Ford Motor Company has announced a large-scale safety action that affects more than 1 million vehicles across the United States. The recall involves a software malfunction in the rearview camera system that may result in a delayed, frozen, or completely blank image when reversing.
This issue, which could impair rear visibility and increase the likelihood of an accident, has prompted significant attention from both regulators and consumers. Newsweek reported that Ford formally notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 27, 2025, following a wave of complaints. The Ford recall raises broader questions about software reliability in connected vehicles.
Details of the Recall
The issue stems from a software defect in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM), which controls the rearview camera system.
According to a Ford spokesperson,
All vehicles included in this recall can get an over-the-air update to resolve the issue – adding that, “they can also visit the dealership for the software update.
The update will be provided at no cost, either remotely for vehicles equipped with OTA functionality, or in person via Ford dealerships.
Ford has sold nearly 2 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2024, highlighting the potential scope of the impact. In total, 1,075,299 vehicles across multiple models and years are affected:
- 2021–2024 F-150: 527,371 units
- 2021–2024 Edge: 157,506 units
- 2022–2025 Transit: 136,968 units
- 2021–2024 Bronco: 104,394 units
- 2023–2024 Super Duty (F-250 to F-600): 65,385 units
- 2021–2023 Lincoln MKX: 23,468 units
- 2022–2024 Expedition: 18,124 units
- 2023–2024 Escape: 17,909 units
- 2021–2023 Mach-E: 8,949 units
- 2024 Mustang: 4,988 units
- 2024 Ranger: 3,907 units
- 2022–2024 Lincoln Navigator: 3,612 units
- 2023–2024 Lincoln Corsair: 2,718 units
How the Issue Was Identified
In January 2025, the NHTSA contacted Ford in response to consumer complaints related to rearview camera failures on 2021–2023 F-150 models. Ford engineers from the SYNC software team replicated the malfunction on April 2, 2025, confirming that the problem was linked to specific SYNC4 software versions between 1.7 and 1.9.
According to the official recall report,
On April 2, 2025, the SYNC engineering team was able to reproduce the failure mode within a vehicle and link the causal factors to specific SYNC4 software variants between 1.7 and 1.9.
The failure affects the driver’s ability to safely maneuver in reverse, particularly because rearview cameras are now a federally mandated safety feature. Ford acknowledged that it is
Aware of one allegation of a minor crash resulting in property damage
related to the defect.
Instructions for Vehicle Owners
Ford will begin mailing official recall letters on June 16, 2025, to notify affected owners of the safety risks. A second letter will follow in the third quarter of the year, confirming availability of the software solution.
Owners can receive their free software update in two ways:
- Over-the-air (OTA), for vehicles that support wireless updates.
- At a dealership, for vehicles without OTA capability.
Customers are encouraged to contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or visit the NHTSA website for more information and to verify if their vehicle is part of the recall. As noted in the official notice:
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated for free by a dealer or over-the-air if they have over-the-air software updates enabled – a Ford spokesperson told Newsweek.
Context of Other Recent Recalls
This latest campaign adds to a series of recalls issued by Ford in recent months:
- In April 2025, approximately 289,000 Broncos and pickups were recalled for similar rearview camera issues.
- An additional 120,000 vehicles were recalled for brake fluid leaks.
- Around 20,000 vehicles were affected by a control module malfunction.
These cases have drawn renewed attention to Ford’s reliance on in-vehicle software systems, particularly in models built on connected car platforms such as SYNC4.
