Blind Spot Detection problems of the 2021 Ford F-250

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v686000 (back over prevention). The contact stated that while in reverse(r), the rear-view camera went black and failed to operate. Additionally, the blind spot monitoring indicators on both the driver’s and passenger’s side exterior mirrors were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Both the driver and passenger mirrors will not fully adjust. The mirrors need a different adjustment for standard driving and when towing a travel trailer. Neither mirror will properly adjust for towing and non towing applications. The lack of proper mirror adjustment causes a safety issue as the driver cannot see things in their full scope due to the mirror misalignment. I have almost had two accidents due to the mirrors not being able to be properly adjusted. Ford is aware of this issue on 2017 to 2023 f150, f250 and f350 trucks with the tow mirrors. Ford has issued a special service message#51829. Ford has a cleaning procedure they wish to be done as part of the diagnostics but Ford and the Ford dealer will not release this information. Ford is attempting to block warranty claims related to this issue. I believe they are doing this so they will not have to issue yet another recall! I spoke with a Ford dealer this morning and they stated that they had no knowledge of the ssm51829 or the mirror cleaning procedure. Even though the truck is under the Ford warranty, they would require a $250. 00 dollar fee just to inspect the problem.

All of my rear lights stopped working with no warning. My blind spot monitoring and cross traffic detection also stopped working. This is a serious issue as the light go out intermittenly without warning. Especially dangerous at night. Dealership thinks it might be a faulty harness. Dealership thought they fixed it by cleaning contacts but the very next day they went out again while driving in a snow storm. Luckily no one was behind me because they would not have been able to see me.

My f250 was in service for fuel system replacement and to fix both side mirrors which wouldn’t go down after going up. Shortly afterwards I noticed the rapid turn signal you get when tail lights are out. This happened while using a trailer. The trucks rear lights weren’t working at all but trailer lights were. Also was getting the blinds spot and cross traffic alert faults on instrument panel. Dropped off for service. They found a loose trailer plug and reset some things and got it all working again. Soon after the blinkers would flash fast again meaning lights were out, but would quickly stop and back to normal. Later they stayed blinking fast and tail lights out again after stopping starting several times. I tried plugging in my trailer wire harness and it tail lights started working again on truck?? 2 days later im using trailer again, truck tail lights quit working and getting blind spot and cross traffic fault alerts again!! still not working after 3 days. Had my trailer lights tested where I bought it, they used a battery powered tester found no fault and trailer lights all worked correctly no shorts in system. During times when faults occurred both my enclosed trailer and my RV back up lights would stay on constantly even when not in reverse! trailers turn signal, brake and tail lights worked but not truck tail lights. No back up no brakes or signal. Just the license plate lights. Why is it even legal to build a vehicle where you lose use of tail lights if your optional features like blind spot and cross traffic malfunction and can render safety lights useless??!! dropping off at Ford dealer ASAP to hopefully fix problem. I’ve heard of other trucks having similar problems.

Speed control: during night driving on 11/25/2021 at 65 mpg on I-80, I released my foot from the accelerator to slowdown, but the F-250 failed to slow down. Upon applying the brakes, the truck slowed (a message on the dash stated I applied the brakes), but, upon releasing the brakes, the truck accelerated. I repeated the braking solution, until I found a safe pullover. I shut the truck off & put the headlights to off from auto. Problem did not repeat, but the blind spot, cross traffic, & airbag faults continued as long as I had the headlights on. On 11/26/2021, I left a message with all american Ford, paramus, NJ, service drive manager. This was a very dangerous driving situation!. Note: on 10/26/2021 the 2021 F-250 began displaying errors, as logged on Ford app display center; “blind spot detection with cross traffic” (control mod comm prob), followed by “restraints indicator lamp warning” (fault with pass airbag deactivation indicator) – this is dangerous, because it indicated that the passenger side air bag is off!! since 10/26/2021, besides the faults, the ac would just shut off, front driver & passenger side windows would not roll down/up, automatic high beams failed, ac temp & radio controls were inoperable. Automatic deployment of running boards failed. Hand touch locking & unlocking failed, thus the push button tailgate release failed. I took the F-250 to tomball Ford, TX for repair. They noticed that the right rear upper portion of the taillight was cracked. Stated this was probably the issue, given the blind spot indicator module was located within the taillight assembly. I paid $1,000+ to replace, then left for NJ & the faults & other issues continued. I deduced through trial & error, that the faults & issues only occurred when the headlights were on!.