Wirtz Law Blog

Ford issued new and expanded recalls after rear-view cameras started showing blank, distorted, frozen, or delayed images in reverse. The latest NHTSA filings from October 2025 span many Ford and Lincoln models over several years. If you continue to return to the dealer for the same camera failure, stop waiting for a fix that doesn’t last. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can use California’s lemon law to seek a buyback or replacement when repairs do not resolve the problem. 

What The Ford Safety Recall Covers 

When you shift into reverse, the display should deliver a clear image. Instead, many Ford and Lincoln owners see blank, frozen, washed-out, or delayed feeds. That failure hides pedestrians, cyclists, pets, curbs, and bollards. 

The risk is highest in parking structures, school pickup zones, and tight driveways where mirrors and sensors leave low blind spots. Ford’s notice directs you to a dealer for a no-cost inspection and repair. Book the service and keep complete records of every visit.

A recall provides a path to repair, not a waiver of your California lemon law rights. Outcomes control. If the camera still fails after service, or parts shortages keep the car off the road for extended periods, your documented history can support a repurchase or replacement.

How California Lemon Law Applies To Repeat Camera Failures

California’s Song-Beverly Act makes the rule simple. If a defect that affects use, value, or safety remains unaddressed after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer must either repurchase or replace the vehicle. The state’s jury instruction lays out the elements you must prove. 

If the backup camera keeps failing or your car spends too much time in the shop, the lemon law can apply. You rely on that screen every time you reverse. When it goes blank, freezes, or distorts, safety is compromised, and the car loses value. 

If the dealer documents your complaint, attempts a repair, and the problem returns, you are approaching the “reasonable number” of attempts. Long parts delays and extended downtime also weigh in your favor.

Steps You Should Take To Protect A California Lemon Law Claim

Set yourself up for a stronger California lemon law claim by getting organized first. 

• Check Your VIN and Book Service: Run your VIN through the NHTSA recall tool and the manufacturer’s site. Print or screenshot the results and your appointment confirmation.
• Describe the Symptom Precisely: In your service write-up, state exactly what you see. For example, “screen blanks when shifting to reverse,” “image freezes for five seconds,” or “overexposed image at dusk.”
• Capture Photos or Short Videos: If the failure occurs in your driveway or a parking lot, record a short clip on your phone and save the file with the date.
• Keep Every Repair Order: Make sure the dealer records your complaint in your own words. Save paperwork that shows “no problem found,” software updates, camera replacements, harness repairs, or parts on backorder.
• Track Days Out Of Service: Count calendar days the vehicle stays at the dealership and days you reasonably cannot use it because the camera still fails.
• Return After Any Repeat Failure: If the screen fails again after a repair, open a new repair order and note the recurrence. Repetition strengthens a lemon claim.

Strong documentation speeds up outcomes and reduces disputes about what happened. Contact Wirtz Law today to discover your options for your lemon vehicle. We have recovered over $70 million dollars in recovery on behalf of our clients. 

When A Vehicle Recall Fix Fails, And Buyback Or Replacement Makes Sense

If the dealership attempts repairs several times and the camera still fails, you may seek a repurchase or replacement. Repurchase means the manufacturer takes back the vehicle and refunds the purchase price, minus a statutory mileage offset calculated under California law. 

Replacement means you receive a comparable vehicle plus reimbursement for incidental damages such as towing or rental. Attorney’s fees are recoverable when you prevail, which levels the field against a large automaker.

You do not need to wait until a future campaign phase if your vehicle remains unreliable today. California lemon law focuses on your repair history and loss of use, not on promises of a later fix. If you cannot rely on the backup image and you have records of repeat visits or lengthy downtime, you should evaluate a lemon claim now.

Practical Signs Your Case May Qualify Under California Lemon Law

You should consider a claim when you encounter any of the following patterns:

• Multiple Documented Visits For The Same Camera Failure: Two or more camera-related visits with persistent symptoms often meet the “reasonable number” standard, especially when the defect poses a safety risk. 
• Extended Time Out Of Service: Long delays in parts or repeated repairs that keep the car out of your daily use weigh in favor of a buyback or replacement.
• Safety Impact You Can Explain: If you avoid tight parking areas, school lines, or backing on busy streets because the image blanks or distorts, that real-world impact supports your claim.
• Inconsistent Repair Notes: “No trouble found” entries followed by the same failure can show that reasonable attempts did not resolve the defect.

Taken together, this record gives you the leverage to seek a buyback or replacement under California’s lemon law.

Contact Wirtz Law Today To Discover Your Options for Your Southern CA Lemon Law Claim 

California lemon law runs on the clock and the odometer. Most rights arise during the manufacturer’s express warranty, and some deadlines continue after it ends. Report problems as soon as they appear, complete recall work promptly, and save every repair order. Do not wait. Acting early preserves your options and helps you avoid missing a filing cutoff.

If your Ford, Lincoln, or other vehicle shows signs of a defect, you should contact an experienced California Lemon Law attorney. The attorneys at Wirtz Law APC have a history of successfully representing California lemon law vehicle owners and obtaining the compensation they deserve. 

Call our office at (858) 259-5009 to schedule a consultation with a lawyer on our team. We proudly represent consumers across the Golden State, from Mendocino County in the north to Fresno County, Los Angeles, and San Diego County.