Diagsheet

2016 Ford Mustang · symptom sheet

Backup camera goes black or freezes

  • 50owner reports
  • 35,000median miles
  • $279median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 20, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

50 of the 68 reports of infotainment on the 2016 Mustang describe backup camera failure.

Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (68 reports)

Tick what matches of 50 reports

13
7
11
36
2

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (50 reports), the wiring or connector (18 reports) and the head unit or screen (13 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

25V-572Sep 4, 2025
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank 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. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
22V-082Feb 16, 2022
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, which can result in a blank or distorted image.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the decklid wiring harness and/or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022 and June 26, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 4th Quarter of 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S06.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Mustang

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 2005 to 2008

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
PE99-029opened May 3, 1999
Electrical · model years 1998

Fires in the center console. Closed jul 27, 1999.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
EA93-019opened Jul 21, 1993
Visibility · model years 1992

Windshield wiper failure. Closed feb 8, 1994.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
PE93-046opened May 7, 1993
Visibility · model years 1992

Windshield wiper failure. Closed jul 21, 1993.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available
PE87-028opened May 1, 1987
Electrical · model years 1984 to 1986

Stalling. Closed jan 21, 1988.

NHTSA summary
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
DP78-022opened Feb 1, 1978
Other · model years 1975

Steering coupling flange failure. Closed jun 2, 1978.

NHTSA summary
STEERING COUPLING FLANGE FAILURE

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

13 of the 50 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $230 to $530.

$230$279$530
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 23,000 and 72,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.

217
118
220
521
1622
823
724
725
226

What owners wrote

“Backup Camera doesn’t work after purchasing a new camera from dealership and new wires. dealership said they didn’t know what was wrong after 3 months of working on car and new parts purchased”

Filed Aug 2, 2025

“Rear View Camera, distorted or doesn't work at all at times. This has tried to be corrected 5 or 6 times at dealership, works for awhile, then happens again. Dealer does not give me a copy of what was done to attempt to fix problem. Now I see this same issue is for other Ford vehicles, just doesn't include the Mustang.”

Filed Apr 30, 2025

“I had a back up camera recall done, and several months later, the exact same problems happened. Exactly the same symptoms and results. When shifting into reverse, the camera, in more than 50% of the time, the camera fails, just like before the first recall. The dealer says one fix per recall, and if I want it fixed now, it will be $400. It is a defect and should be fixed properly, not the sloppy fix done previously”

Filed Nov 4, 2024

“Back up camera recall was unresolved by previous owner. I’ve tried fixing the issue myself but cannot find it. The camera displays blue and black screens while in reverse.”

Filed Mar 17, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 50 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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