Recall 20V263 covers 10,460 2019-2020 Ford Mustang and Expedition vehicles for too-short park warning alerts. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 10,460 2019-2020 Mustang and Expedition vehicles under recall 20V263 because the "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and chime are shorter than intended. If a driver gets out before shifting into park, the vehicle can move on its own and increase the risk of injury or a crash; Ford dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The instrument panel cluster in 2019-2020 Ford Mustang vehicles and 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles is the screen and gauge unit in front of the driver. It shows the "Transmission Not In Park" message and sounds a chime when the ignition is off, the driver door is closed, and the transmission is not in park.
On affected vehicles, that alert is too short because the supplier did not build the feature to Ford's specification. The message and chime stay active for 3 seconds instead of the required 30 minutes for the message and 10 seconds for the chime. That gives the driver less time to notice that the vehicle was left out of park.
There is no warning sign before failure. What you notice is the alert itself ending too soon after shutdown, especially if you expect the message or chime to continue while you check the shifter position.
Who's affected?
Covers Mustang and Expedition vehicles from the 2019-2020 model years, with scope split between the instrument panel and automatic-transmission gear position indication.
| 2019 Ford Mustang | instrument panel |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Mustang | automatic transmission |
| 2019 Ford Expedition | instrument panel |
| 2019 Ford Expedition | automatic transmission |
| 2020 Ford Mustang | instrument panel |
| 2020 Ford Mustang | automatic transmission |
| Units affected | 10,460 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
Leaving the vehicle before shifting into park can allow unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash. There is no warning sign before this happens, so confirm the transmission is in park before exiting and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Ford Mustang or Expedition is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free instrument-cluster reprogramming that restores the transmission-not-in-park warning message and chime duration.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V263 when you call.
- Shift fully into park and confirm the gear position before exiting the vehicle until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician reprograms the instrument cluster so the "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and chime use the intended timing. The software update is free under the recall, with parts and labor covered by Ford. If you already paid out of pocket for this instrument-cluster reprogramming before the recall repair, ask the service desk or Ford customer service about Ford's standard reimbursement plan and have the repair paperwork ready.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 8, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 11, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| May 11, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 25, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 26, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V263?
Recall 20V263 covers 10,460 2019 Ford Expedition and 2019-2020 Ford Mustang vehicles with a shorter-than-intended "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and chime. Ford dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster for free.
What should I do if my 2019 Ford Expedition or 2019-2020 Ford Mustang is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V263. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the instrument cluster reprogramming. Reference Ford recall number 20S21 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Ford dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster free of charge under recall 20V263, regardless of where the vehicle was purchased.
What is the safety risk in recall 20V263?
The risk is unintended vehicle movement. If the driver exits without shifting the transmission into park, the shorter warning message and chime give less notice, increasing the risk of injury or crash. The dealer repair restores the intended warning behavior.
What if I bought my Ford Mustang or Expedition used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Ford is included, then call a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 20V263 or Ford recall number 20S21.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V263000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V263 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V263000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →