A recall of 66,383 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Nautilus Hybrids for a missing pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
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.
Affected VINs should be searchable now at the NHTSA website.
Here is the relevant information from the NHTSA Recall notice:
NHTSA ID Number: 26V415
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 66,383
Estimated percentage with defect: 100%
Descriptive Information
The recalled parts were introduced into production on April 4, 2023 for the Lincoln Nautilus and December 8, 2023 for the Ford Explorer. They were taken out of production on June 18, 2026 for both vehicles.
Affected vehicles are equipped with the HEV powertrain and Phoenix Audio System.
These vehicles are not produced in VIN order. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database.
18,242 Explorer vehicles are affected.
48,141 Nautilus vehicles are affected.
Description of defect or noncompliance:
The vehicle may not emit pedestrian warning sounds in certain instances where there is an error in the audio processing software and the vehicle is driven below 30 kph in electric mode. This condition can occur randomly without input from the driver.
Description of the safety risk, including crash, fire, death, injury:
If the vehicle does not emit pedestrian warning sounds while being driven in electric mode below 30 kph, pedestrians may not be able to determine by sound whether there is an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury to pedestrians.
Description of the cause:
Loss of Pedestrian Alert function can occur due a software issue within the DSP module or an additional non-DSP related causal factor that is still under investigation.
Identification of any warning that can occur:
The driver may observe a message on the Instrument Panel Cluster stating “Pedestrian Sounder Fault. Service Now”
Chronology
On February 19, 2026, an issue pertaining to loss of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) (also referred to as Pedestrian Alert System (PAS)) function on vehicles that had previously received the remedy for Ford’s Safety Recall 25SA2 was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group for review. Safety Recall 25SA2 addressed the loss of PAS functionality due to a software-related defect within the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or the Audio Control Module (ACM) of certain hybrid electric vehicles. The remedy for 25SA2 was a software update that Ford made available through dealer service on October 29, 2025. On February 26, 2026, CCRG requested a pause in the deployment of this service remedy due to post-recall complaints for the loss of PAS functionality. In these complaints, many drivers reported observing a message on the Instrument Panel Cluster stating “Pedestrian Sounder Fault. Service Now”.
In March and April 2026, CCRG analyzed warranty claims and began its technical investigation. First, CCRG binned the post-recall complaints against the different audio architectures. In total, for the HEVs, there are three different audio systems: the base audio system, the 12-channel DSP system, and the 24-channel DSP system. The team identified a potential software issue within the 24-channel DSP system on Nautilus HEV vehicles that can cause a loss of PAS function. However, this causal factor accounted for a portion of the warranty claims associated with this topic and did not fully explain why there was a loss of PAS functionality after receiving the 25SA2 remedy. CCRG continued its investigation.
In May and June 2026, CCRG identified an additional concern that appears to affect all audio systems on the Nautilus HEV and Explorer HEV vehicle variants and leads to intermittent loss of PAS function. While the precise cause of this condition remains under investigation, CCRG believes that the condition appears to be related to vehicles detecting a loss of communication between the Audio Control Module (ACM) and the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). When this occurs, two specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are recorded. Based on a review of connected vehicle data and customer interviews, CCRG believes drivers may randomly lose PAS function for a key cycle. It is not known at this time if the loss of PAS function is due to a communication loss occurring between the ACM and the APIM or if there is an error in the detection and response strategy that results in DTCs and subsequent loss of PAS function.
On June 23, 2026, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concerns and approved a field action.
As of May 1, 2026, Ford is aware of 65 warranty claims on model year 2024–2026 Nautilus HEV vehicles and 7 warranty claims on model year 2025–2026 Explorer HEV vehicles alleging post-25SA2 PAS issues.
Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.
Remedy
Description of Remedy
Remedy Type: Replace, Software
Description of remedy program:
Owners of 28 speaker Nautilus HEV vehicles will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the DSP module replaced.
Additionally, owners of all Nautilus HEV and Explorer HEV vehicles included in this program will be notified that the remedy is currently under development for non-DSP related factors affecting PAS function.
There will be no charge for these services.
How remedy component differs from recalled component:
On 28 speaker Nautilus HEV vehicles, the remedy DSP will have software version 2.24 or above. This software version will include improvements to mitigate loss of pedestrian warning sound.
Additional remedy actions are still under development.
Description of recall schedule:
Notification to dealers is expected to occur on July 7, 2026. Mailing of interim owner notification letters is expected to begin August 3, 2026 and is expected to be completed by August 7, 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters will be determined once the remedy is identified. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is July 7, 2026.
