Ford Recalls 66,383 Hybrid SUVs Over Pedestrian Alert System Failure

Ford Explorer / Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid Recall Summary

• Who is affected: Owners of 2025–2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid and 2024–2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles
• What is the defect: A software error can silence the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), a federally required pedestrian warning tone that alerts pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is moving at low speeds in electric-only mode
• Recall size: 66,383 U.S. vehicles
• Fix status: A remedy is available now for Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles with the 28-speaker audio system: dealers replace the digital signal processing module. No remedy is currently available for Explorer Hybrid or other Nautilus Hybrid vehicles. Owner notification letters are scheduled to begin August 3, 2026. VIN lookup is live now at nhtsa.gov.
• Prior recall: This recall is an expansion of a prior unsuccessful recall, 25V691, which attempted to fix the same defect. The prior fix did not resolve the issue.
• Check your VIN: NHTSA VIN lookup | Think you may have a lemon law claim? Contact The Margarian Law Firm
• California owners: If your Explorer or Nautilus hybrid is affected, contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation

What triggered this recall?

Ford Motor Company filed NHTSA recall 26V415 covering 2025–2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid and 2024–2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles. This recall is an expansion of a prior recall, 25V691, which Ford had issued to address the same underlying defect but whose remedy did not fully resolve the problem.

The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) is a federally mandated feature on hybrid and electric vehicles. When these vehicles operate at low speeds primarily on electric power, the engine is silent and pedestrians, cyclists, and others may not hear the vehicle approaching. AVAS generates an artificial tone to provide the audible warning that would otherwise come from the engine. Federal law requires it to function correctly.

The defect involves a software error that can prevent AVAS from producing any sound during low-speed electric operation. A silent hybrid vehicle in an urban or pedestrian environment creates a serious hazard to people who are not able to detect the vehicle’s approach by sound, including visually impaired pedestrians who rely on AVAS tones as a safety cue.

Ford had previously issued recall 25V691 in 2025 to address this same failure. The software update deployed under that prior recall did not resolve the issue for all affected vehicles. Recall 26V415 covers the expanded population of vehicles in which AVAS remains nonfunctional, including vehicles that received the prior remedy without success.

As of the recall announcement, a remedy is available only for Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with the optional 28-speaker audio system. For those vehicles, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module. No remedy is currently available for Ford Explorer Hybrids or for Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid vehicles without the 28-speaker system. Owner notification letters are scheduled to begin August 3, 2026. NHTSA notes that any vehicle previously repaired under recall 25V691 must also have this new remedy completed.

Sources: NHTSA Recall 26V415 | Autoblog | BizzyCar

Which vehicles are included in this recall?

All recalled vehicles are hybrid models. NHTSA does not restrict this recall to plug-in hybrid variants only. Check your VIN to confirm coverage for your specific trim.

• 2025–2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid
• 2024–2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid
• Total U.S. vehicles affected: 66,383

VIN lookup is live now at nhtsa.gov/vin-lookup. Owner notification letters begin August 3, 2026. Important: NHTSA states that any vehicle previously repaired under recall 25V691 must also complete the new remedy under 26V415. The prior repair does not satisfy this recall.

Why the timing creates a legal window for affected owners

Recall 26V415 is Ford’s second attempt to fix the same AVAS software defect. The first recall, 25V691, was issued and a software remedy was deployed. That fix did not work. A second recall has now been issued, and for the vast majority of affected vehicles, no new remedy is currently available.

California’s lemon law considers the cumulative number of repair attempts for the same defect, not just the attempts made under the most recent recall. If your vehicle received a repair under the prior recall 25V691, that attempted repair counts. Owners whose vehicles have now been the subject of two recalls for the same underlying defect, with no successful resolution for most of them, may have a compelling lemon law history even before any additional repair is attempted.

For California owners: a federal safety defect (a nonfunctional pedestrian warning system) that has resisted two recall remedies creates exactly the kind of repair history that California lemon law is designed to address. The Margarian Law Firm can review your specific situation.

What should Ford Explorer and Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid owners do right now?

• Confirm your coverage: Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/vin-lookup or contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332
• Use extra caution in pedestrian areas: Until your vehicle is confirmed repaired, exercise additional care when operating at low speeds in areas with pedestrians or cyclists, as AVAS may not be functioning
• Do not assume the prior recall fix resolved the issue: If your vehicle received a repair under recall 25V691, it may still be affected by 26V415. Confirm with your dealer or via the NHTSA VIN lookup
• Ask your dealer about the available remedy: Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid owners with the 28-speaker system may be eligible for the digital signal processing module replacement now. Ask your dealer before waiting for the notification letter
• Document all dealer visits for this issue: Every visit related to AVAS, pedestrian warning sounds, or the related software repairs is part of your recall repair history
• Track recall numbers: Note that your vehicle may have records under both 25V691 (prior recall) and 26V415 (this recall). Keeping both sets of records together is important

For recall and repair status, contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. For questions about your legal rights, contact The Margarian Law Firm.

Could this recall affect your lemon law rights?

Not every recall directly leads to a lemon law claim. Whether this recall matters for your specific legal situation depends on your vehicle’s repair history and whether the AVAS defect has been successfully resolved.

This recall is unusual because it is Ford’s second attempt to fix the same federally required safety system. If your vehicle was covered by the prior recall 25V691, received a repair attempt, and is now covered by a new recall for the same defect, you may already have the repair history that matters most to a California lemon law analysis. Critically, for most vehicles in this recall, no remedy is currently available. The AVAS defect remains unresolved.

Owners of Explorer or Nautilus Hybrids who want to understand their options should not wait for a third recall. Contact The Margarian Law Firm to have your complete service history reviewed.

Could your Ford or Lincoln Hybrid qualify? A quick self-check

• Was your vehicle covered by the prior recall 25V691 and did it receive a repair that did not resolve the AVAS issue?
• Has your dealer told you the pedestrian alert system is not functioning?
• Have you had two or more dealer visits for this issue without a permanent fix?
• Has your vehicle been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days?
• Is your vehicle still within the manufacturer’s warranty period?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be entitled to compensation under California’s lemon law. Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation.

If your vehicle qualifies, California law requires the manufacturer to pay your attorney fees, meaning representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket.

What California’s lemon law actually covers →

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California Ford Explorer or Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid owner?

If your vehicle was covered by the prior recall and still has an unresolved AVAS defect, or if this is the first time you are learning about the defect in your vehicle, The Margarian Law Firm can help you understand your rights.

Our firm practices exclusively in California automotive consumer law, including lemon law, dealer fraud, and automotive class actions. That exclusive focus means deeper case knowledge, greater litigation resources, and a track record built entirely on cases like yours.

Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation →

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and further reading

• NHTSA consumer recall record 26V415
• Autoblog: Ford Explorer and Nautilus hybrid pedestrian alert recall
• BizzyCar: June 2026 Ford Recall for Explorer and Nautilus Hybrid Pedestrian Alert Failure
• NHTSA Recall 25V691 (prior recall for same defect)
• NHTSA VIN Lookup Tool