The Ford company has announced a recall of approximately 1.7 million vehicles due to issues with rearview cameras. These technical malfunctions can seriously complicate reversing maneuvers for drivers.
A Large-Scale Safety Issue
Rearview cameras are designed to facilitate reversing. However, for the owners of millions of Ford vehicles, they can become a source of confusion due to two software bugs. The automaker initiated two separate recalls for different models just six months after a similar campaign involving 1.5 million vehicles. Although the problems are different, the result is the same: the driver may not see what is behind the vehicle when reverse gear is engaged.
Ford ignored this issue for years and is now recalling 600,000 vehicles.
First Recall: Inverted Image
The first campaign concerns approximately 889,950 vehicles, including the 2020-2022 Ford Escape, 2020-2024 Ford Explorer, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, and 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator. On these models, the problem looks particularly strange: in rare cases, the center display may start with inverted or mirrored graphics after restarting the vehicle. This means the rearview camera image, parking lines, and on-screen buttons may appear upside down or mirrored.
Ford engineers found that the cause lies in the touchscreen controller chip of the multimedia system, which can temporarily disrupt communication during startup. This bug can rewrite a register in the display’s microcontroller and flip the entire interface until the system is rebooted.
Models subject to the first recall:
- FORD ESCAPE (2020-2022)
- FORD EXPLORER (2020-2024)
- LINCOLN AVIATOR (2020-2024)
- LINCOLN CORSAIR (2020-2022)
Second Recall: System Overheating
The second recall is almost as large-scale and concerns approximately 849,310 vehicles, including the 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge. Here, the problem lies in overheating. Under certain conditions, the APIM module of the multimedia system can overheat, partly due to its proximity to climate control air ducts and the main audio unit, and temporarily shut down for self-protection.
When this happens, the central touchscreen may dim, and the rearview camera image may disappear for up to five minutes while the system cools down.
Neither issue has been linked to accidents or injuries so far, but regulators consider any malfunctioning rearview camera a safety risk, as it limits the driver’s view. A functioning rearview camera is a mandatory requirement for new vehicles in the USA since spring 2018.
Models subject to the second recall:
- FORD BRONCO (2021-2026)
- FORD EDGE (2021-2024)
Awaiting a Fix
The fixes for both recalls will ultimately be implemented via software updates, although Ford reports that these updates are not yet ready. Once finalized, owners will be notified, and repair work will be performed free of charge.
2025 has been challenging for Ford in terms of recalls—the company has initiated over 150 campaigns, and 2026 does not seem to be slowing the pace. With such dynamics, the company probably needs to keep its recall notification printer well-stocked with ink.
This situation once again highlights the dependence of modern vehicles on complex electronic systems and software, where a single minor bug can affect the safety of millions of vehicles. While manufacturers strive to introduce more and more assistive features, the Ford story shows how crucial their reliability and operational stability are. For now, while owners wait for the updates, they are advised to be especially careful when reversing and to rely not only on the camera but also on direct observation through mirrors and turning their heads.