Ford is recalling approximately 13,900 model-year 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs due to issues with the manual park release lever. A manual park release cover may be missing, which could allow for the manual park release lever to be inadvertently activated, resulting in unintended movement if the electronic parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, the instrument cluster of affected vehicles may be in factory mode, which disables warning alerts and chimes and does not display the gear positions and which gear is selected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford did not immediately announce an owner notification schedule. Owners can call the automaker at 800-392-3673 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 to learn more.
To fix the problem, dealers will inspect for the manual park release cover and install one as necessary. Dealers will also verify that the instrument cluster is out of factory mode and clear diagnostic codes.
Vehicle manufacturers are legally required to repair any recalled issues or replace the defective part for free under the Highway Safety Act of 1970. If the dealership refuses to fix the problem or attempts to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately.
Lemon Law Group Partners can assist car owners if they encounter any problems during the recall process with the manufacturer. Our attorneys deal directly with the manufacturer on the client’s behalf to quickly resolve the problem. In many cases, the attorneys get paid directly from the manufacturer so the client does not have to pay any attorneys’ fees to obtain legal counsel. For more information and a free consultation call 888-668-8581.
