Ford Explorer ST Recall 23S23 360 Degree Camera Stop Sale

I would assume months. They have to fix the ones that are already owned, then the ones at Chicago Speedway, then the ones on dealer lots. That's how I see it.

I guess I’ll wait and see. It’s good to finally see movement and people are getting their orders.

Welcome to the ST Purgatory Therapy Group! You could be right about the significance of the updated "last updated" date (say that five times fast), or it could just be something they do at a minimum every X amount of days, regardless of status change, if nothing else to update you on the fact that nothing has been updated . I really don't know. My "last updated" date was just updated yesterday so if I have movement on my order soon, I'll let you know.

As for the 360 camera delete - I don't think that's something that happens AFTER a window sticker has already been produced or after the build has started. I think that's part of the problem for some of us waiting like this... guessing they can't just simply "remove" the 360 camera and call it a day. Why that is, could be the whole tech infrastructure is designed for it or around it, could be legal reasons for not changing a build once the window sticker is finalized (or at least changing it without your consent), or it could just be that the bean counters decided it's too much work to offer us the delete option after the build has started. My window sticker has not changed in 5 months. There is no "360 camera" specifically listed as a feature, but it is a part of the upgraded 401A equipment package, so for them to remove it ethically would seemingly require a lot of work with a lot of dealerships and customers. Idk. I'm only speculating. The only 360-deleted Explorers I have found have been built since August when he 360-delete credit option was introduced - so almost certainly those were built that way from the get-go. If your production date was 7/17, you'll likely be waiting for the camera fix rather than delete.

I haven't heard of any yet. If I happen across an instance of an ST on a lot receiving the fix, I'll let you know. There is one at my dealer that I test drove in March that is still sitting there.

I'm never one to be optimistic, but it's worth noting that the NHSTA recall stated that notifications about the final camera fix would be sent to dealerships starting 10/23/23 and mailed to current owners starting 11/24/23... so MAYBE that means the time from now till then will be spent on the Explorers on the Speedway and dealer lots? Clearing up this queue of brand new cars before they repair those currently owned? The NHTSA language seems to suggest that, but common sense would suggest that they'd want to take care of cars on the road first from a safety perspective, even though this recall doesn't affect a crucial safety component in my opinion. So - what's more important to Ford... a minor safety concern for cars already sold and off the books, or their bottom line ?

The dealership I’m going through only has the stock photos on their website but I physically went there to see the ST. They keep it in the back as sold cause I placed a deposit on it. I’m not sure why the dealership is using stock photos. I’m just waiting for the camera fix to actually take delivery of it.

That's just insult to injury. You can look but don't touch! Honestly, you might consider placing an order on a new build to hedge your bets. Unless I'm missing something, it looks like Explorers built after the 360 delete are turning around in a month or less. One at a nearby dealership has an order date of 8/22, a blend date of 8/30, and their website shows it available for sale on the lot. I've found multiple dealers with no-recall post-July-build ST's listed as on the lot. Not sure how important the 360 camera is to you, but since it's free to place a build order, you might hedge your bets that way between that and the one you're waiting for. Or that might be too much work, just up to you.

Ugh. Check your email. I just got the 45 day email update that they are still having supply chain issues and to continue to check for updates

Ugg I had a may 5 biult date and zero updates since that day. The jeep grand cherokee with nightvision and driving assistance on the local lot is looking a hell of a lot more appealing even with the 10k price increase.

lol thanks. I got the email too. Completely generic. Completely disingenuous and non-specific. Completely vague and impersonal. Thanks Ford! I feel much better now that I know nothing more than I did before

The camera isn’t that important to me. I’ve been waiting since the end of July. If I can find another one with the same features then I would ask for my deposit back. I know there isn’t anything my dealer can do but it’s definitely frustrating when the ST is sitting on the lot. It’s funny they will let you test drive it though just can’t legally deliver. Im glad it’s marked fold and can’t be driven. I’ll admit I wanted to see what it could do so I can imagine others did the same. Everyone else on this form has been waiting longer then myself

My ST had a May 3rd "In Production" date. It went to Built on 9/6 and then Shipped on 9/8. Has the Last updated date changed on the tracker for yours?

MrMark, does your Explorer have the 360?

Two STs that my dealer had ordered in January had been stuck in "In Production" status since April 29th and May 5th. Both have now been built and shipped so it seems like they are currently working on the ones that they were holding at the speedway. The number of units held at the speedway is a small percentage of the total that need to be fixed for this recall, so it makes sense that they work on those while they are acquiring enough parts and distributing them to dealerships to fix everything on the road.

There has been no change to the sticker, so I believe that it does.

That is awesome news and makes me hopeful.

If the sticker doesn't have the 360 delete credit and the tracker says built and shipped... the only thing left to do is check the NHTSA Recall VIN check. If the recall is gone, I would be very optimistic!

All the builds I've found on lots in the last week with repaired cameras (no recalls, no 360 delete on the sticker) were April/May build dates. I am assuming they're sending these out chronologically, as they should. So my July 24 build may be one of the last to get fixed and shipped, but at least the ball is rolling.

My VIN was never listed as a recall in the NHTSA. Perhaps that is why they keep them stuck in "production" at the factory and don't say "built" until the 360 is updated and fixed?

Per my dealer today, no aviators shipped yet, but cameras are being deployed to the factory in mass quantities with smaller allotments to dealerships for recall repairs.
He said the fixes at the factory may not happen in the order that initial purchases were made because it may be logistically easier to just so cars closest to the factory first.
he did confirm that customer orders are prioritized over dealer orders (someone else also said this).
He thinks 1-2 months atleast to clear those cars built and waiting in Chicago.

Correct. I believe only builds with pre-recall/pre-stop sale (so, pre-May-ish) blend dates will have the recall show up on NHTSA’s VIN tracker. If the build has a post-recall/post-stop sale (so, post May-ish) blend date like mine and yours in July, then it doesn’t have the recall on it… because I’m assuming they built it without the faulty 360 camera equipment but didn’t have the new cameras yet so - as you’re suggesting, those Explorers have been “stuck in production” as you said, or as I call it - purgatory… or some days I call it Hell.

So:
There are pre-recall Explorers on the dealer lots that are in purgatory. I haven’t heard of any of these being repaired just yet. The NHTSA Recall VIN Tracker will show these models are recalled.

There are pre-recall factory builds that are still at the factory in purgatory. The NHTSA Recall VIN Tracker will show these models are recalled as well, because they were built with the faulty camera system. A FEW of these appear to be moving out with the new cameras, on lots, available for sale - and so those few models should no longer display a recall on their VIN.

There are post-recall factory builds that are still at the factory in purgatory. The NHTSA Recall VIN Tracker will NOT show these models are recalled, as they technically are not faulty, but they are incomplete as they currently have NO 360 camera system at all (faulty or new). I haven’t seen these moving yet, maybe because they are installing the new cameras on factory builds by order of build date.

There are post-recall factory builds that are being built with the 360 camera delete credit option (started sometime in August) that are NOT in purgatory and are already shipping out and on lots. These seem to be able to be ordered, built, and shipped out in under a month. Which is crazy, and likely corroborates that the ONLY reason any of us have been waiting so long is this camera issue… which Ford refuses to specify or acknowledge as the cause for this delay. The 360 delete credit is $500 (in my area, anyway) and it is paired with a reverse brake assist credit of $150.

And there are those who already owned and drove their Explorers before the recall went live in May, and communication to them about the camera repair is scheduled to be mailed out in late November, which MIGHT indicate that they are trying to fix all the new builds to get them sold and off the books before moving on to current owners bringing in their cars for repair. But that’s just my deduction.

All of this is a lot!! And I could be wrong about any number of things. But those are my deductions thus far.

Because my build date (7/24) is presumably towards the end of the queue as far as the camera fix is concerned (even though I placed my order in March and have been waiting almost six months), I will be looking for ST’s hitting lots with a similar spec sheet as mine, even if I have to spend a little more. I’m not trying to wait 3-5 more months. I guess I will if it’s the only option, but with things beginning to move now, I think I’ll have one soon one way or the other.