Iconic American brand Ford Motor Company faces another challenge as it recalls over a million vehicles in the United States due to a critical quality control failure.
More than 1 million vehicles are being pulled off the roads due to potentially dangerous rearview camera defects.
These defects could cause drivers to be blind to what is behind them when backing up, further highlighting the auto industry’s ongoing safety struggles.
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the automaker company is recalling 1,075,299 vehicles in the United States.
The recall affects numerous popular models from 2021 to 2024, including the rugged Bronco, best-selling F-150, family-friendly Edge SUVs, and several other Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
The critical safety issue involves a software error that can cause the rearview camera to delay, freeze completely, or fail to display any image when the vehicle is in reverse.
This malfunction creates a significant safety hazard for drivers who rely on these cameras, particularly when backing out of driveways where children or pedestrians might be present.
Federal regulators said the software problem affects the accessory protocol interface module (APIM), which controls the cars’ dashboard and infotainment system functions.
Yet, this is not the first time major automakers have had to recall vehicles for technological failures that were supposed to make driving safer but ended up creating new hazards.
The extensive list of affected vehicles includes some of Ford’s most popular models: 2021-2024 Bronco and F-150, 2023-2024 Escape and Corsair, plus various F-Series trucks from F-250 to F-600.
Additional models caught in the recall net include the 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E and Lincoln Nautilus, 2024 Ranger and Mustang, and the 2022-2024 Navigator.
Meanwhile, the NHTSA mandates rearview cameras in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds sold in the US—a regulation that adds costs to vehicle production while creating new potential points of failure when these technologies malfunction.
Ford dealers will update the APIM software over the air at no cost to owners. The company plans to notify affected vehicle owners by mail no later than June 16 about the safety risk.
Also, a second notification will follow when the remedy is available, which is expected in the third quarter of 2025. This could potentially leave owners waiting months for this serious safety concern to fix.
Ultimately, this recall comes at a time when American automakers are already facing numerous challenges, including increased government regulations and supply chain disruptions.
It also underscores the trend of increasing reliance on complex systems, which, while offering convenience and innovation, pose new challenges for safety and reliability.
