2020 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 75owner reports
- 6,650median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
227 of the 730 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 75 of those describe infotainment.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (30 reports)
Tick what matches of 75 reports
Infotainment on other F-150 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: 2024, 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 (52 reports), the head unit or screen (29 reports), the software (7 reports) and the module (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
5 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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 windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist.
All 11 recalls on the 2020 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the F-150
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,008 and 46,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 18 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Ford F-150 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 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.
Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software In all the affected vehicles, due to an error in the SYNC software, you may experience SYNC system instability concerns and/or a failure to preserve certain settings across ignition cycles.
14 more on the 2020 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“My camera went bad at 69000 mi, it does exactly as those recalled but I don't get a recall notice!! Camera needed as safety tool for me, as I am 81 years old, why do they go all around this year and model!! It does exactly as those recalled!! Spoke to ford several times but no results!! Help!!06”
Filed Oct 17, 2025 · 69,000 miles
“Back up camera does not display item location for contact area. Related to APIM malfunction. Gps and radio controls also not working due to bad APIM”
Filed Jun 17, 2024
“The rear backup camera does not work in cold weather when any kind of moisture is present. The screen doesnât display anything useful and I am afraid it will cause me to have an accident. I have not brought it to the mechanic as I donât currently have the money to investigate repairs.”
Filed Dec 6, 2023
“The ford sync 3 freezes and asks to check for updates. When it checks for updates it states your vehicle is up to date. The sync 3 freezes and all it functions crash. This affects all things the sync controls including the back up camera, navigation, and radio. This has been reported on numerous forums and ford doesnât have a fix.”
Filed Sep 5, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 75 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
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 193 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 86 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 66 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 44 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 32 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 28 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 26 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 25 reports