2023 Ford Explorer Backup Camera Display Recall (23V686)

Recall 23V686 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Ford Explorer in recall 23V686?

Due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness, the rearview camera may display a blue image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with a standard rearview camera. Due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness, the rearview camera may display a blue image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Is it safe to drive a 2023 Explorer with recall 23V686?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Explorer shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the display function, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V686?

Recall 23V686 covers 2,866 vehicles: 2023 Ford Explorer.

NHTSA lists 2,866 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Explorer backup camera display recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C31.

When was recall 23V686 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V686 to NHTSA on October 13, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 2, 2023.

This recall was filed 36 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 23V686?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V686 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 23V686000. 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 23V686?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V686000 applies to your Explorer.
2. Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. 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.
4. Keep a simple log of any display function symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 110 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the rearview camera.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 23V686 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 110 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 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.

• 2023 Ford Explorer: 110 complaints in total, 5 about the rearview camera

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R).

2023 Ford Explorer owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11680777, filed August 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a white screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R).

2023 Ford Explorer owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11680984, filed August 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact received Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP): 24B47 in August 2024. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.

2023 Ford Explorer owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11682243, filed August 21, 2025

Can recall 23V686 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)).

Rearview camera faults are frequently fixed with a software update, but owners report the screen going black again weeks later. If that happens with your 2023 Ford Explorer, each return visit should be documented.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same display function again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2023 Ford Explorer has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V305000.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V686