Ford’s been a dominant giant when it comes to motor vehicles, but recently, the company has announced an unsettling recall that will affect over 1 million of their models, many of which are already in consumers’ hands. What defect could cause such a large recall? The culprit is the rearview camera system.
There’s a problem with Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, which can cause a dangerous glitch that’ll freeze the rear camera image, make it delayed, or not work at all.
A Big Deal
The reason why this is a big deal is because of both driver and pedestrian safety. All new vehicles manufactured after 2018 are required to have rearview cameras by law. Many drivers have become accustomed to this important tool, especially in cramped or crowded spaces.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard is clear, and Ford’s malfunctioning systems mean many vehicles aren’t compliant.
What Happened?
Ford has found the glitch in their SYNC 4 system, and it’s all to do with its accessory protocol interface module. SYNC 4 versions 1.7 and 1.9 are experiencing faulty coding, leading to rear camera freezing, delay, or complete blackouts.
The flaw was found after multiple complaints were filed and got the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Since then, Ford has managed to replicate the problem.
Which Models Could Be Affected?
To make matters worse, the system flaw is not bound to a single model, as many of Ford’s cars use the SYNC 4 versions that experience the glitch. Many models are affected, including Ford F-150 (2021–2024), Bronco (2021–2024), Edge (2021–2024), Mustang Mach-E (2021–2023), Expedition (2022–2024), Ranger (2024), Mustang (2024), Super Duty trucks (2023–2024), Transit (2022–2025), Escape (2023–2024).
Where Did The Problem Start
Earlier this year, in January, the NHTSA flagged multiple complaints from Ford owners in relation to their rear cameras not working. These complaints were especially high in Ford F-150s. Ford looked internally and found 37 complaints and over 200 warranty claims.
After investigating the complaints, Ford’s engineers managed to find the SYNC 4 system was at fault and confirmed it in April before issuing the mass recall in May. With such an integral system failing, many might wonder how many accidents it could have caused.
The Impact on World Driving
While many complaints have been logged, there is not much evidence that this has led to any serious injury yet. One report showcases that the system glitch has led to a minor crash that damaged property, luckily no pedestrians were involved in the crash.
While no serious incidents have been reported, it’s only a matter of time until the system causes something much bigger, prompting Ford to recall the vehicles quickly. If over one million vehicles could experience this glitch, the potential for damage is high.
Fixing The Problem
Ford aims to address the problem by updating the SYNC 4 software, which will eliminate the glitch.
While official communications with owners will only be sent out later in June, most owners won’t need to visit a dealership and should receive the update over the air as long as the vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi.
What Owners Can Do
Owners of Ford or Lincoln cars that are in the year range for the glitch should check their VIN numbers and check either Ford’s recall page or NHTSA’s website.
Owners shouldn’t wait around and check their vehicle, and if it’s affected, connect it to Wi-Fi in anticipation of the update. Those that cannot connect to Wi-Fi should be able to go to a registered Ford dealership to get it for free.
Track Record
Ford has been around for well over one hundred years, and this recall isn’t the first. The company has recalled other vehicles somewhat recently for safety concerns and fire hazards.
Ford has stated that driver safety is first and foremost when it comes to priorities, but these recalls could lead to questions about their quality control and thorough software testing before rolling vehicles out.
Car Safety
As software becomes more integrated with modern cars, new complex issues can arise. These glitches and coding errors could cause serious harm, and Ford’s recall is a cautionary tale to other manufacturers in the auto industry.
Vehicles need to be tested and checked thoroughly before being put into the hands of consumers, or else there could be deadly consequences.
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