Ford bulletin SSM 53040
What it saysWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Oct 10, 2024, received Oct 16, 2024. It names 227 model years across Ford and Lincoln (2016–2024). 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 communicationWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 53040 | Service bulletin | Oct 10, 2024 | 11008948 | PDF, 65 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 183 model years
and 99 more on this site: 2019 Ford Expedition, 2018 Ford Expedition, 2017 Ford Expedition, 2016 Ford Expedition, 2024 Ford Explorer, 2023 Ford Explorer, 2022 Ford Explorer, 2021 Ford Explorer, 2020 Ford Explorer, 2019 Ford Explorer, 2018 Ford Explorer, 2017 Ford Explorer, 2016 Ford Explorer, 2024 Ford F-150, 2023 Ford F-150, 2021 Ford F-150, 2020 Ford F-150, 2019 Ford F-150, 2018 Ford F-150, 2017 Ford F-150, 2016 Ford F-150, 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 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, 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2024 Ford F-350 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, 2016 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2024 Ford F-450 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, 2016 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2019 Ford Flex, 2018 Ford Flex, 2017 Ford Flex, 2016 Ford Flex, 2018 Ford Focus, 2017 Ford Focus, 2016 Ford Focus, 2020 Ford Fusion, 2019 Ford Fusion, 2018 Ford Fusion, 2017 Ford Fusion, 2016 Ford Fusion, 2024 Ford Maverick, 2023 Ford Maverick, 2024 Ford Mustang, 2023 Ford Mustang, 2021 Ford Mustang, 2020 Ford Mustang, 2019 Ford Mustang, 2018 Ford Mustang, 2017 Ford Mustang, 2016 Ford Mustang, 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2024 Ford Ranger, 2023 Ford Ranger, 2021 Ford Ranger, 2020 Ford Ranger, 2019 Ford Ranger, 2019 Ford Taurus, 2018 Ford Taurus, 2017 Ford Taurus, 2016 Ford Taurus, 2024 Ford Transit, 2023 Ford Transit, 2022 Ford Transit, 2021 Ford Transit, 2020 Ford Transit, 2019 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit, 2017 Ford Transit, 2016 Ford Transit, 2023 Ford Transit Connect, 2022 Ford Transit Connect, 2021 Ford Transit Connect, 2020 Ford Transit Connect, 2019 Ford Transit Connect, 2018 Ford Transit Connect, 2017 Ford Transit Connect, 2016 Ford Transit Connect.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2018 Ford E-150; 2019 Ford E-150; 2021 Ford E-150; 2022 Ford E-150; 2016 Ford E-250; 2017 Ford E-250; 2018 Ford E-250; 2019 Ford E-250; 2021 Ford E-250; 2022 Ford E-250; 2016 Ford F-53; 2017 Ford F-53; 2018 Ford F-53; 2019 Ford F-53; 2020 Ford F-53; 2021 Ford F-53; 2022 Ford F-53; 2023 Ford F-53; 2024 Ford F-53; 2016 Ford F-550 SD; 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; 2024 Ford F-550 SD; 2016 Ford F-650 SD; 2017 Ford F-650 SD; 2018 Ford F-650 SD; 2019 Ford F-650 SD; 2021 Ford F-650 SD; 2022 Ford F-650 SD; 2023 Ford F-650 SD; 2024 Ford F-650 SD; 2016 Ford F-750 SD; 2017 Ford F-750 SD; 2018 Ford F-750 SD; 2019 Ford F-750 SD; 2021 Ford F-750 SD; 2022 Ford F-750 SD; 2023 Ford F-750 SD; 2024 Ford F-750 SD.
Lincoln 44 model years
and 36 more on this site: 2017 Lincoln Continental, 2024 Lincoln Corsair, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2021 Lincoln Corsair, 2020 Lincoln Corsair, 2019 Lincoln MKC, 2018 Lincoln MKC, 2017 Lincoln MKC, 2016 Lincoln MKC, 2016 Lincoln MKS, 2019 Lincoln MKT, 2018 Lincoln MKT, 2017 Lincoln MKT, 2016 Lincoln MKT, 2018 Lincoln MKX, 2017 Lincoln MKX, 2016 Lincoln MKX, 2020 Lincoln MKZ, 2019 Lincoln MKZ, 2018 Lincoln MKZ, 2017 Lincoln MKZ, 2016 Lincoln MKZ, 2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, 2019 Lincoln Nautilus, 2024 Lincoln Navigator, 2023 Lincoln Navigator, 2022 Lincoln Navigator, 2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2020 Lincoln Navigator, 2019 Lincoln Navigator, 2018 Lincoln Navigator, 2017 Lincoln Navigator, 2016 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 183 model years this bulletin names have filed 55,294 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.
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.
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 53040 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 53040 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 53040 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 227 model years across 2 brands (Ford and Lincoln): 2024 Ford Bronco, 2023 Ford Bronco, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2021 Ford Bronco, 2024 Ford Bronco Sport, 2023 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.