Ford recall could force over 1 million drivers to use this safety technique

USA Today

2 days ago

Ford recall could force over 1 million drivers to use this safety technique The Blue Oval's software issue hints at larger problem for automakers.
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Safety recall on your car? Here's how to find out, what to know
Almost all repairs are free when your car faces a recall.
Ford models are being recalled over software issue that affects rearview cameras.
The recall affects over one million vehicles including the best-selling F-150 pickup truck.
Modern vehicles include several standard safety and driver assistance features that drivers have become reliant on.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued notices for over 1 million vehicles under the Ford Motor Company umbrella including Ford and Lincoln nameplates.
The huge Ford recall is due to a major software issue that extends to several best-selling models including the 2021-2024 Ford F-150, 2021-2024 Ford Bronco, and more. This software issue raises a major question for American drivers. Have cars become too advanced for our own good, simplifying driving to a point where our skills as drivers have dulled? Furthermore, is a reliance on new safety and driver assistance features potentially dangerous?
Ford recall extends to over one million vehicles due to rearview camera issue
Why are over a million Ford models included in NHTSA's recent recall notices? A "frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash", according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's safety report. A whopping 1,075,299 units are potentially affected by this issue, making this recall one of the largest of 2025.
Ford is remedying this issue by updating vehicle software at authorized dealers or through over-the-air updates free of charge. Letters notifying owners of the potential safety risk are expected to be mailed by June 16. Why is this such a serious issue for American drivers?
The rise of the rearview camera: How backup cams changed driving for Americans
Driver assistance and safety features have evolved over the past decade. Today, many American drivers have access to standard technologies such as front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, lane-keeping assist, and even rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking — all designed to help prevent potential collisions while reversing. These features have arguably made driving safer than previous years due to automatic braking and increased alerts/awareness, but what did drivers do before these features became so popular?
"Backup cameras, which are also referred to as reverse cameras and rearview cameras, have been a required safety feature in all new American-made cars since May 1, 2018" according to Hagerty, an American automotive lifestyle and membership company.
Prior to the rise of rearview cameras in America, many drivers had to reverse by turning their heads to look through their rear windshields or rely on rearview mirrors. Drivers of older vehicles still rely on this technique, and over one million Ford owners affected by this recall could be forced to as well (until their vehicles are repaired).
Rearview cameras changed the way Americans drive because they simplified a process that drivers had practiced for decades. Suddenly parallel parking and reversing had become both easier and safer for drivers because rearview cameras give better indications of proximity than a rearview mirror.
The addition of front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, and 360-degree cameras make reversing even easier. Rearview cameras reduce reversing crash rates, says the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, thus a sudden loss of rearview camera accessibility could increase reversing crash rates.
Has driving become too simplified?
Ford's recall hints at a wider issue for the entire industry and American drivers. Has driving become too easy in the eyes of Americans due to innovative new features? Driver attention warning features are becoming standard on many popular nameplates because of the potential for drivers to become distracted.
Operating a motor vehicle has gotten easier over the last few decades, possibly to the detriment of drivers. Vehicles can now be parked remotely and driven semi-autonomously (with a strong emphasis on "semi"). Most semi-automated vehicle systems "fall short on safety" according to a 2024 report on vehicle safety tests by CBS News.
Between all the new sensors, warning indicators, automatic braking, and advanced cruise control, drivers are growing increasingly reliant on technology to make driving safer and more convenient. What happens when that technology or software fails?
Read more about recalls from Ford and other major automakers here.