Ford Recalls 1.9 Million Vehicles Over Rear Camera Defect

Ford Motor Company announced Tuesday it is issuing a massive recall affecting 1.9 million vehicles worldwide, citing a dangerous defect in rearview cameras that could increase the risk of crashes.

According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects multiple Ford and Lincoln models from 2015 to 2019, including popular vehicles such as the Mustang, F-150 Super Duty line, Ranger, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Transit vans.

“The concern involves the rearview camera displaying a distorted, intermittent, or persistent loss of image,” a Ford spokesperson told FOX Business. “This condition can reduce a driver's visibility when backing up, increasing the risk of a crash."

Breakdown of the recall impact:

• 1.45 million vehicles in the United States

• 122,000 in Canada

• Approximately 300,000 elsewhere globally

The defect stems from an unauthorized change made by a third-party sub-supplier to the printed circuit board tooling in the camera units. This change reduced terminal contact force, resulting in corrosion that impairs camera performance. According to the company, 44,123 warranty claims and 18 related accidents have been linked to the defect, though no injuries have been reported.

Ford says affected vehicle owners will begin receiving notifications starting the week of September 22. Dealerships will inspect and, if necessary, replace the rearview camera with an upgraded version free of charge. The new cameras are built with an improved header design to eliminate the root cause of the issue.

This latest recall follows a pattern of quality control issues plaguing the automaker in recent years. Just last month, the NHTSA reported another recall of over 355,000 Ford trucks due to dashboard display malfunctions an ongoing concern in Ford’s newer models.

Ford’s quality problems are costing the company big time:

• In 2023, Ford led all U.S. automakers with the most vehicles recalled over 58 separate recall campaigns, according to NHTSA data.

• The company has reportedly spent more than $4 billion annually in warranty and recall-related costs in recent years.

For a company that once symbolized American innovation and reliability, these repeated failures raise serious concerns not just about quality assurance, but also corporate accountability.

Drivers should not be left to find out about life-threatening issues only after their vehicles are involved in accidents. And automakers like Ford must be held responsible when they allow subcontractors to quietly make changes that compromise consumer safety.

In a moment when Americans are already dealing with rising costs, skyrocketing car prices, and economic uncertainty, the last thing anyone needs is to question whether their vehicle’s basic safety features like a functioning rearview camera can be trusted.

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