Recall 26V415 affects 66,383 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid vehicles for missing pedestrian warning sounds. Repair will be free once Lincoln opens it.
Lincoln is recalling 66,383 2024-2027 Nautilus Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid vehicles because a software error can keep the pedestrian warning sound from playing at certain speeds. Without that sound, pedestrians can lose the audible warning of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury; the dealer repair will be free once Lincoln opens it.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The pedestrian alert system on the 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid makes an outside warning sound so people near the vehicle can hear it at low speeds. Hybrid vehicles run quietly, so this sounder acts like an audible signal for pedestrians around the front or rear of the vehicle. The system depends on the audio control hardware and software sending the right signal at the right time.
On affected vehicles, a software error can stop that pedestrian warning sound from playing at certain speeds. Ford traced part of the problem to the 24-channel Digital Signal Processing module, which manages audio signals. Ford is also investigating a separate issue tied to communication between the Audio Control Module and the vehicle interface module. When that communication breaks down or is detected incorrectly, the vehicle can lose pedestrian alert function for a key cycle.
The warning sign is a message on the instrument panel that says, "Pedestrian Sounder Fault. Service Now." If that message appears, the outside pedestrian warning sound has stopped working.
Who's affected?
VINs become searchable on July 7, 2026; until then, the VIN-by-VIN list is not public.
| 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
|---|---|
| 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2027 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2025 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2025 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2026 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2026 Ford Explorer Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid | External/pedestrian alert |
| Units affected | 66,383 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 72 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 SUV.
What's the safety risk?
Pedestrians rely on the outside warning sound to notice an approaching vehicle. If the sound does not play, people near the vehicle get less warning, which increases injury risk. Treat "Pedestrian Sounder Fault. Service Now" as a reason to schedule service. Repair will be free at any franchised Lincoln dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid or Explorer Hybrid is included in this recall.
- Watch for Ford's owner letters. Interim safety letters are expected, and repair letters will follow when the remedy is ready.
- Contact a franchised Lincoln dealer after your repair letter arrives to schedule the free pedestrian-warning-sound repair.
- Reference recall number 26V415 and Ford recall 26S51 when you call the dealer.
- Use extra care around pedestrians until the repair is complete, especially at low speeds where the warning sound is needed.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is still under development for this recall. Lincoln has identified a repair for Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers: a Lincoln technician will replace the digital signal processing module, free of charge. For other affected Nautilus Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid vehicles, the final dealer repair will be free once it opens. If you already paid for a related repair, Lincoln's standard reimbursement plan applies. Bring receipts or repair paperwork to the service desk and ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 30, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 7, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| July 7, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 7, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 3, 2026 | Interim owner notification (planned) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V415?
Recall 26V415 covers 66,383 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid vehicles with a software error that stops the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds. That missing sound can fail to alert pedestrians to an approaching vehicle, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid or Explorer Hybrid is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V415. If it is, contact a franchised Lincoln dealer and ask what remedy applies to your vehicle. Reference recall 26V415 and Ford recall number 26S51 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost. Lincoln dealers will replace the digital signal processing module free of charge on Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, and the remedy is still under development for other affected Nautilus and Explorer Hybrid vehicles.
Is it safe to drive with this pedestrian warning sound recall?
The filing does not say do not drive. The risk is outside the cabin: the vehicle can fail to make the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds, so pedestrians are less likely to hear it approaching. Confirm your VIN, then ask the dealer for the current repair timing.
When will owners get notice for recall 26V415?
Ford expects to mail interim owner letters on August 03, 2026. Those letters notify owners of the safety risk. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available for affected vehicles that do not already have an available module replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V415000 |
|---|---|
| Lincoln customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V415 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V415000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on July 4, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →