Ford Announces Big Mustang Recall Over Busted Backup Cameras

Many Ford Mustang owners will soon be getting notices that their cars are being recalled.

Ford Motor Co. is calling back some 330,000 Mustang vehicles whose rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged. The defect violates federal safety standards and increases the risk of a crash, the company acknowledged in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“A loss of electrical conductivity caused by a damaged decklid harness and/or an insufficiently soldered header connector internal to the camera can lead to a loss of rear view image,” Ford told NHTSA. “A rear view camera that intermittently displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver’s view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. Ford said it planned to notify owners of recalled cars by mid-March. The company is asking owners to bring their cars to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the rearview camera replaced or a decklid wiring harness inspected and repaired, free of charge.

This is far from the first time that Ford has had to recall vehicles over defects that put drivers, passengers and others on the road at risk. Earlier this year, the company announced it was recalling nearly 200,000 Mustang and other vehicles because of faulty headlights and the risk that the cars might roll away.

That recall came just months after Ford said it was calling back some 185,000 F-150 pickup trucks. Malfunctioning insulators could damage driveshafts, and cause drivers to lose control or driving power, according to the company.

How the California Lemon Law Protects Car Owners

Ford is not alone: The largest car manufacturers in the world recall millions of vehicles every year, citing a broad range of defects and malfunctions. These recalls typically happen long after cars have hit the road.

Fortunately, car owners in California have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. An experienced San Diego lemon law attorney at our firm can help you take action.

The lemon law forces car manufacturers to perform a full slate of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back cars that the companies cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, as well as financing fees and other related expenses.

The law permits manufacturers to offer to replace the vehicle, instead of buying it back. It is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.

Talk with a San Diego Lemon Law Attorney

If you are stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the San Diego lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a San Diego lemon law attorney.