TSB SSM-51838 — Ford and Lincoln Service bulletin
SSM-51838 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 9 Ford and Lincoln models, 2017–2020 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. In 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…
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years SSM-51838 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Edge | 2017, 2018 |
| Ford Escape | 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Ford Expedition | 2017 |
| Ford Explorer | 2018, 2019 |
| Ford Fiesta | 2019 |
| Ford Fusion | 2017, 2018 |
| Ford Mustang | 2017 |
| Lincoln MKX | 2017, 2018 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Every document filed under SSM-51838
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| SSM 51838 | August 2, 2023 | Service bulletin |
What SSM-51838 covers
Electrical — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB SSM-51838?
SSM-51838 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford and Lincoln, covering 9 Ford and Lincoln models across the 2017–2020 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: In 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…
Which vehicles does SSM-51838 cover?
NHTSA's file names Ford Edge (2017–2018); Ford Escape (2017–2019); Ford Expedition (2017); Ford Explorer (2018–2019); Ford Fiesta (2019); Ford Fusion (2017–2018); Ford Mustang (2017); Lincoln MKX (2017–2018); Lincoln MKZ (2017–2020). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.
Is TSB SSM-51838 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. SSM-51838 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.
How do I get the full text of SSM-51838?
Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under SSM-51838, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under SSM-51838. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.