Ford Recalls Over 1 Million Vehicles Due to Rearview Camera Software Glitch

In one of the year’s largest automotive safety alerts, Ford Motor Company has recalled over 1.07 million vehicles due to a critical software issue that disrupts the rearview camera feed, potentially increasing the risk of crashes. The defect affects a broad swath of Ford and Lincoln models across multiple model years, from 2021 through 2025, including bestsellers like the F-150, Escape, Mustang, and Navigator.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from a flaw in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software. The glitch can cause the vehicle’s infotainment system to freeze or display a black screen when reversing, thereby disabling the backup camera. Such malfunctions compromise the driver’s rear visibility—a safety concern that prompted swift regulatory attention.

“A frozen rear-view camera image while in reverse can create a false representation of where the vehicle is relative to its surroundings, increasing the risk of a crash,” NHTSA noted in its official report.

The recall affects a massive lineup that includes the 2021–2024 Bronco, F-150, and Edge, the 2022–2024 Expedition, 2022–2025 Transit, 2021–2023 Mach-E, 2023–2024 Escape, 2023–2024 Corsair, and the 2022–2024 Lincoln Navigator, among others. In total, over 30 Ford and Lincoln models are impacted.

The Detroit automaker acknowledged at least one crash resulting in property damage, although no injuries have been reported. Allegedly, more than three dozen complaints about rearview camera failures had been filed for certain Ford trucks prior to the recall.

This isn’t Ford’s first brush with camera-related recalls. In fact, the automaker was fined $165 million by NHTSA in November 2024 for delays in previous recalls involving faulty rearview cameras. That history likely contributed to the agency’s increased scrutiny and the urgency behind this new wave of corrective action.

Affected vehicle owners are encouraged to contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or visit nhtsa.gov for more details. As the company works to regain consumer trust, this recall underscores the broader industry challenge of ensuring software reliability in increasingly tech-driven vehicles.