Ford Edge Backup Camera Not Working [Causes and How to Fix]

You’ve just discovered that the backup camera in your Ford Edge isn’t working, but you don’t want to pay a dealer to fix it.

If that sounds like you, this post contains some handy tips to help you resolve the issue with your rear view camera.

First, let’s look at the reasons behind this problem.

Your Ford Edge backup camera might stop working because of a functional issue in the device. Other problems that prevent the backup camera in your Ford Edge from working are software errors, a faulty shifter, a broken connector, and a dead camera.

Keep reading to learn how to fix these issues.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Ford Edge Backup Camera Problems

Power Cycle Your Car

Do you see the Camera Unavailable message whenever you shift your gear to Reverse in your Ford Edge? If you do, your camera might have encountered a functional error.

Rebooting the vehicle should fix this problem.

Follow these steps to power cycle your Ford Edge:

Turn off your ignition.
Disconnect the negative cable on your battery.
Wait for about 15 seconds.
Then, reconnect the negative battery cable.
Finally, turn on the ignition.

After rebooting your car, set your gear to Reverse. If you still get the Camera Unavailable message, continue to the next step.

Reset Your Backup Camera

If the Camera Unavailable message appears on your backup camera’s screen after you’ve rebooted your car, the camera might still be malfunctioning.

A quick way to eliminate this issue is to reset the camera.

Here’s how to reset your Ford Edge backup camera:

Tap on the Settings icon on your infotainment screen.
Select Vehicle.
Then, click on Rear View Camera.
This will take you to the backup camera’s settings page.
Turn off all the camera settings.
Then, go back to your home screen.
Your backup camera may display your rear-view image now, but the colored lines won’t appear on the screen.
Return to your backup camera’s settings page and turn all the settings on.
When you go back to your home screen, you should be able to see the colored lines on the rear-view image.

If your backup camera doesn’t resume working after the reset, try the next tip.

Related: Tips to Troubleshoot Ford F-150 Backup Camera Issues.

Download Your Over-the-Air Software Update

Another culprit behind a faulty Ford Edge backup camera is a software issue. This problem often occurs in 2021 and 2022 Ford Edge cars, and it results from a manufacturing error in the vehicles’ backup cameras.

According to Ford, drivers of affected vehicles may see blurry images or get no image on their backup cameras. Sometimes, their backup cameras may also display the Camera Unavailable message.

If your car is an affected vehicle, Ford will send an Over-the-Air software update to the car. You will also receive an alert on the email connected to your Ford account.

Check your email account for a Ford message about the Over-the-Air software update. If you find this mail, you’ll need to install the update to your car.

Follow these steps to download the Over- the-Air software update to your Ford Edge:

Turn on your Wi-Fi.
Click on the Settings
Select System Updates.
Then, click on Scheduled Updates.
Schedule the update to the current time.
Once you’ve set the schedule to your preferred time, click on Save.
Now, wait for the software update to start downloading.
After the update is complete, reboot your car.
If the installation is successful, the system will display a download icon and a checkmark on the top right corner of the screen.
However, if the installation fails, the download icon will be accompanied by an exclamation mark.
If you see the Unsuccessful Download icon on your screen, click it to redownload the update.
Repeat until the Successful Download icon appears on the screen.

Once you’ve installed the Over-the-Air software update to your car, your backup camera should be back to normal.

However, if the backup camera still fails to work properly, move on to the next tip.

Replace Your Shifter

If your shifter is faulty, it might prevent your backup camera from working.

When you shift your gear to Reverse, your shifter is supposed to trigger the backup signal and alert the Body Control Module (BCM). The BCM then turns on your backup camera.

But when the shifter is bad, it might fail to activate the backup signal when your gear is in Reverse. So, your backup camera won’t work.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to replace your shifter. But first, you have to confirm that the shifter is bad.

Ask a friend to shift your gear to Reverse while you stand behind your car. Observe the backup lights as your friend switches to the Reverse gear. If the backup lights don’t flicker, the shifter is bad.

In that case, replacing the shifter is necessary.

Here’s how to replace the shifter in a Ford Edge car:

Pull up your armrest.
Pop up the cover of your shift base with your flathead screwdriver.
Grab your transmission cable and pull it forward.
Then, pull the cable backwards to disconnect it from the center console.
Next, use your panel removal tool to loosen your shifter cable connector from the center console.
Detach the connector from the console.
Use an 8mm socket and ratchet to remove the four bolts holding the shifter cable to your car.
Locate these bolts on the left and right sides of the shifter cable.
Once you’ve removed all the bolts, pull up the shifter cable.
Turn the cable to its right.
You’ll notice a clip attaching the shifter to the cable.
Use your panel removal tool to pry the clip open.
You can now remove your old shifter and install the new one.
Using your panel tool, connect the clip on the new shifter to the shifter cable.
Pull the cable down.
Then, re-install the bolts around the shifter.
Reconnect the shifter cable connector to your center console.
Attach your transmission cable to the center console.
Place the shift base back over your shifter.
Finally, pull down your armrest.

Check if your backup camera is working. If the backup camera doesn’t display your rear-view image, try the next tip.

Related: How to Fix Ford Escape Backup Camera Problems.

Replace Your Camera’s Connector

Your backup camera might fail to work because the camera’s connector is rusty.

The backup camera relies on its connector to transmit video and electric signals. This is why the camera can’t work with a bad connector.

Go to the back of your car and disconnect your camera’s connector from the liftgate connector. If you notice any signs of rust on the connector, you’ll have to replace it.

You’ll need a pair of needle nose pliers, a wire stripper, a soldering iron and electrical tape to replace your connector.

Take these steps to replace your Ford Edge backup camera connector:

Use a needle nose plier to cut off the connector from its wires.
Grab the new connector.
If the wire on the new connector is too long, trim it with your pliers.
Next, use a wire stripper to remove insulation on your connector’s wires.
Also, strip off some insulation from your camera’s wire.
Fan the exposed wires and twist them together.
Use a soldering iron to solder the twisted wires.
Once the solder has melted over the wires, take the iron off the soldered joint.
Then, wait for the joint to cool down.
Finally, wrap the soldered joint in electrical tape.

If you still notice issues with your backup camera, check out the next tip.

Change Your Backup Camera

If your Ford Edge backup camera doesn’t work after you’ve tried the steps above, the camera is most likely dead. A camera replacement is the only viable solution to a dead backup camera.

The following guide will show you how to replace the backup camera in your Ford Edge car:

Pull up your liftgate.
Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws in the hatch opening.
Then, detach the panel attached to the tailgate.
Some of the pushpins on the panel may stick to the liftgate.
If they do, remove the pins with your vise grips and stick them back onto the panel.
Notice the 6 round holes on the tailgate? You’ll need to remove the bolts inside them.
Use a 7mm socket and ratchet to pull out the bolts in the holes.
Unplug the camera’s connector from the liftgate.
The next step is to remove the plastic panel above your license plate.
This panel is attached to the liftgate with a pushpin.
Make sure your tailgate is still open.
Then use your 7mm socket to pop out the pushpin.
You’ll be able to remove the plastic panel now.
Turn the panel to the other side.
You’ll see several bolts attached to the panel.
Remove only the four bolts located on the extreme ends of the panel: two on each side.
Clamp your vise grips on the tips of the bolts.
Then, twist the vise grip to remove the bolts from the panel.
Turn the panel to its bottom to reveal flat plastic slots.
Insert a putty knife into these slots to break the panel apart.
Grab the part of the panel that holds the backup camera.
Use a T20 torx drive to remove the screws on the panel.
You can remove your old backup camera now.
Get your new backup camera and connect it to the panel.
Then, re-install your torx screws onto the panel.
Put the panel back together.
Re-attach the panel to your liftgate.
Place all the items you removed earlier back onto the tailgate.

Tutorial video:

Your backup camera should work now.

Wrapping Up

If your Ford Edge backup camera stops working, power cycling the car and resetting your camera might resolve the issue quickly. You can also try updating your system software and replacing the shifter. Other ways to fix your backup camera are a connector or camera replacement.

However, if all these steps fail to repair the backup camera, contact your dealer for further assistance.