Ford has recalled almost 1.74 million vehicles across the US due to critical faults with their rearview camera displays, according to notices from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The issues, which affect a wide range of models, could significantly increase crash risks.
One recall impacts 849,310 units of the 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge. An internal component within the infotainment system of these vehicles may overheat and fail, preventing the rearview image from appearing when reversing.
Ford is offering a complimentary software update for the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) to address this.
Separately, a second recall covers 889,950 vehicles, including certain 2020-2022 Ford Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs, alongside 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviators and Explorers.
For these models, the rearview camera image may display as flipped or inverted, potentially disorienting drivers.
Ford estimates that all affected vehicles possess these defects. Despite this, the company has not reported any injuries or accidents linked to either recall, according to NHTSA documents.
However, the NHTSA has issued a warning that both malfunctions could heighten the risk of collisions.
For impacted Bronco and Edge owners, Ford is offering a free software update for the vehicles’ Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM).
Owner-notification letters will be mailed out at the end of the month, with the fix available either at a dealer or through “an over-the-air” update.
But a remedy is still under development for the recall impacting the Escapes, Corsairs, Aviators and Explorers, this week’s recall announcement notes. In the meantime, interim letters to notify owners of the safety risks are set to be mailed out in the coming months.
The Associated Press reached out to Michigan-based Ford for further comments Saturday.
For more information, drivers can visit the NHTSA website and Ford’s online recall lookup using their vehicles’ VIN number, or call the company’s customer service line at 1-866-436-7332.