necessary. The 24S33 and 25S16 remedies update HPCM software. For 25S19, dealers replace the transmission main control valve body. The June 2026 recall combines a powertrain control module update with inspection and replacement of damaged transmission components as necessary.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 9 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report power train problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under power train for the Lincoln models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Power train complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Lincoln Nautilus | 28 |
| 2019 Lincoln Navigator | 22 |
| 2020 Lincoln Aviator | 22 |
| 2018 Lincoln Navigator | 20 |
| 2020 Lincoln Navigator | 17 |
| 2020 Lincoln Nautilus | 17 |
| 2021 Lincoln Navigator | 6 |
| 2021 Lincoln Corsair | 5 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2026 | Ford, Lincoln SUVs: Transmission Park System May Fail | high |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Ford Bronco, Explorer, Mustang, Aviator Transmission Defect | high |
| Feb 28, 2025 | Ford Escape, Maverick, Lincoln Corsair May Shift to Neutral | high |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Loose Transmission Bolts | high |
| May 10, 2024 | Ford Escape, Maverick may shift to neutral unexpectedly | high |
| Feb 24, 2023 | Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Axle Pinion Fracture | high |
| Feb 10, 2023 | Ford, Lincoln Vehicles May Not Stay in Park | high |
| Jan 15, 2021 | Ford, Lincoln Crossovers Rear Drive Axle Seizure | high |
| Nov 10, 2020 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Driveshaft Can Crack, Cause Fire | critical |
| Sep 10, 2020 | Ford, Lincoln transmission bolts may leak, risk fire | critical |
| Aug 5, 2019 | Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator gear shift, display fault | medium |
| Apr 4, 2018 | Ford, Lincoln Vehicles May Roll Away in Park | high |
Common questions
Why can my Lincoln indicate Park but still roll away?
The 2018 Navigator notice, 18S09, describes a potentially missing transmission roll pin. The 2023 Aviator notice, 23S06, describes a loose bolt that may prevent park gear engagement even though the shifter indicates Park. Their remedies differ.
Does a previous Corsair software repair settle the neutral-shift problem?
The 25S16 notice includes certain 2021-2022 Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under 24V-330. It describes HPCM software that may cause an unexpected shift into neutral and specifies another dealer HPCM software update, free of charge.
What does the 2025 Aviator valve body recall repair?
The 25S19 notice describes an incorrectly machined transmission valve body that can cause reverse gear failure or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral. Dealers replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.