Ford Recalls Over 250,000 SUVs For Safety Software Flaws

Ford is recalling more than 250,000 SUVs in the United States because of a software issue that could disable key safety systems, including the rearview camera and several driver-assistance features.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue comes from an unexpected reset within the vehicle’s image processing module. When this occurs, drivers may temporarily lose not just the rearview camera display, but also pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Ford says the Image Processing Module A (IPMA) could experience a computational overload when tracking a high

volume of moving objects in dense vehicle and pedestrian traffic environments. So, traffic during rush hour, or dense downtown commuting.

The recall includes a range of Ford and Lincoln's larger SUVs, specifically: certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, along with 2025 Lincoln Aviator, and Ford Explorers.

According to the recall documents, Ford has been grappling with this issue for a year before a recall fix was rolled out. However, the automaker is not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to this problem.

Paradoxically, NHTSA says losing access to these systems will reduce situational awareness and increase the risk of a crash, particularly during low-speed maneuvers or highway driving.

Point of order here, these systems, when active, can actually short-circuit the natural situational awareness baked into human consciousness and program people to become dependent on the sensors and flashing red or yellow lights to warn them about what's happening around their vehicle while on the road.

Ford plans to resolve the issue through a software update, which can be performed either at the dealership or via an over-the-air (OTA) update, depending on the vehicle.

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