Ford Flex backup camera and parking sensor problems, 2016–2019
198 of the 458 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Flex 2016–2019 name the backup camera and parking sensors (NHTSA’s “Back Over Prevention” heading — the backup camera and rear parking sensors). The loudest years: 2019 (148), 2016 (28), 2018 (15). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ford Flex backup camera and parking sensor problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the backup camera and parking sensors | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 in depth | 148 | 59% | 50k | 2 recalls · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2018 | 15 | 22% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2017 | 7 | 17% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2016 | 28 | 29% | 69k | 1 recall | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the backup camera and parking sensors. Nothing here is a rate.
When the backup camera and parking sensor complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2021: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 17 · 2025: 72 · 2026: 87
Across the model years, half of the 112 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the backup camera and parking sensor problem between 40,000 and 85,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the backup camera and parking sensors, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera was not operable and displayed a blue image. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was an internal electrical failure.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back over prevention camera displayed images upside down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with back over prevention camera failure.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The rear-view camera image was blurry, and on occasions, the camera image was blank.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image intermittently faded out and occasionally was blank.
The contact owns a 2018 FORD Flex. The contact stated while using the back up camera on the vehicle it ends to shutoff randomly causing a back over prevention issue. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.
What is on file about the backup camera and parking sensors, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V695000 ModerateOct 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- 24V951000 ModerateDec 20, 2024 · 30,715 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
NHTSA investigation
- PE24030 Rear-view Camera Failureopened Oct 11, 2024 · closed Feb 2, 2026
- On October 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24030) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera in Model Year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. Complaints submitted to NHTSA through Vehicle Online Questionnaires (VOQs), reviewed by ODI, report blank, distorted, or inverted rear-view camera images when in reverse. An inverted or upside-down im…
Other systems with a record on the Ford Flex
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Ford Flex problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford Flex years have the most backup camera and parking sensor complaints?
2019, 148; 2016, 28; 2018, 15. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (59%).
Is there a recall for the backup camera and parking sensors on the Ford Flex?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V695000 (2019), 24V951000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do backup camera and parking sensor problems show up on the Ford Flex?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 60,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 40,000 and 85,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Back Over Prevention" heading cover?
The backup camera and rear parking sensors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.