Ford recalls 1.1 million vehicles: rearview camera software glitch

Ford is recalling nearly 1.1 million vehicles due to a software issue that could cause rearview cameras to malfunction posing a heightened risk of crashes.

Ford recalls 1.1 million vehicles over rearview camera software glitch

The recall, disclosed in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reported by Reuters, affects a range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles from model years 2021 through 2025.

Impacted models include:

• 2021–2024 Bronco
• 2021-2024 F-150
• 2021-2024 Edge
• 2023–2024 Escape
• 2023-2024 Corsair
• 2023-2024 Super Duty trucks (F-250 through F-600)
• 2022–2024 Expedition
• 2022–2025 Transit vans
• 2021–2023 Mustang Mach-E
• 2022–2024 Lincoln Navigator
• 2022-2024 Nautilus
• 2024 Ranger
• 2024 Mustang

According to NHTSA, the issue stems from a software malfunction that may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or fail to display entirely. This could potentially impair driver visibility when reversing when relying on the mandatory camera.

Ford said it has received one report of a minor crash involving property damage believed to be linked to the camera failure.

The problem first came under scrutiny in January when NHTSA approached Ford with more than three dozen consumer complaints about faulty rearview cameras on 2021–2023 Ford F-150 trucks. In April, Ford engineers confirmed the defect, tying it to specific software versions that manage the vehicle’s dashboard display systems.

The recall will be addressed through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, allowing Ford dealers to fix affected vehicles without requiring a physical service visit. The faulty software in question controls the vehicle’s infotainment system, including map displays and app functionality.

Ford plans to notify owners by mail beginning June 16. A second letter will follow once a final remedy is available later this year.

This marks the latest in a series of recalls related to rearview cameras. In April, Ford issued two separate recalls involving nearly 289,000 vehicles for similar defects, which required full camera replacements.

The automaker has faced increased scrutiny over its handling of rearview camera issues. In November, Ford agreed to a $165 million civil penalty to settle a NHTSA investigation into its delayed response to earlier camera-related recalls. That probe began in August 2021 after Ford expanded an initial 2020 recall of 620,000 vehicles to include an additional 24,000 in March of this year.

Our take

The rearview camera remains a sore spot for many automakers with software issues or water intrusion rendering them unusable. This wouldn’t be a big problem except for the fact they are now considered mandatory safety equipment much like seat belts. Fortunately, this fix is an OTA update and it won’t require yet another bothersome dealership visit for a recall repair.