2016 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Backup camera goes black or freezes

43owner reports
56,000median miles
4involved a crash

Newest report Aug 9, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

43 of the 90 reports of infotainment on the 2016 F-150 describe backup camera failure.

Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (90 reports)

Tick what matches of 43 reports

the image goes black or blank

it freezes or shows a frozen image

it works sometimes and not others

the picture is distorted or pixelated

a recall exists for the camera

a software update did not fix it

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (43 reports), the head unit or screen (28 reports) and the wiring or connector (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on other covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into other on the F-150

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

EA05-005opened Mar 22, 2005

Electrical · model years 1994 to 2002

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.

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 38,952 and 124,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

318

219

220

421

522

123

324

1625

726

What owners wrote

“When shifting into reverse, backup camera screen went to a constant blue screen â no rear image at all now.”
Filed Feb 3, 2026

“My rear view camera shows either a static rainbow screen while vehicle is in reverse. Or it shows a frozen faint image of what's behind my vehicle from the last time it was in reverse.”
Filed Nov 3, 2025

“faulty backup camera - resulted in backing incident and tailgate damage. Reported backup camera malfunction to NHTSA in 2022 and emailed photo of camera defect, but multiple news articles about F150's being recently recalled for backup camera issued. These recalls do not include 2016 models to recall for updates and need to be added. Approximate cost of truck tailgate replacement $1500.”
Filed Oct 26, 2025

“Rear view camera dows not function correctly, black screen, distorted screen, or no visibility. I indicated 9/1/2025 as the date but has been like this for longer”
Filed Sep 13, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 43 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.