Ford recalls 1.74 million vehicles over rearview camera display faults
Two NHTSA recalls cover roughly 1.74 million U.S. Ford and Lincoln models; software fixes are in development and owner letters begin late March and mid-April.
Ford has issued two safety recalls that together cover about 1.74 million U.S. vehicles after federal safety notices found rearview-camera images may fail to display correctly when a vehicle is put into reverse. NHTSA recall notices published March 3 list two separate defects: one that can cause the camera image to go blank and another that can cause the image to flip or invert.
The first recall affects roughly 850,000 vehicles, including 2021–2026 Ford Bronco models and 2021–2024 Ford Edge models. Regulators say a component called the Accessory Protocol Interface Module, or APIM, can overheat and shut down the camera display, preventing the rearview image from appearing while the vehicle is in reverse. The second action covers about 890,000 vehicles: 2020–2022 Ford Escape, 2020–2024 Ford Explorer, 2020–2022 Lincoln Corsair and 2020–2024 Lincoln Aviator models, where software errors can flip or invert the camera image when shifting into reverse.
Ford is developing software-based remedies for both defects but the patches were not yet available at the time the recalls were posted. Ford expects a remedy for Bronco and Edge owners by late March and plans to mail notifications to those owners beginning March 30; letters for owners in the Escape, Explorer, Corsair and Aviator recall are expected to begin April 17. When the software becomes available, Ford will notify owners via mail to schedule a free repair.
Federal safety officials and outlets highlight the immediate hazard: the camera problems may affect a driver’s view and ability to see what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Regulators typically require automakers to provide owner letters and free repairs; NHTSA forms filed for these recalls will include the official defect descriptions, VIN ranges and any incident or injury reports if they surface.
The two camera campaigns add to a growing tally of actions this year: NHTSA data show Ford has issued 17 recalls so far in 2026, affecting more than 7.3 million vehicles. The pattern underscores a shifting risk profile for modern cars in which software and electronic modules, rather than mechanical parts, are increasingly the source of safety defects. February’s 4.4 million-vehicle campaign over trailer brake lighting faults remains the single largest action so far this year and is part of the same software and electronics trend.
Ford’s recall rollouts will matter for consumer safety and for dealer service capacity. Costs to repair via dealer reflash or software deployment will mount if fixes require technician time rather than over-the-air delivery; Ford has not confirmed whether the remedies will be pushed remotely or require dealer visits. Prior recall records show a variety of remedies and timelines: in 2025 Ford carried recalls that involved replacing or securing mechanical parts and control modules, such as NHTSA ID 25V729000 for detachable moonroof wind deflectors (174,853 units) and 25V543000 for inoperative trailer tail lights (213,121 units).
The recall wave will test Ford’s software quality controls and its ability to restore consumer trust quickly. Regulators, investors and owners will be watching whether fixes arrive as scheduled and whether the company can limit repair backlogs as the industry confronts the growing costs and reputational risks of software-driven faults.
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