Recall Date: 3/18/2026
NHTSA ID: 26V165
MFr. Campaign Number: 26S21
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Affected Components: Image Processing Module A (IPMA) Software
Potential Number of Units affected: ~339,619
Which Ford and Lincoln Vehicles are Affected?
This recall covers four Ford and Lincoln SUV models, all equipped with a 5-radar-sensor Image Processing Module A (IPMA) configuration. All 339,619 vehicles in the population are considered to carry the defect.
The IPMA software is developed internally by Ford. The defect is not tied to a third-party component but to the software's ability to handle computational load under specific real-world conditions.
What Drivers Need to Know
The IPMA processes inputs from the vehicle's radar sensors to support the rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and other ADAS features. When the IPMA is operating in dense vehicle and pedestrian traffic, the volume of moving objects it must track can cause the module to become computationally overloaded. That overload triggers an unexpected reset.
A single reset is recoverable. The issue escalates when resets occur repeatedly across multiple ignition cycles. At that point, the module can reach a state of persistent failure, meaning the rearview camera and ADAS features stop working altogether until the vehicle is serviced. The issue has appeared most frequently in livery and chauffeur fleet vehicles operating in dense urban environments.
Drivers may see cluster warnings including "Front Camera Fault," "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available," and "Lane-Keeping System Off," and blind-spot indicators may illuminate during or after a reset event. These are actionable warning signs that the IPMA has reset. Ford is not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to this issue.
The remedy is a software update to the IPMA. Ford is offering an Over-the-Air (OTA) update, meaning many owners will not need a dealer visit at all. For those who prefer or require an in-person update, Ford and Lincoln dealers can complete it at no charge. Dealer notification began on March 25, 2026. Owner notification letters were mailed between March 30 and April 6, 2026, making this one of the fastest-turnaround owner notifications in the current recall batch.
Ford Recall Background
The timeline on this recall is worth noting. Ford's Critical Concern Review Group first reviewed the IPMA reset issue in March 2025, but initially closed the investigation in April 2025, concluding that the issue did not pose an unreasonable safety risk given the specific conditions required to trigger it. Ford and NHTSA discussed the matter at a Safety Evaluation List meeting in June 2025, again in November 2025, and several additional times in early 2026.
By March 2026, expanded warranty and connected vehicle data painted a clearer picture: all confirmed claims involved 5-radar-sensor vehicles, with a disproportionate concentration in livery and urban fleet applications. Ford reopened the investigation on March 9, 2026, and approved a field action on March 13, 2026. The scope was expanded beyond the original Aviator and Explorer to include the Lincoln Nautilus and Navigator based on the shared IPMA configuration.
For a full view of Ford's recall activity and other major OEM recalls this past quarter, see BizzyCar's most recent quarterly recall report.
Read the latest BizzyCar Quarterly Recall Report
How BizzyCar can Help
At 339,619 vehicles with a 100% defect rate, this is one of the largest recalls in the current batch. With an OTA remedy available, many owners will receive the fix without setting foot in a dealer. But not every owner opts into OTA updates, not every vehicle is connected, and fleet operators managing multiple units often need direct coordination to schedule service across an entire roster.
BizzyCar's Recall Outreach product reaches the affected vehicles already in a dealer's customer database through automated two-way SMS. For fleet-heavy Ford and Lincoln dealers, that direct outreach line is how open recall units get converted into scheduled appointments before they become persistent failures sitting in a customer's driveway. Book a demo.