2021-2023 Ford Explorer Backup Camera Recall (23V342)
Ford Motor Company · 442,973 vehicles · Reported May 12, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 442,973 2021-2023 Ford Explorer; 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying. Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V342 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V342000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S23 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 12, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Ford Explorer; 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair |
| Units affected | 442,973 |
| Component | Back Over Prevention > Sensing System > Camera |
| Safety risk | Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Ford Explorer in recall 23V342?
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Explorer with recall 23V342?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the camera.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V342?
Recall 23V342 covers 442,973 vehicles: 2021-2023 Ford Explorer; 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair.
NHTSA lists 442,973 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2023 | Lincoln | Aviator |
| 2021-2022 | Lincoln | Corsair |
What is the fix for the Explorer backup camera recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 23V-022. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-022 will need to have the new remedy performed.
When was recall 23V342 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V342 to NHTSA on May 12, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 10, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 12, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V342000. |
| November 10, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 41 months ago. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 23V342?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V342 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V342000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Explorer owners do about recall 23V342?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V342000 applies to your Explorer.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any camera symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 984 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 53 of them about the rearview camera.
Since recall 23V342 was reported on May 12, 2023, owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the rearview camera on these vehicles. 5 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the rearview camera and were received on or after May 12, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related rearview camera issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 984 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 53 of them involve the rearview camera. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 19 about the rearview camera
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 11 about the rearview camera
- 2023 Ford Explorer: 110 complaints in total, 5 about the rearview camera
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 3 about the rearview camera
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 2 about the rearview camera
- 2022 Lincoln Corsair: 35 complaints in total, 5 about the rearview camera
- 2021 Lincoln Corsair: 34 complaints in total, 5 about the rearview camera
- 2023 Lincoln Aviator: 24 complaints in total, 3 about the rearview camera
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was distorted and unclear.
2021 Lincoln Corsair owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11696526, filed October 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blurry image. The contact stated that the failure made it very difficult to reverse while driving at night. The contact received a recall notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V048000 (Back Over Prevention).
2021 Lincoln Corsair owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11707452, filed December 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Corsair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V048000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Lincoln Corsair owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11712341, filed January 21, 2026
Can recall 23V342 make my Explorer a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A rearview camera that blanks out or freezes is a safety issue because federal rules require a working backup image. Camera problems are often software related, and many owners see them come back after an update.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same camera again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021-2023 Ford Explorer has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V022000.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Explorer been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V342
Did the recall 23V342 fix work?
Since recall 23V342 was reported on May 12, 2023, owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the rearview camera on these vehicles. 5 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 10, 2023.
Is the 23V342000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 23V342000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Is it legal to drive with a blank backup camera?
Federal safety rules require new vehicles to have a working rearview image, which is why camera failures are recalled. Have it repaired, and use mirrors and extra care until then.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V342000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.