Ford is issuing a recall to address two electrical faults, which are working in concert to kill the backup camera feed in 330,784 Mustangs.
The issue affects Mustangs made between 2015 and 2017 and, in both cases, boils down to a loss of electrical connectivity. That can cause the rearview camera feed to intermittently go blank or distort the image, which can make backing up harder and increase the risk of a collision.
The issue has two root causes. The first is the rigid scroll tube used in the decklid harness, which can cause damage to the camera wires through decklid usage, which leads to a loss of electrical conductivity. The second is the camera header connectors, which may have been twisted when they were soldered to the printed circuit board. That could also result in insufficient electrical connectivity.
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The recalled harnesses were introduced into production on February 2, 2014, and taken out of production on October 2, 2017. The recalled cameras, meanwhile, were in production from May 12, 2014, to February 28, 2015. Unfortunately, the Mustangs weren’t produced in VIN order, so owners looking to see if they are included in the recall can get information by calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332).
Ford will also be reaching out to owners by mail and will instruct them to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection. Following that, the rearview camera will be replaced and the decklid harness will be repaired where necessary. The new camera will have improved header tooling and solder pads while the rigid scroll tube will be removed to prevent future damage to the wiring. Owners can expect to start receiving letters from Ford on March 7.
The repairs will be carried out free of charge and Ford has put a general reimbursement plan in place for owners who paid to have the issue fixed before this recall was announced.
