Almost 20,000 Ford F-Series models have been recalled in the United States due to an issue with the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall notice reveals that 2023 Ford F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty models built between March 15, 2023, and July 14, 2023, may not display the default rearview camera image under specific circumstances when the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature is enabled. Instead, Ford says the hitch or trailer view may be displayed.
The car manufacturer notes that an incorrect rearview camera image can reduce the driver’s view of what is behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. The issue has been triggered by a software coding error in the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature.
Ford will start to alert dealerships of the recall on September 4, 2023, while owners will be notified from September 18, 2023. They will be instructed to return their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership where the Advanced Drive Assistance System (ADAS) module software will be updated free of charge. Ford says it is also investigating the possibility of providing a remedy through an over-the-air software update.
Read: Ford’s AI-Infused Pro Trailer Hitch Assist Takes The Guesswork From Connecting A Trailer
The Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature uses industry-first technology with advanced machine learning to detect the hitch ball, trailer, and coupler at up to 20 feet. The system automatically reverses the vehicle into position and after the driver verifies the coupler is positioned higher than the hitch ball, the system steers the truck perfectly into position. Ford’s team secured no less than 60 patents in developing the truck’s feature.
“Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is another smart solution to save time for our customers,” Ford Truck general manager John Emmert described earlier this year. “Instead of struggling to hitch a trailer alone or with a spotter, customers can now get hitched more confidently and on their way to the lake or a jobsite.”
Note: Ford F-150 models with Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist are pictured below
