Diagsheet

2015 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Backup camera goes black or freezes

  • 111owner reports
  • 100,000median miles
  • $818median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Sep 6, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

111 of the 185 reports of infotainment on the 2015 Explorer describe backup camera failure.

Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (185 reports) · also: screen freezing

Tick what matches of 111 reports

47
1
31
23
71
4

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (111 reports) and the head unit or screen (51 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the backup camera covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

25V-695Oct 13, 2025
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

NHTSA investigations into the backup camera on the Explorer

RQ21-002opened Aug 3, 2021
Backup camera · model years 2020

Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.

NHTSA summary
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 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 for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics.According to Ford's chronology in the Part 573, during the period February-April 2020, Ford identified and monitored warranty claims pertaining to intermittent or inoperative rearview cameras. Ford reviewed supplier product changes, focusing on changes introduced by the supplier in the October-November 2019 time frame. The Part 573 stated that the issue was brought to Ford's Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) for review on May 12, 2020.On July 7, 2020, NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Testing Center (VRTC) informed the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a trend of MY 2020 Escape vehicles with rearview camera malfunctions. ODI contacted Ford the next day, providing five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging inoperative rearview cameras. On July 15, 2020, Ford met with NHTSA to discuss the rearview camera issue. In a su
AQ10-001opened Nov 18, 2010
Other · model years 2010

Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.

NHTSA summary
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any futu
EA05-005opened Mar 22, 2005
Electrical · model years 1998

Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.

NHTSA summary
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.
PE99-049opened Jul 28, 1999
Visibility · model years 1997 to 1999

Windshield wiper malfunction. Closed apr 24, 2000, led to recall 00V-072.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
EA99-004opened Jan 15, 1999
Visibility · model years 1992 to 1994

Blower assembly fires. Closed apr 18, 2000.

NHTSA summary
BASED ON THE RELATIVELY LOW FAILURE FREQUENCY MEASURED OVER AN EXTENDED EXPOSURE TIME AND THE FACT THAT THE GREAT MAJOITY OF INCIDENTS ARE CONFINED WITHIN THE BLOWER HOUSING, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
DP98-008opened Sep 4, 1998
Visibility · model years 1992 to 1994

Heater blower assembly fire. Closed sep 11, 1998.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
PE98-048opened Sep 4, 1998
Visibility · model years 1992 to 1994

Blower assembly fires. Closed jan 15, 1999.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
PE97-010opened Mar 13, 1997
Electrical · model years 1995 to 1996

Electrical fire in center console. Closed sep 4, 1997.

NHTSA summary
THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT CONSOLE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LAMP OUTAGE MODULE (LOM), WHICH IS PART OF THE MESSAGE CENTER, WERE TOWING A TRAILER AND WHICH HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER WIRING HARNESS INTO THE VEHICLE'S TAILLIGHT CIRCUITS.THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES NEVER AND MORE THAN OTHER TRAILER LIGHT BULB TO ONE CIRCUIT HOWEVER TRAILERS FREQUENTLY CONTAIN SEVERAL BULBS.THE RESULTING EXCESS CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE LOM COULD CAUSE IT TO OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A FIRE.PROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF TRAILER WIRING REQUIRES THE USE OF A BYPASS MODULE, WHICH OBTAINS POWER FOR THE TRAILER LIGHTS DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY RATHER THAN FROM THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT AND STOP LAMP CIRCUITS, OR THE USE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WIRING HARNESS.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PRECLUDE FURTHER INCIDENTS INCLUDING ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, NOTIFYING TRAILER RENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AGENCIES WHERE KNOWN, AND ADVISING OWNERS BY LETTER OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR CONNECTION OF TRAILER TOW WIRING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE WAS NO DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AND FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.
PE96-066opened Nov 22, 1996
Electrical · model years 1993 to 1994

Driver door electrical fire. Closed may 15, 1997, led to recall 97V-083.

NHTSA summary
THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE SWITCH POSITIVE PAD AND CHASSIS GROUND PAD AS A RESULT OF WATER INTRUSION.EXCESS CURRENT FLOW RESULTING FROM THE SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITION MAY OVERHEAT THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH CIRCUIT BOARD AND CAUSE A FIRE IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR.FORD HAS INDICATED THAT CURRENT IN EXCESS OF 15 AMPS CAN OVERHEAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FIRE.CIRCUIT PROTECTION IS PROVIDED BY A 30 AMP FUSE.FORD IS RECALLING ALL 1993-94 4-DOOR EXPLORER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT ELECTRONIC OPTION COMBINATION TO INSTALL AN IN-LINE 10 AMP FUSE IN THE POSITIVE BATTERY FEED TO THE REMOTE POWER MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY.NO 2-DOOR EXPLORER VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS.ACCORDING TO FORD, VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO THE RECALL PRODUCTION RANGE WERE EQUIPPED WITH LOWER CAPACITY CIRCUIT BOARDS FOR THE SUBJECT SWITCH ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD FAIL FROM AN OPEN CIRCUIT IF A SIMILAR SHORT OCCURRED.A NEW SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH 10 AMP FUSE PROTECTION WAS INTRODUCED BEGINNING WITH THE 1995 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A PARALLEL COMPAIGN (97V-083.002) TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 14,000 NAVAJO VEHICLES.THE NAVAJO VEHICLES WERE AVAILABLE IN ONLY THE 2-DOOR VERSION WHICH, UNLIKE THE EXPLORER VEHICLES, DID USE THE SUBJECT OPTION COMBINATION IN THAT BODY STYLE.

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

What owners paid

6 of the 111 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $1,000.

$700$818$1,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 81,000 and 130,000 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.

116
119
320
321
122
923
724
5425
3226

What owners wrote

“Rear backup camera doesn't work anymore its been 2 years it hasn't been working please look into it and hope there's a recall for it”

Filed Oct 1, 2024

“Rear back up camera does not always engage, and when it does, it sometimes shows inverted image. (Objects that are actually on the right appear on the left side of the screen.)”

Filed Apr 6, 2024

“The backup camera does not come up all the time. Sometimes it shows a blank screen or if it does show the camera picture is on the opposite side then what it show(backwards). Thank you”

Filed Oct 25, 2023

“Sudden back up camera failure without a warning light or message. There has not been an accident/incident but it is difficult to see behind the vehicle at certain angles when turning my head to the rear to back up. I have not yet had it checked by a mechanic because upon further research found that it may be too costly for me to have repaired. I had no obvious issues before it stopped working.”

Filed Jun 29, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 111 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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