Dive Brief:
- Ford Motor Co. has recalled more than 1.4 million vehicles for rearview camera display issues, including distorted images and blank screens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recalled models include the 2015 Explorer; 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape and Taurus; 2015-2019 Flex; 2016 Fusion; 2018-2019 Taurus; 2019 Fiesta and 2020 Mustang. Lincoln vehicles include the 2015 MKZ and 2015-2019 MKT.
- Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace any defective cameras as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed beginning Oct. 20. A second letter, expected to be sent starting June 26, 2026, will notify owners that the remedy is available.
Dive Insight:
The recall is the latest in a series of Ford recalls this year, including several related to faulty backup cameras. A distorted or blank rearview camera image can limit a driver’s view when backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
On Jan. 17, NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations notified Ford of numerous rearview camera issues reported by customers in vehicle owner questionnaires (VOQs). As of Oct. 1, the NHTSA has received 339 VOQs connected to the defect.
In February, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group opened an investigation into the camera complaints, focusing on both camera hardware and software. The automaker’s investigators reviewed parts from existing vehicles, as well as cameras collected from salvage yards. Ford’s investigators also analyzed warranty data, VOQs received by the NHTSA and supplier reports to determine the scope of the problem.
The analog rearview cameras were sourced from Michigan-based Tier 1 supplier Magna and an estimated 1% are believed to be defective.
Ford’s investigation concluded in September with the automaker unable to identify a defect “across all vehicle populations equipped with this analog camera” according to the recall report.
That same month, Ford and NHTSA agreed that the automaker would divide the population of model year 2015 through 2025 vehicles equipped with the analog rearview camera into two categories based on performance data from the VOQs. Some of these vehicles would be recalled, while the rest would be covered by a new 15-year extended warranty.
After Ford and the NHTSA agreed on the plan to address the concern, the automaker’s Field Review Committee approved the recall on Oct. 6.
As of Sept. 24, Ford has received 12,487 warranty claims related to rearview cameras since the first was received July 10, 2014, suggesting a failure rate of 8 faulty rearview cameras per 1,000 vehicles. The company is also aware of five accidents related to rearview cameras through Oct. 1, but is not aware of any injuries.
The recall report states that the replacement cameras, available next year, will be produced via “an updated process with higher quality control.”
Ford’s recall is among more than a dozen related to backup cameras this year, including a May recall of nearly 1.1 million vehicles due to backup camera software errors. The automaker also recalled over 200,000 vehicles in June for software glitches leading to blank screens. Some recalls were repeats of previous recalls due to unsuccessful repairs.
Last November, Ford was fined $165 million by the NHTSA for failing to issue rearview camera recalls “in a timely manner,” per the safety agency.
Since the start of 2025, Ford has issued 134 recalls, more than any other automaker in a single year, according to NHTSA data. Last week alone, the automaker issued six recalls covering roughly 350K vehicles for various problems.
