In late May 2025, Ford issued a recall for over 1 million vehicles, due to a software error involving the rearview camera. The software glitch makes the camera image freeze, lag, and not display once the vehicle is in reverse, which could increase the risk of accidents. The recall applies to a large number of vehicles from the model years 2021-2025, including the Bronco, F-150, Edge, Escape, Mach-E, Ranger, Mustang, and several models from Lincoln.
This is not the first time Ford had issues dealing with rearview cameras as the previous year, 2024, the automaker was fined $165 million for the slow response to a similar defect in same rearview camera which affected 620,000 vehicles
It is likely that Ford's previous remedy was inadequate, which has resulted in additional recalls and more scrutiny from regulators.
Ford Maverick Recall Concerned Over Issues Already Addressed
The Ford Maverick pickup truck has just become the focus of recent recalls too. Ford has just announced two new recalls on the Maverick related to lighting to remedy previously incorrect recall remedies. One includes 2,711 vehicles with taillights that may fail, while the other involves 1,635 vehicles whose rear turn signals may not work. Both concerns are related to programming issues in the body control modules of the vehicles that were meant to have been remedied in earlier recalls.
These multiple recalls not only create inconveniences for consumers, but also damage the consumers' trust in Ford's ability to address safety concerns properly. Knowing they had had the recalls repaired, vehicle owners are left asking themselves about the safe.
Regulatory Pressure Mounts Amid Continued Quality Concerns
In recent weeks, Ford's management of recalls had already garnered increased scrutiny from regulators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated investigations of some of the more recent recalls to determine if previous remedies were sufficient as well as whether or not Ford met federal safety standards. These investigations follow a $165 million civil penalty imposed on Ford for improper handling of a recall related to a rearview camera. As part of the penalty settlement, Ford will be required to conduct a full review of all recalls that were issued over three years and if necessary issue new recalls.
Ford will also be required to establish and implement safety data analytics systems and provide an independent third-party monitor access to recall performance obligations for no less than three years. The increased monitoring was implemented to ensure the company remains vigilant in addressing safety concerns.
Customer Trust Decreases Amid Recalls
The recalls and regulatory attention has impacted customer trust. Ford owners are visible frustrated with coming back to address repairs several times, for similar issues. The recalls can be inconvenient and worrying, which led some customers to consider abandoning the brand altogether.
Industry analysts believe that Ford's cost-cutting and like to rapidly pursue electrification has diverted the resources away from ensuring gasoline vehicles met quality standards. This shift may be relating to the ongoing quality control issues as well as the high recall amount.
Conclusion
Ford's flash recalls indicate the company struggles with assuring quality and safety issues. The recurrence of issues that were exquisitely repaired through earlier flash recalls raises doubt as to whether the current recalls were effective solutions.
As Ford scrambles to remedy its quality issues and retention of customer trust while adhering to the demands of regulatory agencies, it will have to step up the timetable on its problems.
Ford has shown a positive effort in identifying processes that could improve the recall paradigm as well as show more cooperation with the regulators, but the real question is whether they will implement permanent changes that overcome its quality control issues and as importantly, the safety of the vehicle.
Source(Image / Thumbnail):carandbike
