Ford Explorer & Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid Pedestrian-Sound Recall: Your California Lemon Law Rights

Ford has recalled about 66,000 Ford and Lincoln hybrid SUVs (Ford recall 26S51) because a software error can silence the pedestrian warning sound the vehicles are required to make at low speeds. It's the second recall over this issue, expanding an earlier one. Here's what the recall covers, what to do, and when a recall like this can become a California lemon law claim.

What the recall covers

The recall affects hybrid versions of the 2025–2027 Ford Explorer and 2024–2027 Lincoln Nautilus, which share the same audio hardware and software. A fault in the audio processing system can stop the external pedestrian alert — the sound near-silent hybrids emit while driving slowly in electric mode — from playing. The failure can happen at random, with no input from the driver. Without that sound, pedestrians, cyclists, and people in parking lots may not hear the vehicle approaching, raising the risk of a collision.

What owners should do now

• Stay especially alert for people on foot in parking lots, driveways, and crosswalks until the fix is installed.
• Watch for your Ford or Lincoln notification letter — interim letters are expected to begin mailing in early August, with more to follow once a remedy is ready.
• Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ford.com, or lincoln.com.
• Keep your recall letter and every repair order.

The remedy — and why some owners may wait

For Nautilus models equipped with the 28-speaker audio system, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module for free. For the other affected Nautilus and Explorer vehicles, the remedy is still under development — and even vehicles already repaired under the earlier recall will need the new fix. That means some owners could be driving with an unresolved safety defect for a while before a complete repair is available.

When this recall can become a California lemon

A recall isn't automatically a lemon — the manufacturer is acknowledging a defect and providing a free fix. But when the repair isn't yet available, doesn't resolve the problem, requires repeated trips, or your Explorer or Nautilus has other substantial warranty defects that can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees.