Ford Recalls 1.7 Million Vehicles Because Drivers Are Flying Blind

Rearview cameras are supposed to make backing up easier. Unfortunately for Ford owners, 1.74 million vehicles may instead provide a masterclass in confusion thanks to a pair of software related gremlins.

The automaker has issued two separate recall campaigns covering a variety of models after discovering glitches that can affect the rearview camera display, only six months after recalling 1.5 million vehicles for a similar problem. This year’s two camera problems aren’t identical, but the end result is the same. Drivers might not see what’s behind them when they shift into reverse.

Related: Ford Brushed Off This Problem For Years, Now 600,000 Vehicles Are Recalled

The first recall covers roughly 889,950 vehicles, including the 2020-22 Ford Escape and 2020-24 Explorer, and 2020-22 Lincoln Corsair and 2020-24 Aviator. On those models the issue is oddly disorienting.

In rare cases the center display can start up with its graphics flipped or inverted after the vehicle is restarted. That means the rearview camera image, guidelines, and on screen buttons may appear upside down or reversed.

Ford traced the problem to a touch controller chip in the infotainment display that can briefly scramble communication during startup. The glitch can rewrite a register in the display’s microcontroller and flip the entire interface until the system is restarted.

Affected Models

Heat Stroke

The second recall is nearly as large, affecting about 849,310 vehicles, including the 2021-26 Ford Bronco and 2021-24 Edge. Here the issue is heat. Under certain conditions the infotainment system’s APIM module can overheat, in part due to its proximity to the HVAC ducts and audio head unit, and temporarily shut down to protect itself.

When that happens the center touchscreen can go blank and the rearview camera image disappears for up to five minutes while the system cools off.

Neither problem has been linked to crashes or injuries so far, but regulators consider any malfunctioning rearview camera a safety risk because it reduces the driver’s view behind the vehicle. Functioning backup cameras have been a legal requirement on new cars in the US since spring 2018.

Still Waiting On A Cure

The fix for both recalls will ultimately come via software updates, though Ford says those updates aren’t ready yet. Once they’re finalized, owners will be notified and repairs will be performed free of charge.

Ford had a rough recall year in 2025, launching well over 150 campaigns, and 2026 doesn’t appear to be slowing down. At this rate, the company might want to keep its recall printer stocked with plenty of ink.

Affected Models