Ford Motor Recalling Bronco SUVs Again

Ford Motor Company is recalling 2021-2022 Bronco SUVs equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens that were previously recalled and repaired under NHTSA recall 22V-825. The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a “backing event has ended,” Ford said in the required NHTSA filing made public this morning. The Bronco SUVs fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.”

Affected Bronco SUVs are equipped with 8-inch low-level SYNC infotainment screens and have had a previous Ford safety recall 22C27 performed. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles “can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database,” Ford said in the filing.

Ford’s Customer Service Division (FCSD) identified that the 22C27 recall had been closed by dealers for 1651 vehicles with SYNC 8-inch infotainment screens. There were no over-the-air updates applied for these vehicles. Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) concluded that these 1,651 vehicles received the most current version of software and were marked as being completed; however, there was no compliance recall 22C27 software remedy released for these vehicles and it is not possible for them to have received a remedy. Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this latest Bronco safety defect.

The solution for this safety recall is a SYNC module software update which properly configures the SYNC system for vehicle usage in 4-Low mode and corrects this safety defect. Ford will use Ford Power-Up (Over-The-Air) deployment to update the SYNC module software for affected vehicles. Alternatively, owners will have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to complete the software update.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 1 May 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23C05. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 23V165.