Ford Explorer backup camera problems

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · MD

Ford officially announced Safety Recall 25SA9 in October 2025 regarding a defective rearview camera affecting my 2015 Ford Explorer. I have actively inquired about getting this safety defect fixed at my local dealership, Century Ford in Mt. Airy, MD, for at least two years. However, Ford has continuously failed to provide a remedy due to a persistent "parts unavailability" delay. Under federal law, manufacturers are required to remedy safety defects within a reasonable timeframe. It has now been a full year since the recall became official, and two years since the issue was first raised, with no resolution or timeline in sight. This extended delay is completely unacceptable, compromises vehicle safety, and constitutes a failure to remedy the defect in a timely manner. I am filing this official complaint to request the federal safety agency intervention regarding Ford's failure to supply necessary repair parts to consumers.

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · WA

My 2020 Ford Explorer previously received a safety recall repair under Ford Recall 23S23 for the 360-degree/rearview camera system. Unfortunately, the camera system is malfunctioning again following that repair. The 360-degree display intermittently shows solid blue/teal or black areas instead of properly displaying the vehicle’s surroundings. The camera images also become washed out, distorted, or unusually dark, reducing visibility when reversing. Additionally, my instrument cluster displays the warning “Reverse Brake Assist Not Available – See Manual.” These problems raise serious safety concerns because the vehicle’s camera visibility is compromised while another safety system reports that it is unavailable. This creates potential risks when backing near children, pedestrians, other vehicles, or obstacles. I have photographs documenting the camera malfunctions and dashboard warning. Ford subsequently issued Recall 25S27 after discovering that certain vehicles previously repaired under Recall 23S23 may not have received the correct remedy, even though the repairs were recorded as completed. I have not yet received confirmation whether Recall 25S27 applies to my specific vehicle. On October 8, 2026, I visited Mullinax Ford of Olympia regarding the recurring safety problems. The dealership advised that I would have to pay out of pocket for a diagnosis. I subsequently submitted a written request asking for the recurring defect and applicable recall coverage to be reviewed, but received no response. I escalated the matter to the dealership’s General Manager on October 19, 2026. The underlying cause has not been determined. I am concerned that the original camera safety defect may not have been adequately corrected and that the vehicle continues to experience a related safety risk. I request that the federal safety agency review these recurring malfunctions and the adequacy of the previous recall remedy.

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Electrical, Visibility · UT

I am filing this complaint because the federal recall remedy performed on my 2023 Ford Explorer failed, and the Ford dealership that performed it refused to correct the failure. About a year after I purchased my 2023 Ford Explorer (used, from an independent dealer), I received Ford's federal recall notice for the rearview camera software defect (recall 23S02, the federal safety agency campaign 23V‑022). My vehicle had no problems at that time, but I took it to the authorized Ford dealership in [XXX], and had the recall software update installed as instructed. About seven months later, my vehicle developed the exact defect the recall was supposed to prevent: the backup camera stopped functioning and the infotainment screens went completely black, disabling multiple vehicle functions. This created a safety hazard because the vehicle no longer provided any rearview image while backing up. I returned the vehicle to the same dealership and asked them to correct the failed recall repair. Instead, the dealership claimed the problem was not recall-related, diagnosed a failed APIM module, and quoted about $1,600 for replacement plus a $300 diagnostic fee. The dealership then refused to release my vehicle until the $300 fee was paid, holding it for approximately two months. I took the vehicle to an independent repair shop, which confirmed the APIM was fine - the software had simply become corrupted - and repaired it by reinstalling the software. I paid $530.29 for that repair plus $313.79 for a replacement battery (the original died while the car sat at the dealership for two months). Ford was sent a formal demand letter on XXX, with a 10-day deadline, and never responded. NOTE: The incident date entered in this form is my best estimate only; the exact date is approximate. I am asking the federal safety agency to investigate this dealership's failure to honor a federal recall remedy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Driver assistance · 202,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed a blank or distorted image, followed by the message "Camera Unavailable - Please Contact Your Dealer." The dealer provided multiple estimated time of availability for the parts; however, the parts remained unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2026 · Electrical · TN

Within a month of Purchasing the Vehicle, around end of June, the image on the back up camera would flip upside down when trying to reverse. This only happens occasionally but the times that it has happened I have backed into a ditch and ran over a child's bicycle. There has been no damage to my vehicle as of yet. Because this does not happen regularly the dealership has not been able to look at it and diagnosis it. They tell me to bring it when it is doing it but that is impossible unless I drive in reverse the entire way to them.

Filed Sep 30, 2026 · IL

The back up camera is cloudy with very limited visibility at night. My safety is at risk backing the car up. Yes available for inspection. I have told the dealer. I am unsure if they actually looked at it at night. This issue has been happening for a few years and now it is much worse. I learned of this sight to report it to. There are no lights or warning lamps.

Filed Sep 18, 2026 · Driver assistance · 153,304 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was occasionally blurry or displayed a reversed image. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear-view camera had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,304.

Filed Sep 18, 2026 · CA

The rear view camera display has intermittently not worked for over 2+ years. It appears blank or distorted and says contact your dealer. This happens about 80% of the time. I originally contacted the dealer about 18 mos ago, when this started happening and they said "they'd never heard of it" and in Oct. 2025 received a recall notice. The recall notice from Ford is Safety Recall Notice 25SA9/the federal safety agency Recall 25V695. I have called multiple times to the dealer to get this repaired as it's a safety issue! I called again today, Sept. 18th, and they said the parts are not available for the 2015 Ford Explorer, only other Fords listed on the recall. This needs to be addressed ASAP and parts made available. There are multiple safety issues on the 2015 Ford Explorer sport that are safety concerns, and Ford never addresses them in a timely manner.

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Driver assistance · 125,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the remedy to be available. The contact stated that while in reverse, the rearview camera intermittently failed to display an image. The message "See Dealer" was displayed. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Electrical · CA

My 2015 Ford Explorer is subject to an open rearview camera safety recall (Ford recall 25SA9 / the federal safety agency recall 25V695), and the recalled rearview camera has now failed. The camera is no longer functioning properly, leaving me without the rearview camera image when backing up. Despite the failure of the recalled component, I have been unable to have the vehicle repaired because Ford has not made the recall remedy/part available for my 2015 Explorer. I have been waiting for the recall repair for an extended period of time. This is an active safety issue, not simply a notice for a component that might fail in the future. The recalled component in my vehicle has already failed, yet I am still being required to operate the vehicle without the safety feature because the manufacturer has not made the recall repair available. I am especially concerned about the risk when backing out of driveways and parking spaces where pedestrians or children may be behind the vehicle. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review Ford’s continued delay in providing a remedy for affected 2015 Explorer owners whose recalled cameras have already failed.