Ford and Lincoln Recall Hundreds of Vehicles Over Transmission Defects in 2024-2025 Models

Ford and Lincoln Grapple With Fresh Transmission Recall Troubles

Here we go again—one of Detroit’s biggest names is sounding the alarm over its latest vehicles. This time, Ford recall notices are hitting two of its best-known brands, as some 2024 and 2025 models are flagged for looming transmission trouble. At first glance, the numbers seem small compared to some sprawling recalls, but both the risks and the defects are too big to shrug off. Ford is moving quickly to fix problems that could cause a car to lurch forward unexpectedly, lose drive power, or even roll away.

The first recall, under campaign 25V164000, calls out a machining flaw deep in the heart of the 10R80 transmission’s main control valve body. In plain English? If the part inside your gearbox isn’t machined just right, it could fail so badly that reversing actually sends the car moving forward—or worse, the gears could slip when you’re sitting in neutral. Picture parking a luxury SUV like the Lincoln Aviator and suddenly feeling it creep forward, even when you think you’re safe. The recall only hits three of these SUVs (built in a narrow window during December 2024), but the defect lets a glitch in the assembly line threaten safety. Ford is telling affected Aviator owners they’ll get a brand-new valve body, free of charge, at the dealer.

But the story doesn’t end there. The second recall, campaign 25V020000, is much larger, pulling in 259 vehicles from both the 2025 Lincoln Aviator and the Ford Explorer built on September 17, 2024. These have a different problem—loose or missing bolts on the transmission cross member. Think of it like forgetting to fully tighten the screws holding up the transmission under the car. If those bolts wiggle free or just never made it into the factory assembly, the transmission can break loose. That means the car could suddenly lose power while driving or even drop out of gear.

What Owners Need to Watch Out For—and How Ford Is Responding

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by recall alerts, especially when they mention complex parts like valve bodies or cross members. But the bottom line is simple: issues like these can cause serious accidents if left unchecked. Ford isn’t leaving owners in the dark. For the valve body issue (labeled as 25S19), the brand started letting affected customers know on April 11, 2025. For the cross member bolt defect (25S03), notifications started rolling out on February 10, 2025.

Dealers are stepping up with hands-on inspections and fixes. For the transmission issues caused by missing or loose bolts, mechanics will either replace the bolts or swap out the entire cross member—whatever gets the safest result. As for the three unlucky Aviator SUVs carrying the valve defect, owners are told to come in for a quick valve body swap. No one will be charged for these repairs.

Ford wants worried owners to know help is just a phone call away. The company set up its recall hotline at 1-866-436-7332. For those who prefer dealing with things in person, a visit to the dealership is enough to get action. Staying on top of these recalls keeps everyone—from Explorer drivers to Aviator owners—a little safer down the road.