Rear Visibility Issue Affects 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator Models

Ford has announced a field action related to a rear visibility problem affecting certain 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The issue arises from a malfunction in the Rear View Camera (RVC) system, which may not display under certain conditions. If the vehicle reaches a speed of 10 MPH or greater while in reverse gear, the RVC image may fail to remain visible, posing a potential safety concern. This situation is not compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 111) for rear visibility requirements.

The problem was first identified on September 3, 2024, when Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) was notified of a potential malfunction in the RVC system on Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models. The In-Vehicle Software (IVS) team discovered incorrect software part number combinations in the End of Line (EOL) as-built data from the Chicago Assembly Plant (CAP). An investigation followed, involving a detailed analysis of vehicle assembly data and software configurations.

The investigation revealed that some APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) units did not receive the necessary software update during production. Instead, these units were shipped with a pre-production software version, leading to the RVC image malfunction when the vehicle is in reverse and moving at higher speeds.

Between September and October 2024, the CCRG and Ford’s engineering team worked to assess the full extent of the issue. They examined other vehicle lines produced with similar software to determine whether the problem extended beyond the 2025 Explorer and Aviator models. Fortunately, Ford found no evidence of similar incorrect software combinations affecting RVC performance in other vehicle lines.

While the RVC malfunction could lead to non-compliance with FMVSS 111’s rear visibility requirements, Ford has stated that it is unaware of any warranty claims, Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), or reports of accidents or injuries related to the condition. Nevertheless, the deactivation of the RVC image while the vehicle is in reverse gear and traveling above 10 MPH remains a critical safety issue that needed to be addressed.

On October 18, 2024, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. The solution for affected vehicles is an APIM software update to ensure compliance with FMVSS 111. Ford has assigned the recall the identifier 24C34, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued campaign number 24V-801 for the action.

Owners of the affected 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models will be notified about the recall and provided with information on how to have their vehicles updated.