Tesla Model Y backup camera problems

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

The vehicle experienced a hardware failure of its primary Autopilot computer module (Hardware 3) while parked overnight. Upon starting the vehicle, all advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were disabled, including Autosteer, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The vehicle also completely lost its backup camera functionality, side-repeater camera feeds, and internal safety chimes. Vehicle Service Mode diagnostics showed that the primary processor (ECU Primary A) was stuck in a low-level boot loop, displaying a state of AP IN COREBOOT and a status of INIT. The vehicle gateway active fault code was PM_a041_dasMIA, indicating that the DAS CAN node is missing because the processor was non-responsive on the internal communication network. The failure also disabled the internal cellular modem network, preventing navigation from working unless connected to Wi-Fi. Tesla Service technicians diagnosed the failure as an internal short circuit within a sealed component. Because this module has no moving parts and failed while parked, it represents a premature electrical breakdown of a non-serviceable core component. The sudden loss of Automatic Emergency Braking, forward collision warnings, and the rearview camera creates a safety hazard during operation.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Driver assistance, Visibility · CA

My 2021 Tesla Model Y (Autopilot Hardware 3) had a malfunction of its camera system and automatic windshield wipers after an over-the-air software update. The update was version 2026.38.5.1, which included FSD (Supervised) v14.3 Lite, and it installed on Oct 17. The vehicle had no problems with these systems before the update. After the update, the rearview camera did not display when shifting into reverse, the passenger side rear camera feeds stopped working, the automatic wipers did not activate in rain. Tesla’s automatic wipers depend on the vehicle’s cameras rather than a separate rain sensor, so both failures point to the camera or Autopilot computer system. Safety risk: Without a working rearview camera, I could not reliably see pedestrians, children, or objects behind the vehicle when reversing. Without working automatic wipers, visibility in rain depended entirely on manual control. Camera-dependent safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning may also have been affected. The problem first appeared immediately after the 2026.38.5.1 update. I went to the Tesla service center and they are charging an exorbitant to even diagnose the issue ($265 per issue). Current status: On Oct 26, Tesla installed a newer update, 2026.38.5.11. However, the problem persists. The passenger side rear camera briefly worked before going dark again.

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · PA

COMPONENT: The car computer (Tesla HW3 / "Full Self-Driving Computer 3," which houses the Autopilot computer and GPS) failed during a scheduled overnight over-the-air software update from version XXX in early XXX. The update failed to install, and from that point all cameras were black including the backup camera, navigation was frozen, and every driver-assistance feature was unavailable: Autopilot, FSD, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping, and blind spot monitoring. The failed unit was returned to the owner and is available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: The vehicle remained drivable with crash-avoidance systems and the federally required backup camera disabled. The only indication was a camera-unavailable message; there was no clear warning that AEB and collision warning were off. The vehicle was driven about three weeks in this condition while awaiting parts. CONFIRMED BY MANUFACTURER: Yes. Tesla remote diagnosis determined the car computer required replacement. Tesla remotely cancelled and re-pushed the update on XXX; the download stalled at 0 B/s and never installed. Tesla Service in [XXX] replaced the car computer on XXX at owner expense ($2,489.48; outside basic warranty, goodwill declined). Tesla's repair notes state the loss of all camera images and Autopilot capability occurred "after a failed software update." PRIOR WARNINGS: None. No warning lamps or messages before the update; the vehicle operated normally on XXX Owner resets, power-off, and 12V disconnect did not restore function. ASSESSMENT: The Autopilot computer failed during a manufacturer-pushed software update. Owner forums and automotive press reported numerous similar HW3 computer failures in summer 2026 following Tesla software releases. No crash, fire, or injury. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 3, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MD

On October 1, 2026, immediately after my 2021 Tesla Model Y installed Tesla software update 2026.32.7, the driver-assist computer entered a continuous boot loop. All eight vehicle cameras went black (confirmed in the vehicle's Service Mode), the rear camera displays 'camera temporarily unavailable,' Autosteer will not engage, and the vehicle shows alert UI_a114 for degraded driving visualization. All camera-dependent driver-assist and safety features are inoperative. The vehicle had zero driver-assist or camera issues before the update. I performed a scroll-wheel reboot, a driver-assist system reset, and a full Service Mode software reinstall, none of which resolved the issue. Tesla's remote service diagnosed a 'hardware failure' of the Full Self-Driving computer and quoted $2,701.32 for replacement, without explaining how firmware corruption from their own update was ruled out. A manufacturer software update disabling all cameras and driver-assist safety systems is a safety defect.

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

The vehicle has suffered recurring, critical electronic and low-voltage safety system failures that first began under the original factory warranty and have now resulted in a complete central computer (HW4) failure. History of Defect: 1. Feb 2025 (~7,170 miles): Initial failure of the 16V low-voltage network and safety systems. Tesla replaced the VCFRONT body controller and low-voltage battery under warranty. 2. May 2025 (~14,543 miles): Safety equipment failures required replacement of the cabin radar and seat belt buckles under warranty. 3. Sept 2026 (~80,000 miles): Total Hardware 4 (HW4) central computer failure. This resulted in the complete loss of all Active Safety Systems, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Autopilot, backup cameras, and power management features. Safety Risk: The complete failure of the HW4 computer completely disables essential safety functions required for safe vehicle operation on public highways. Tesla has denied warranty coverage for the HW4 replacement despite the issue originating from early low-voltage controller failures during the bumper-to-bumper warranty period. ADDITIONAL CRITICAL SAFETY INCIDENT: During the computer/system failure, I experienced a power steering malfunction accompanied by an on-screen warning. The steering wheel became extremely hard to turn/stiff, making it nearly impossible to steer the vehicle safely.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · WA

On or about XXX my Tesla Model Y downloaded FSD version 14 Lite. One day after downloading the software, I used FSD and the new software caused the computer to overheat. This killed the car computer and made FSD, adaptive, cruise control, lane keep assist, reverse camera, and many other functions, including GPS and navigation inoperable. My car’s warranty expired in January of this year and Tesla will not cover the replacement car computer. There are hundreds of other complaints of this issue reported online on [XXX], Reddit, Facebook, etc. In the 2nd quarter Tesla Earnings Call, [XXX] declared that hardware 3 equipped Tesla vehicles would not be able to support autonomous driving with full self driving. He stated every hardware 3 vehicle will need to be updated with a hardware 4 computer and cameras. Since my hardware 3 computer failed, I requested the hardware 4 computer and cameras to be installed, but Tesla denied this service even though [XXX] said it was a requirement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

My 2024 Tesla Model Y (VIN [XXX]) has lost all forward camera-based safety and driver assistance functions. The vehicle displays alerts that Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable, Park Assist is unavailable, adaptive headlight features are unavailable, and that self-driving is degrading and the vehicle may stop. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving will not engage. The side repeater cameras and the rearview camera still display images normally on the touchscreen, so the failure is not a loss of video display. The loss of Automatic Emergency Braking and forward collision warning means the vehicle has no automated protection against a frontal collision, and the loss of adaptive headlights and auto high beam means the high beams no longer dim for oncoming traffic. I performed a touchscreen reboot and a full power-off reset, and the condition returned. The vehicle is equipped with HW4 hardware and falls within the model years covered by the federal safety agency campaign 25V002000 (Tesla SB-25-00-001) concerning a computer circuit board short, though my VIN was not included in that recall population. I am reporting this because a vehicle sold with these active safety systems is now operating without them, and I believe other owners of vehicles in this build range may be experiencing the same failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 12, 2026 · Electrical · CA

At only 27k miles in with no accident history and perfect maintenance my camera system began to fail. It started with a delay of the backup camera and then turned into the cameras no longer working and no longer talking to the satellites. This then became a gps issue. Tesla despite me being 1 month outside warranty and well below the mileage charged me for a $4k new computer without diagnosing the failure as to whether it was heat related or what. It said the FSD computer was failing to make connection with the other computer. I had never even used FSD. This Premature failure of the computer system should’ve never been charged to me.

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

The Autopilot/FSD computer (driver-assistance ECU) on my 2021 Model Y (HW3) began failing intermittently on August 2, 2026, days after installing a software update -FSD v14 "Lite" branch. The component is in the vehicle and available for inspection. While driving at highway speed in high ambient temperatures (112–125°F), the system repeatedly disengaged with "Cruise control unavailable" (alert DI_a175) and "System error — take over immediately" warnings, and later alert APP_w46u on FSD engagement. Failures included: FSD and Autosteer aborting within seconds of engagement or disappearing from the menu entirely; complete loss of driving visualizations (no lane lines or vehicle overlays); rear camera blacking out; loss of speed-limit recognition and automatic turn-signal cancel. Both FSD and Autosteer Beta failed identically, indicating the fault is in the shared Autopilot computer/camera pipeline, not one feature. Because the same camera/compute stack supports automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot warning, the status of those safety systems during the failures is UNKNOWN — I had to complete long desert highway stretches fully manually, with repeated unrequested hand-backs of control creating a sudden-takeover risk. The fault is thermal-load related and intermittent: it recurred at high ambient temperatures, sometimes recovered after a rest or power-off reset, but on August 4 one full power-off reset at 88°F ambient failed to restore the system (it later self-recovered), suggesting progressive hardware degradation rather than ambient heat alone. Not yet reproduced by a service center: a Tesla service appointment is scheduled for August 13, 2026, and a service request with fault codes was filed in-app while the faults were active so remote diagnostics could capture them. No inspection yet by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. Public owner reports describe similar Autopilot-computer thermal failures on HW3 vehicle

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NJ

Tesla released a new version of FSD: 2026.20.6.11 V14 Lite for my 2022 Model Y Long Range. I installed it overnight and the next morning, several systems become intermittent. The backup camera stopped working immediately, and FSD would drop out, with the message "Take control immediately". I would then lose traffic visualization and other advanced features. Eventually the system would recover and start the cycle all over again. Several times per drive. I took the car to the dealer and they diagnosed it as a failed HW3 computer. The cost to repair it was $2,939 out of pocket since my car was 2 months out of warranty. The car was 100% functional before the V14 Lite update. The dealership denied the problem was related to the update, but the internet now has numerous instances of this problem, and attribute it to the computer running much hotter under this new update, causing components to fail. Our update was installed while the car was in our garage at a temperature in the 70’sF and immediately caused the computer failure before the car even left the garage. I requested and was given the failed computer in case any independent investigation is needed