Ford bulletin SSM 51838
What it saysIn various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 2, 2023, received Sep 4, 2023, about the electrical system. It names 124 model years across Ford and Lincoln (2017–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
One page for every brand it was filed under. Each brand’s bulletins: Ford · Lincoln.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationIn various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable. Since this is a fleet vehicle, it cannot access the (SYNC Connect) FordPass or LincolnWay app through the TCU Embedded Modem. If this message appears, the vehicle may be equipped with a fleet telematics module. Replacement of the TCU or TCU related repairs will not prevent this message from appearing. Refer the customer to in app FordPass Guides or LincolnWay Concierge Teams to aid with fleet telematics removal. Open app, select Account > Help > CHAT or CALL option.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 51838 | Service bulletin | Aug 2, 2023 | 10241627 | PDF, 29 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themFord 97 model years
and 50 more on this site: 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2023 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2019 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2023 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2022 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2019 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2017 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2019 Ford Fiesta, 2020 Ford Fusion, 2019 Ford Fusion, 2018 Ford Fusion, 2017 Ford Fusion, 2023 Ford Maverick, 2022 Ford Maverick, 2023 Ford Mustang, 2022 Ford Mustang, 2021 Ford Mustang, 2020 Ford Mustang, 2019 Ford Mustang, 2018 Ford Mustang, 2017 Ford Mustang, 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2023 Ford Ranger, 2022 Ford Ranger, 2021 Ford Ranger, 2020 Ford Ranger, 2019 Ford Ranger, 2023 Ford Transit, 2022 Ford Transit, 2021 Ford Transit, 2020 Ford Transit, 2019 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit, 2017 Ford Transit.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2017 Ford F-550 SD; 2018 Ford F-550 SD; 2019 Ford F-550 SD; 2020 Ford F-550 SD; 2021 Ford F-550 SD; 2022 Ford F-550 SD; 2023 Ford F-550 SD.
Lincoln 27 model years
and 19 more on this site: 2019 Lincoln MKC, 2018 Lincoln MKC, 2018 Lincoln MKX, 2017 Lincoln MKX, 2020 Lincoln MKZ, 2019 Lincoln MKZ, 2018 Lincoln MKZ, 2017 Lincoln MKZ, 2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, 2019 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023 Lincoln Navigator, 2022 Lincoln Navigator, 2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2020 Lincoln Navigator, 2019 Lincoln Navigator, 2018 Lincoln Navigator.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 117 model years this bulletin names have filed 40,018 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 4,430 of them name Electrical System — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On the 2017 Ford Fusion, the 92 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 29,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.
2022 Lincoln Navigator L Reserve has many issues with Modules one of them that keeps goes bad is Apin which controls the screen and all other features like Massage seats Running Boards and Music and all other controls that gets disabled when it goes bad it’s a frequent problem which I has been having often changed 3 times but the problem…
2022 Lincoln Navigator · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jul 11, 2023 · ODI 11531641
The screen freezes up or goes blank while driving or upon starting up this is happened over a dozen times. When this happens the driver assist stops working along with the back up cameras the bluetooth the navigation everything that is on the screen is not available to me this is a huge safety hazard the dealership is aware of the issue…
2019 Lincoln Nautilus · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jul 17, 2020 · ODI 11340024
The collision warning doesn't warn sometimes. Nothing goes off when Im approaching and or have slammed on my breaks to avoid a collision. Sometimes it goes off at a great distance when it doesn't make sense to go off. I just bought the car used and have noticed this a lot. Also sometimes lane departure corrects and sometimes it doesn't.
2020 Lincoln Navigator · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Sep 2, 2025 · ODI 11684616
In depth: 2022 Ford Bronco Sport electrical problems → · 2021 Ford Bronco Sport electrical problems → · 2023 Ford Escape electrical problems → · 2022 Ford Escape electrical problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the electrical system
Source: same model, same component group653 other manufacturer communications filed against these Ford models under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Ford list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 26-2449 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2428. Reason for update: to update the Service Procedure to remove the fuel tank isolation valve replacement and… |
| SSM 55262 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | Some 2027 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with power running boards built on or before 13-Sep-2026 may exhibit an intermittent condit… |
| 26-2431 v2 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2226. Reason for update: update the Service procedure for 2021-2022 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost vehicles with new Ford D… |
| TSB 26-2439 | Service bulletin | Oct 21, 2026 | Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and radio system… |
| SSM 55258 | Service bulletin | Oct 19, 2026 | Some 2025-2027 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may exhibit an intermittent electronic static/buzzing/screeching/humming noise from the front a… |
| SSM 55256 | Service bulletin | Oct 16, 2026 | Some 2024-2026 Nautilus and 2025-2027 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with power folding mirrors may exhibit concerns with the auto foldi… |
| SSM 55247 | Service bulletin | Oct 15, 2026 | Some 2024-2026 Nautilus vehicles may experience an "Advance Front Lighting Features Temporarily Unavailable" message with diagnostic trouble… |
| SSM 55255 | Service bulletin | Oct 15, 2026 | Some 2024-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera may exhibit a distorted or corrupted 360-degree camera image in the c… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Ford and Lincoln, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 51838 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 51838 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 51838 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 124 model years across 2 brands (Ford and Lincoln): 2023 Ford Bronco, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2021 Ford Bronco, 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, 2022 Ford Bronco Sport, 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.