U.S. auto safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday that it is opening a preliminary evaluation into Ford Motor Co.'s (NYSE:F) 2019 model year Flex vehicles over allegations of rearview camera failure.
What Happened: The probe covers an estimated 35,950 Flex vehicles.
The NHTSA opened the investigation after it became aware of 23 allegations of rear-view camera failure in model year 2019 Flex vehicles.
The complainants alleged black, distorted, or inverted rearview camera images when reversing, the regulator said. An upside-down image, the NHTSA said, will risk the driver.
The preliminary evaluation is aimed at determining the severity of the potential problem, the regulator added.
Ford discontinued the production of the Flex SUV in late 2019.
Why It Matters: SUVs comprise a majority of Ford's vehicle sales in the U.S.
In the last quarter, Ford sold 177,275 SUVs, marking a drop of 9% from the corresponding period last year. However, SUVs still accounted for about 40% of the company's overall sales in the quarter.
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Photo courtesy: Ford
