Ford’s massive recall of over 1 million vehicles due to a potentially dangerous rearview camera glitch reveals yet another costly technical failure for the American automaker, highlighting ongoing quality control issues that continue to plague the company.
Key Takeaways
- Ford is recalling over 1 million vehicles spanning 2021-2025 model years due to a software error affecting rearview cameras
- The defect can cause backup camera images to freeze, delay, or not display at all, increasing crash risk while reversing
- Affected models include popular vehicles like the Bronco, F-150, Edge, Escape, and Lincoln Navigator
- This marks Ford’s second major camera-related recall this year, following a $165 million penalty for a previous delayed recall
- Owners will be notified starting June 16, with a software fix expected in the third quarter
Widespread Technical Failure Affects Popular Models
The recall encompasses a wide range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles manufactured between 2021 and 2025. Specific models affected include the 2021–2024 Bronco, F-150, Edge, 2023–2024 Escape, Corsair, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022–2024 Expedition, 2022–2025 Transit, 2021–2023 Mach-E, Lincoln Nautilus, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, and 2022–2024 Navigator. The software error, which resides in the Ford Sync infotainment system, can cause the center screen to freeze or go blank without warning, rendering the legally required backup camera useless when drivers need it most.
“A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze or not display when the car is in reverse, reducing the driver’s view behind the vehicle and increasing risk of a crash, Ford declared in a recall notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday,” Ford stated in its official communication with federal regulators. The timing of this recall highlights the continued struggles of American automakers to maintain quality control while pushing increasingly complex technology into vehicles.
Ford Motor is recalling nearly 1.1 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles because of a software problem that could cause the rearview camera image to malfunction when the car is in reverse. https://t.co/39GTPPwsjC
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 28, 2025
Delayed Response to Known Problem
Questions remain about why Ford took months to address this safety issue. According to regulatory filings, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received nearly 40 complaints about the camera system as early as January, including four reports of persistent camera failures. Despite these early warning signs, Ford engineers didn’t reproduce the defect until April, when they finally linked the problem to a software glitch in the vehicle’s systems.
“In April, engineers were able to reproduce the defect and link the faulty camera back to a software glitch,” declared by Ford.” This timeline suggests a concerning delay in addressing a safety feature mandated by federal regulations. The federal government requires all new vehicles to have functioning backup cameras, as they significantly reduce the risk of backover accidents, particularly those involving children and the elderly.
Pattern of Camera-Related Problems
This is not Ford’s first encounter with rearview camera issues. Just last month, the company recalled approximately 289,000 vehicles for similar camera problems. More troublingly, Ford paid a substantial $165 million penalty for delaying a recall of 620,000 vehicles with defective cameras. This pattern raises serious questions about Ford’s quality control processes and its commitment to addressing safety concerns promptly.
“Ford Motor is recalling more than 1 million vehicles over a glitch with the rearview camera software that could freeze or delay the image and increase the risk of a crash,” declared by Ford. acknowledged in its recall notice. While the company reports only one minor crash related to this defect with no injuries reported, the potential for more serious incidents remains until the problem is fixed.
What Owners Should Expect
Ford will begin notifying affected vehicle owners by mail starting June 16. However, the actual fix is not yet available, with the company expecting to have a solution ready in the third quarter of this year. When available, the repair will involve updating the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software at a Ford or Lincoln dealership. Some vehicles with over-the-air update capabilities may receive the fix remotely, providing a more convenient solution for owners.
Until the software update is available, Ford has not provided specific guidance to owners about how to mitigate the risk posed by potentially malfunctioning rearview cameras. The lack of warning signs before the error occurs makes it impossible for drivers to know when they might be affected, forcing them to remain extra vigilant when backing up their vehicles. This ongoing safety concern leaves many Ford owners in limbo, waiting for a fix to a problem that could put them and others at risk.
