Ford has announced the recall of 109,283 Lincoln Aviators for an issue with the rearview camera. The recalled vehicles come from the 2020-2024 Aviator lines. The vehicles' rearview displays are susceptible to interference from cell phones, making the display more difficult to read.
According to the recall notice, the Accessory Protocol Image Module may be susceptible to electromagnetic interference from a driver or passenger cell phone placed in the console area and in use. When the vehicle is in reverse, this interference may cause the rearview camera image to flicker, jump, shake, or scroll, reducing visibility behind the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash. The company's testing revealed that the issue is at its worst when a cell phone is on a call while having two or fewer signal bars and being physically close to the display.
Ford reports that dealers will be notified on July 2, 2024, while vehicle owners will be notified by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have shielding installed free of charge starting July 8, 2024. Until then, it advises drivers to refrain from cell phone use while backing up. The company also notes that the ending date for reimbursement eligibility is estimated to be July 26, 2024.
The cause of the issue is that the placement of the image module's printed circuit board connector causes lower impedance in the video circuit, which makes it susceptible to electromagnetic interference in the 1.6GHz to 2.7GHz band. According to the recall notice, Ford opened an investigation into the issue on February 6, 2024, and by May 17, the company's Field Review Committee approved the recall. According to Ford, 478 reports of rearview display issues linked to the problem have been found.
