{"id":10887,"date":"2026-03-24T13:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=10887"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:25:00","slug":"ford-lincoln-critical-safety-systems-may-fail-without-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=10887","title":{"rendered":"Ford &amp; Lincoln Critical Safety Systems May Fail Without Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you own certain <strong>Ford or Lincoln vehicles<\/strong>, a newly announced recall raises serious concerns about the reliability of key safety systems. A defect in the vehicle\u2019s &nbsp;can cause critical features\u2014including the rearview camera and driver-assistance systems to suddenly stop working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the Problem?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The issue affects the <strong>Image Processing Module A (IPMA)<\/strong>, which is responsible for powering several important safety features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to a software-related problem, the module may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unexpectedly reset<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lose functionality temporarily or permanently<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fail repeatedly over multiple drive cycles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When this happens, drivers may experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Loss of <strong>rearview camera image<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure of <strong>pre-collision assist<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disabled <strong>lane-keeping assist<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malfunctioning <strong>blind-spot monitoring<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, repeated resets can lead to a <strong>persistent loss of these features altogether<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Is Dangerous<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most immediate safety concern is the <strong>loss of the rearview camera<\/strong>, which is required for safe backing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Without a working rearview camera, the risk of a crash during reversing increases significantly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even more concerning is the loss of multiple <strong>Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)<\/strong> at the same time\u2014features that drivers rely on to prevent collisions and stay in their lane.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is not a minor glitch\u2014it\u2019s a <strong>system-wide safety failure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Causing the Issue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ford has identified the root cause as a <strong>computational overload<\/strong> in the IPMA system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When the vehicle is in <strong>dense traffic environments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With <strong>many moving objects (cars, pedestrians, etc.)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The system becomes overwhelmed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This overload can trigger a <strong>reset of the module<\/strong>, and repeated resets can eventually cause the system to stop functioning altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning Signs Drivers May See<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle is affected, you may notice warning messages such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cFront Camera Fault\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cPre-Collision Assist Not Available\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cLane-Keeping System Off\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blind-spot indicator lights may illuminate unexpectedly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These warnings are a strong indication that the system is <strong>not functioning properly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Problem Was Discovered<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The issue first surfaced through an <strong>increase in warranty claims<\/strong>, particularly involving fleet vehicles like the Lincoln Aviator used in livery services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ford\u2019s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) launched a detailed investigation, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simulation testing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real-world driving evaluations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analysis of warranty and connected vehicle data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the issue was initially difficult to reproduce, patterns began to emerge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Higher occurrence in <strong>urban environments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater impact on <strong>livery and fleet vehicles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong link to vehicles with <strong>specific sensor configurations (5 radar sensors)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>After further review and discussions with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford <strong>reopened the investigation in March 2026<\/strong> and ultimately approved a recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Affected Vehicles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This issue may affect certain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2022\u20132025 Lincoln Navigator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2024\u20132025 Lincoln Nautilus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2025 Lincoln Aviator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2025 Ford Explore<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recall Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ford Recall Number:<\/strong> 26S21<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NHTSA Campaign Number:<\/strong> 26V-165<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fix:<\/strong> Software update to the IPMA system\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Performed at a dealer or via <strong>over-the-air (OTA) update<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Owner Notification:<\/strong> Expected March 30, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ford has stated that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue\u2014but that does not reduce the seriousness of the defect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is This a California Lemon Law Case?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This type of defect may qualify under the <strong>California Lemon Law<\/strong>, especially if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The issue affects <strong>vehicle safety systems<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repairs fail to permanently fix the problem<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The vehicle requires <strong>multiple dealer visits<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The defect substantially impairs the <strong>use, value, or safety<\/strong> of the vehicle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should You Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you own one of these vehicles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Watch for warning messages<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Document every issue and repair visit<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Schedule service as soon as possible<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Follow up if the issue persists after repair<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If the problem continues, it may be time to explore your legal options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern vehicles depend heavily on advanced electronics to keep drivers safe. But when those systems fail &#8211; especially unpredictably &#8211; it creates a serious risk.\u00a0 A vehicle that cannot reliably detect hazards or even show you what is behind you is not functioning as intended.\u00a0\u00a0If your Ford or Lincoln is experiencing these issues, do not ignore the warning signs. This is exactly the type of defect California lemon law was designed to address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you own certain Ford or Lincoln vehicles, a newly announced recall raises serious concerns about the reliability of key safety systems. A defect in the vehicle\u2019s &nbsp;can cause critical features\u2014including the rearview camera and driver-assistance systems to suddenly stop working. What\u2019s the Problem? The issue affects the Image Processing Module A (IPMA), which is&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=10887\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10888,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,45,723],"tags":[140,1481,1161,1432],"class_list":["post-10887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california-lemon-law","category-ford","category-lincoln-recalls","tag-automobile-safety","tag-automobile-safety-defect","tag-repeated-automobile-problems","tag-software-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10887"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10890,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10887\/revisions\/10890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.calemonlaw.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}