2020 Ford Explorer Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems
NHTSA lists 163 complaints in Collision Avoidance & Cameras for the 2020 Ford Explorer, 13% of all complaints that year, tied to 11 crashes and 3 injuries. Eight recalls cover related camera and display software or hardware, with median mileage at failure of 17,700.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
- 163
- 13% of 1,218
- Crashes reported
- 11
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 17,700 mi
- Related recalls
- 9
Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report
- Backup and 360-degree cameras intermittently show a blue, black, or blank screen while reversing, sometimes leading to low-speed collisions with walls, mailboxes, or trailers.
- Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning fail to alert or brake when a vehicle ahead stops, resulting in rear-end crashes.
- Software or hardware updates and camera replacements performed multiple times do not permanently resolve the blue-screen or camera failure.
- Front camera and image processing errors appear alongside unrelated faults such as 4WD, StabiliTrak, or drive-mode warnings on the same info screen.
- Parking assist and rear braking features disable or freeze mid-maneuver, causing owners to hit objects they believed the system would detect.
- Lane-keeping or driver-assist systems have been reported to fail and pull the vehicle out of its lane.
When 2020 Ford Explorer collision avoidance system complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 30, 2020, latest Sep 15, 2026.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2020 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 26V123000Mar 3, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras889,950 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V442000Jun 27, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras200,237 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
- NHTSA 25V159000Mar 14, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras49,399 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.
- NHTSA 24V188000Mar 8, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,988 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 20V-575 and 22V-252.
- NHTSA 23V342000May 12, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras442,973 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 23V-022. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-022 will need to have the new remedy performed.
- NHTSA 23V305000Apr 28, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras523 vehicles
Back over prevention:display function
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Screen (ICS). When the Display On/Off Button is used to turn the display to "Off" prior to placing the vehicle in reverse, the backup camera rearview image will not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ICS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C14.
- NHTSA 23V022000Jan 23, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras382,759 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S02. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 21V-735. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-735 will need to have the new remedy performed.
- NHTSA 21V735000Sep 22, 2021Collision Avoidance & Cameras228,297 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S44.
- NHTSA 20V575000Sep 23, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras620,246 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Explorer model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many camera and collision-avoidance complaints does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
- NHTSA records 163 complaints in this area for the 2020 Explorer, which is 13% of the 1,218 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2020 Ford Explorer camera problems?
- Yes. Eight recalls list Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues for the 2020 Explorer, covering the rearview camera, 360-degree camera, image processing module software, and center display software.
- Have these camera failures caused crashes?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2020 Explorer show 11 crashes and 3 injuries.
- At what mileage do these camera problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 17,700 miles.
- Does a software update fix the blue-screen camera issue?
- Some recalls call for image processing module or accessory protocol interface module software updates, but several owner complaints describe the blue-screen or blank-camera issue recurring after updates and even after camera replacement.