2022 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 34owner reports
- 14,000median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 2, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
122 of the 267 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 34 of those describe infotainment, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2022 Explorer.
Tick what matches of 34 reports
Infotainment on other Explorer years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (25 reports), the head unit or screen (22 reports), the module (4 reports) and the software (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
9 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2022 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
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.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
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.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
All 24 recalls on the 2022 Ford Explorer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Explorer
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Windshield wiper malfunction. Closed apr 24, 2000, led to recall 00V-072.
Blower assembly fires. Closed apr 18, 2000.
Heater blower assembly fire. Closed sep 11, 1998.
Blower assembly fires. Closed jan 15, 1999.
Electrical fire in center console. Closed sep 4, 1997.
Driver door electrical fire. Closed may 15, 1997, led to recall 97V-083.
None of these investigations covers the 2022 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,100 and 45,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 21 service bulletins or notices for the 2022 Ford Explorer that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Some 2020-2025 various Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Various 2021-2025 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with the rear camera on demand feature may exhibit "Please Check Surroundings For Safety" or "Full View Not Available" messages when the rear camera button is pressed and the vehicle is not in reverse.
Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect rear camera operation.
17 more on the 2022 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“The heat from the sun is making the leather dash warp and flipping up in the drivers view. It is also coming apart behind the media control screen.”
Filed Jun 29, 2026
“While driving, parking, or doing any function of the vehicle, the screen will intermittently switch from the cameras being used to the on board navigation and start routing the vehicle to random locations, or it may blank out completely. It has also frozen in place and will not display reverse cameras, show proximity sensors, or anything.”
Filed Jun 29, 2026
“The dash cluster screen goes in and out. Randomly began and got more frequent as time went on. This screen shows ones speed, gas, cruise control, lane assist, mileage and which vehicle mode it is in. Once the blacked out screen appears driver has no indication of these features. Evaluated by dealership and had to replace and reprogram the entire dash cluster at an out of pocket cost of $1846.”
Filed Feb 13, 2025
“the entertainment screen goes black. screen has been black for 2 weeks. will still show back up camera when in reverse. screen does not work other than back up camera. unable to change air/heat settings. the back right seat will not lay down. the electrical component will not work. there is no manual way to let down seat. 3rd row seat stuck in up right position.”
Filed Oct 27, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 34 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works