Ford Recalls 460,000 Vehicles, Citing Faulty Rear Cameras

Ford Motor Co. is picking up where it left off last year, continuing a string of serious car recalls.

The automaker recently recalled more than 460,000 vehicles over malfunctioning rear cameras. Ford told federal regulators it is aware of at least 17 accidents stemming from the defect.

“The video information from one or more of the 360 cameras, which includes the rearview camera, may fail to feed to the SYNC display screen during some key cycles,” the company said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Loss of rear camera image while reversing increases the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain 2020-2023 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles, as well as 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles that have 360-degree cameras.

The company told NHTSA it expects to alert owners of recalled cars by late February. Ford will ask owners to take their vehicles to a local dealer for inspection and a software update.

Ford: The King of Recalls 

Ford ended 2022 with the dubious distinction of having issued the most recalls over the year. The automaker announced a total of 67 separate recalls, NHTSA data show, far surpassing the 45 recalls by the next closest manufacturer, Volkswagen.

Near the end of the year, the company said it was calling back more than half a million sport utility vehicles. It told regulators that faulty fuel injectors could crack, causing engine fires.

In April 2022, Ford recalled roughly 345,000 vehicles, citing a similar risk of fires stemming from oil leaks.

Ford CEO Jim Farley is in a “full court press” to fix the company’s various operational issues, company chairman Bill Ford recently told reporters, according to Reuters.

How the California Lemon Law Works

Fortunately, car owners in California do not have to wait on Ford or anyone else to announce a recall in order to get defective vehicles fixed. The state’s lemon law gives you some important rights and protections.

Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the law generally requires car manufacturers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces those companies to buy back covered vehicles that they are not able or flat-out refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, along with financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

A carmaker can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and weigh your options.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

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