Diagsheet

2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Backup camera goes black or freezes

  • 38owner reports
  • 45,000median miles
  • $500median quote
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Jul 3, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

38 of the 89 reports of infotainment on the 2018 F-150 describe backup camera failure.

Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (89 reports)

Tick what matches of 38 reports

10
2
8
7
10
3

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (38 reports), the head unit or screen (19 reports) and the wiring or connector (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on other covers the 2018 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 2018 model year.

What owners paid

5 of the 38 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $450 to $800.

$450$500$800
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

220
221
422
323
224
1925
626

What owners wrote

“Radio went out not long after I bought it. Nothing on that end works. No back up camera, nothing. Bad apim module. 1400 to replace. It’s such a common issue and should be a recall.”

Filed Feb 25, 2025

“Backup camera was hard to see with, when backing up I could not detect obstacles. I replaced the backup camera with a new part at my cost of about $100 which I have a receipt for.”

Filed Nov 18, 2024

“APIM is bad. It causes safety issues as the SYNC 3 system is either slow to change or doesn't change at all. Among other issues, I've driven forward in Drive with the SYNC screen still showing the view of the reverse camera. IT interferes with any safety systems that require the APIM to react in a timely manner.”

Filed May 21, 2023

“Radio, rearview camera, compass, usb ports, eight inch display failure. APIM has gone bad, a very common Ford defect over several years covering several models, that is costing/has cost thousands of consumers over a thousand dollars each to repair. The APIMs are obviously defective, a recall should be issued, and Ford should be required to replace the APIM at no cost to the consumer.”

Filed May 3, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 38 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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