You shift into reverse, check the screen… and see blue. Or black. Either way, you’re backing up blind. That’s what’s happening to some 2022–2023 Ford Broncos (not to be confused with the Bronco Sport), and Ford just issued a recall to deal with it. The culprit? A buggy rearview camera setup that’s already left over 128,000 SUVs at risk of being left in the dark.

What’s behind the Bronco recall?

This recall, named Ford Motor Company recall 23S48, affects Broncos equipped with the optional 360-degree camera system. The issue? When drivers shift into reverse or activate the 360-degree view, the SYNC screen may intermittently display a blue or black image instead of the rearview feed. That’s right, it’s the Bronco version of Microsoft’s old “blue screen of death.” This malfunction can persist until the vehicle is turned off and is likely to reoccur in subsequent drives.  

The root cause of the latest Bronco recall lies in the camera’s internal connector. Fretting corrosion leads to tin oxide formation due to micro-movements between tin-plated contact surfaces, degrading circuit continuity. Additionally, misalignment during manufacturing can cause permanent contact deformation. Both issues contribute to the loss of video frames. Translation: No software patch is going to fix this.

What should Bronco owners do?

Ford plans to notify owners starting May 5, 2025. Once notified, owners should schedule an appointment with their dealer to have the rearview camera replaced free of charge. In the meantime, drivers can check if their Bronco is affected by calling their local Ford dealership and ask about recall 23S48 or punching in their VIN at NHTSA.gov.

If your Bronco’s camera is on the fritz, don’t wait for it to fix itself—it won’t. Ford says it’ll swap the unit for free, so book a service appointment before you end up backing over your mailbox. Again.