Ford Rearview Camera Problem to Cost Company $270 Million
» Posted October 9, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
Ford’s already extensive and still growing list of recent recalls highlights defects that pose real safety risks on roads across the country. They are also taking a chunk out of the automaker’s bottom line.
Ford recently announced that it is recalling some 169,000 vehicles whose rearview cameras could fail. The company disclosed at the time that the move is set to cost it about $270 million, according to news reports.
The global car manufacturer “said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the aggregate cost of replacing the cameras and updating the software was estimated to be about $270 million,” Reuters reports. “Ford said in the latest recall it has 3,486 warranty reports alleging rear camera failures and reports of two minor crashes but no injuries.”
The company issued more recalls than any other auto manufacturer last year.
Ford announced a total of 67 separate recalls in 2022, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show, far surpassing the 45 recalls by the next closest manufacturer, Volkswagen.
Ford told NHTSA in the latest recall that malfunctioning cameras increase the risk of accidents.
“Customers may intermittently experience either a rear camera blue image or a full blue or black image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse or when the 360-degree view is selected and available (during low-speed operation),” the company said in a defect notice. “Loss of rear camera image while in reverse increases the risk of a crash.”
The recall comes as federal regulators continue to investigate whether Ford slowplayed a previous decision to recall some 620,000 vehicles. NHTSA, which launched the probe in 2021, is also mulling whether the recall should have included more cars.
Meanwhile, the company keeps recalling cars for other problems.
Ford said in March it was recalling 175,000 Bronco sport utility vehicles because of malfunctioning seatbelts.
More recently, the automaker announced in July that it was calling back some 15,000 Fusion PHEVs that could lose power and catch fire. That recall covered certain Ford Fusion plug-in hybrid vehicles from model years 2019 and 2020.
Fortunately, California’s lemon law offers some important rights and protections to car owners and lessors in the Golden State.
The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces the companies to buy back vehicles that they are not able to or flat-out refuse to fix.
Speak with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney
If you are locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over a malfunctioning or defective vehicle, a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
We have successfully assisted car owners across the state. Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at our firm today.
