Ford’s backup camera safety nightmare forces the automaker to recall over 1 million vehicles as federal regulators raise concerns about the company’s growing pattern of defective safety equipment.
Key Takeaways
- Ford is recalling over 1 million vehicles spanning model years 2021-2025 due to software errors affecting rearview camera functionality
- Affected models include popular vehicles like the Bronco, F-150, Edge, and Lincoln’s Navigator and Nautilus
- The defect can cause camera images to freeze, delay, or disappear completely while in reverse, with no warning signs before failure
- Ford has already documented one crash related to the defect and has a troubling history of similar recalls, including a $165 million penalty for delayed safety actions
- Vehicle owners will receive notification letters beginning June 16, with software updates expected in the third quarter
Another Massive Recall Hits American Automaker
Ford Motor Company has initiated a recall affecting over one million vehicles across multiple model lines due to a potentially dangerous software defect in its backup camera systems. The widespread recall impacts vehicles manufactured between 2021 and 2025, including some of Ford’s most popular models: the Bronco, F-150, Edge, Escape, and various Lincoln luxury vehicles. This latest safety action comes as Ford continues to struggle with quality control issues that have repeatedly put American drivers at risk and cost the company millions in regulatory penalties.
The defect involves a software error within the Ford Sync infotainment system that can cause rearview camera displays to freeze, delay, or completely fail to show images when drivers shift into reverse. Most concerning to safety experts is that there are no warning signs before the error occurs, potentially leaving drivers without crucial visibility during backing maneuvers. While Ford has only acknowledged one minor crash related to the issue so far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began investigating after receiving nearly 40 consumer complaints.
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
Affected Vehicles and Recall Timeline
The extensive recall covers a wide range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, demonstrating how deeply the software problem has penetrated the automaker’s product lineup. Specifically affected are 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 sheer number of vehicles involved underscores the scale of Ford’s quality control challenges.
“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 said in a recall notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday,” declared by Ford.
Ford and Lincoln dealers have already been notified about the issue, and vehicle owners can expect to receive their first notification letters starting June 16. However, in a frustrating development for consumers, the software fix isn’t yet ready. A second notification will be sent once the remedy is available, which Ford estimates will happen sometime in the third quarter of 2025. Vehicles equipped with over-the-air update capabilities may receive the fix remotely, while others will require a dealer visit to update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software.
Pattern of Safety Failures
This latest recall is part of a troubling pattern of safety issues for the Michigan-based automaker. Ford has previously faced significant penalties for similar problems with rearview camera systems. Just last month, the company recalled 289,000 vehicles for a separate camera-related defect. Most notably, Ford paid a substantial $165 million penalty for delaying the recall of 620,000 vehicles that had defective cameras, raising serious questions about the company’s commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.
“In April, engineers were able to reproduce the defect and link the faulty camera back to a software glitch,” declared by Ford.
The timing of the recall announcement is particularly interesting, as it comes after months of consumer complaints and regulatory scrutiny. The NHTSA began receiving reports in January, but Ford didn’t publicly acknowledge the problem until engineers finally reproduced the defect in April. This delay in addressing a known safety issue follows a pattern that has previously resulted in substantial penalties for the automaker. While waiting for the fix, owners of affected vehicles should exercise extra caution when backing up and consider alternative safety measures like having a passenger guide them or physically checking behind the vehicle before reversing.
