Over 1.7 Million Drivers at Risk of Driving Blind
One of the largest automakers, Ford, has issued major recalls involving a faulty infotainment system with over one million vehicles impacted in the United States. Here is a look at which models are affected and the planned remedy for the situation.
Two separate recalls were announced by Ford, affecting approximately 1.74 million vehicles. These recalls cover several models as detailed in the documentation published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issues stem from problems within the infotainment system that directly affect the parking cameras in these vehicles.
Infotainment Bugs Reduce Driver Visibility
One recall impacts 849,310 units of the 2021 to 2026 Ford Bronco SUVs and the 2021 to 2024 Ford Edge SUVs. The NHTSA documentation explains that the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) could overheat and subsequently shut down. This causes the rear camera to fail when the vehicle is in reverse, creating a dangerous blind spot for drivers.
For larger SUVs like the Ford Bronco, this failure significantly increases the risk of a crash or injury. This is especially true in tight spaces or areas with high foot traffic.
The second recall involves approximately 889,950 units of the 2020 to 2022 Ford Escape, the 2020 to 2024 Ford Explorer, the 2020 to 2022 Lincoln Corsair, and the 2020 to 2024 Lincoln Aviator.
According to agency documentation, the system interface on the center screen may appear inverted or flipped immediately after the ignition cycle. This glitch affects the buttons, the rear camera view, and the parking guidelines during reversing or maneuvering. Such an error renders the parking guidance unusable and limits the driver’s view, which further increases the risk of an accident.
Ford Will Fix the Issue Free of Charge
Ford stated that it will address the faulty module in the Ford Bronco and Edge through a software update. This can be performed over the air or completed at authorized Ford or Lincoln dealers free of charge. A formal notification is scheduled to be sent later this month.
For the second recall, the automaker plans a similar free over-the-air update, although it noted that engineers are still working on the final solution. The formal letter for this group is expected to be sent in the coming months.
In the meantime, vehicle owners can check if their unit is impacted by searching their Vehicle Identification Numbers on the NHTSA website or Ford’s recall support channel. Alternatively, they can contact Ford customer service at (1-866-436-7332) for more details.
This follows a much larger recall from earlier this year, where over 4 million Ford pickup trucks were recalled due to a software bug in the trailer module. The company has already begun rolling out that remedy.
Are you one of the Ford owners impacted by these recent recalls? Share your experience in the comments below!