2018 Tesla Model 3: backup camera failure

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · CA

Possible ineffective recall remedy – the federal safety agency Recall 21V-00D / Tesla SB-21-17-008. My Model 3 received the trunk harness recall remedy in 2023. Tesla inspected the original harness, determined it was within specification, left it installed, and added the guide protector. Tesla’s recall documentation states the guide is intended to prevent further wear caused by trunk movement; if wear is beyond specification, the harness is replaced. In 2026, my rearview camera began intermittently failing. I found that I can reproduce the failure by operating the trunk and provided Tesla video evidence. Tesla has now diagnosed an internal fault in the same original trunk harness and says the harness requires replacement. This appears consistent with the safety condition addressed by 21V-00D: repeated trunk movement can damage the harness/coaxial cable and cause loss of the rearview camera. I repeatedly asked Tesla what diagnostic evidence shows this is a different failure mechanism. Tesla has not identified one. Instead, Tesla has repeatedly stated that it considers this separate because approximately 3 years have passed since the recall remedy. I asked whether this three-year distinction comes from a the federal safety agency requirement or written Tesla policy; Tesla could not identify one. My concern is that vehicles considered successfully remedied by retaining the original harness and installing the guide may remain susceptible to the recalled failure after additional trunk-use cycles. Original harness retained → recall guide installed → continued trunk use → internal harness fault → rearview-camera failure. I am reporting this so the federal safety agency can evaluate whether this represents a potential durability/effectiveness issue with the 21V-00D guide-protector remedy and whether similar post-remedy failures are occurring in other affected vehicles. Tesla correspondence and service documentation are attached.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · NJ

Vehicle: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Safety Issue: The rearview camera display has failed and shows a black screen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. This reduces rearward visibility and creates a safety concern while backing up. Recall History: My vehicle was previously repaired under the Tesla Model 3 trunk lid harness recall on March 31, 2023. The recall addressed wear and damage to the trunk harness wiring that could result in loss of the rearview camera display. Tesla installed recall retrofit components during that repair. The current failure presents the same symptom that the recall was intended to correct: loss of the backup camera image. Current Problem: In September 2026, the rearview camera again began displaying a black screen. Tesla Service has diagnosed the vehicle and quoted approximately $439 for repair. Tesla advised that the recall was completed in 2023 and that the repair warranty has expired, therefore the current repair is not covered. Reason for Complaint: I believe this may be a recurrence of the same safety-related defect addressed by the original recall. Although the recall repair was completed, the same safety condition has reoccurred. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review whether the recall remedy adequately resolved the defect and whether owners should be responsible for subsequent repairs involving the same failure mode.

Filed Sep 28, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · VA

I believe my car should be included in the recall for trunk harness recall. My alert and issue is the rear camera being off due to rear trunk ruining the wiring harness that has affected many cars. This is already a recall but I believe my car missed being involved.

Filed Jul 25, 2025 · Driver assistance · NY

Backup camera recall was not fixed properly or the new parts have same issue. As a result the backup camera was not functioning. When the camera is not functioning the autopilot system drives aggressively, speeding up to the max set speed when it is not safe to do so with current traffic conditions. Had to disengage autopilot otherwise it would have crashed. Also I received an alert that the emergency breaking system was not functional. When reversing could not use backup camera.

Filed Nov 11, 2024 · Electrical · WA

Recall never completed for my car. Was from 2021. Worried that rear camera may fail and create a dangerous situation.

Filed Oct 13, 2024 · Driver assistance · NY

The rear camera routine fails to activate. I wonder if this related to the trunk harness issue. I tried contact Tesla, but they want to charge for a repair.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

The MCU in my 2018 Tesla Model 3 failed after a software update, rendering several key safety features inoperable, including the car’s cameras and Autopilot functions. The vehicle currently has 16,600 miles and had previously received an MCU replacement in 2022. This most recent failure occurred during a firmware update, which got stuck at 50%. The Tesla Service Center confirmed that the MCU needs replacement again, but I was not given clear diagnostic logs or evidence of a pre-existing hardware issue. Due to this failure, the rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, and Autopilot features are no longer operational, which directly impacts the safety of driving the vehicle. These features are critical for safe operation and are standard in ensuring driver assistance, situational awareness, and accident avoidance. The issue has been inspected by the Tesla Service Center, and they proposed replacing the MCU at a significant cost, though no prior warning signs or messages appeared before the failure during the update.

Filed Aug 20, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

I recently took my car in for a recall for the trunk wiring harness and have never had any major issues since I purchased it in 2018. Since replacing the recalled harness, I’m starting to receive several alerts from my driver assistance system (emergency brakes, camera failure). I called a service tech who mentioned there’s either a failed camera or a failed wiring harness. Looking online, I was shocked to see hundreds of other owners with a 2018 model 3 also experiencing the same issue in 2024 (assuming after they replaced the recently recalled harness). I strongly believe that these two issues are related and that the camera should be replaced alongside the wiring harness. Several people on this forum have been quoted hundreds or thousands from tesla to replace the harness (including myself) and are taking matters into their own hands by replacing with after market parts. This is a serious safety issue since the cameras control all self driving functionality. I’m shocked that it’s not already been addressed through a recall! The first time my system had gone out while on Autopilot, the car flashed and sirened and asked that I take over. Since then all my driver assistance features including my rear camera are no longer functional. Please see this forum where several others are experiencing the same issue on their 2018 Model 3s [XXX] Attached are error messages from my car and screenshots from the forum above where people have described the DIY fix and the costs quoted by Tesla. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 20, 2024 · CA

The rear camera often fails. Does this mean it is recording or not when driving. I think Tesla should have fixed this rear camera harness recall. I have been waiting over two years for this fix. It has been too long. Safety issues backing up or driving without the rear camera working properly.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Electrical · CA

Re the federal safety agency recall 21V00D The rear view back up camera of my Tesla 2018 Model 3 went black on August 21 starting at approx 3pm and remained black for the rest of the day through August 22. I'm planning to check today, August 24 to see if the problem still persists. Lack of the backup camera makes it very difficult to park and to see people in the car's blind spots. I've informed the dealer of the problem but I've decided to have an independent third party repair service take a look to see if the problem could possibly pertain to recall.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

Tesla recalled wiring components for the Rearview camera (for parking / driving in reverse) as it suffered from severe latency. They claim to have fixed the recall but nothing changed. They don't respond to complaints that it doesn't work. This work was "completed" under the Trunk harness retrofit on the statement provided . The trunk harness affected the wires to the camera causing the latency, per recal info/Tesla rep.

Filed Jul 28, 2023 · Electrical · AZ

The center display that houses all of the cars instrumentation including gauges randomly goes out while driving. It will go out for 10 to 15 minutes until it recovers. This leaves me with no gauges at all including loss of backup camera, turn signals, speed and various other functions. I purchased the car two weeks ago and this has happened 5 times already.