Though we had not experienced any problems with the backup camera on our 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, on September 9, 2026 we brought our vehicle into our local Volkswagen dealer to address the federal safety agency 26V473 Safety Recall 91TV Rearview Camera Software. As of today, October 15, 2026 this dealer still has our vehicle. We are being told that the software fix did not work on our vehicle and their technicians are waiting for direction from ODIS (Offboard Diagnostic Information System), which if I understand correctly, is a division of Volkswagen. The camera is reportedly now inoperable because of the attempt to replace the backup camera software. I have written emails to the dealer (without response) and I have communicated via text and phone to the service manager. Most recently, I have been in touch with Volkswagen and I have been issued a case #. The dealer is telling Volkswagen the same story, with no movement. It should be noted that my vehicle's VIN did not appear on the website for this recall, meaning it apparently has been reported as repaired, which is NOT the case. This reporting is misleading, at best. Thankfully, two weeks into this saga, the dealer gave us a loaner (not compatible to my vehicle) but I am paying a considerable some of money each month for a vehicle I do not have access to.
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport backup camera problems
28 of the 498 owner complaints about the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport describe backup camera failure, most of them for the 2024 model year.
- owner complaints
- 28
- worst model year
- 2024
By model year
- 202419
- 20224
- 20214
- 20201
Often reported together
Screen failure 6Start-stop 1Loss of power 1Headlights 1Grinding brakes 1Adaptive cruise 1
What owners say
The 5F module for the infotainment system became defective at ~52,000 miles causing the reverse camera to not be functional. Due to how common this issue appears to be, the part is on backorder leaving many drivers without a backup camera for extended periods of time. My vehicle was without a backup camera for approximately two weeks.
I was on day trip (XXX) and car worked fine in the morning. After a lunch stop, started the car, infotainment system would not turn on, had multiple errors on my dash including road sign recognition system not being available, error message for SOS system, handsfree phone connectivity was non-functional, no back up camera displayed on screen, no charging ports functional below the infotainment unit, wireless charging system failed, etc. VW dealer which has done 99% of the service to my car diagnosed on XXX the "5F module and the back up battery" had both failed. They indicated they could get the back up battery but the 5F module was on national backorder with "no ETA on when the parts will become available". To date I am now over one month since the issue occurred with zero ETA on the parts to repair the issue. I still have no backup camera, no phone connectivity, no radio, no navigation, the advanced drivers aid for road signs recognition is still not working, nor do I have the SOS emergency safety feature. In addition, I've learned this is a frequent point of failure on multiple lines of Volkswagen automobiles, not just the Atlas (confirmed via discussions with other VW owners whom have experienced the same issues as well as via dealer service employees). I have reached out to Volkswagen Customer Care and all they continue to ask me a laundry list of basic questions which is frustrating as they have all the history on Atlas as my vehicle has been serviced since new at their dealership in [XXX]. I just want my cars safety features back and for Volkswagen to accept responsibility for this being a failed component / design of their own doing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On September 2, 2026 a recall for the backup camera update was performed. While driving home from the dealership on September 2, 2026 my screen turned off and then I got an alert of a system issue. This happened three separate times within a seven day span from September 2, 2026 to September 8, 2026. One of the alerts was something to do with the breaking system. The other alert was to do with the exit warning system, and rear traffic system being unavailable. I have also experienced trying to accelerate and the gas pedal gets me nowhere. I push the gas pedal and the car does not move forward.
The rearview camera and infotainment display intermittently fail. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the infotainment screen goes black or freezes, disabling the rearview camera image. The vehicle must be stopped and the system manually rebooted before rear visibility is restored. The failure occurs frequently in high ambient temperatures, which in South Florida is a near-daily condition. This is the exact defect covered by Recall 24V‑480, which applies to my vehicle. The recall's software remedy has been applied — and the defect has returned. The defect has been reported to an authorized Volkswagen service center on three occasions: Visit 1 (August 2, 2024, at approximately 2,630 miles — 14 days after delivery): Customer complaint recorded as "Infotainment screen is turning off and on." Dealer performed no repair and reported the system was "functioning as designed." Visit 2 (February 17, 2026, at approximately 19,742 miles): Customer complaint recorded as "Rear view camera blacks out / shows black screen / does not work properly." Dealer applied Technical Bulletin 91-24-02 and performed a radio software update from version 1969 to 1990, recording the recall as complete. Visit 3 (July 17, 2026, at approximately 23,662 miles): Customer complaints recorded as "Rear camera at time doesn't turn on" and "Radio screen goes off at time and doesn't connect back to CarPlay." Dealer performed a hard reset and stated the concern was "not present" at the time of inspection. Safety impact: Loss of the rearview camera image at the moment of shifting into reverse eliminates required rear visibility (FMVSS No. 111). The driver has a documented history of a prior backing collision, which makes this defect a direct and ongoing safety hazard to the driver, family members transported in the vehicle, and third parties. The failure is intermittent and cannot be predicted, meaning the driver cannot compensate for it in advance.
On August 5, 2026, my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received the remedy for Volkswagen Recall 91TV, the federal safety agency Recall 26V473, involving rearview-camera software. The vehicle was returned to me on August 11. On August 17, while I was actively reversing in a parking lot, the rearview-camera image froze on the center display. The image remained visible but stopped updating even though the vehicle continued moving backward. Because the displayed image no longer accurately represented what was occurring behind the moving vehicle, I nearly struck a pedestrian. No collision or injury occurred. This was the first time I had ever experienced the rearview camera freezing. Before Recall 91TV was performed, the rearview camera had operated normally when the vehicle was placed in reverse. I have had a separate front parking-camera/360-degree Area View problem since the vehicle was new. When pulling forward into a parking space, the camera interface activates automatically, but the live front/Area View image remains black until I manually press the camera control. That problem existed before Recall 91TV and also remains unresolved after the recall remedy. I am distinguishing these conditions because the front/Area View problem is longstanding, while the frozen rearview-camera image was a new failure that occurred after the recall remedy. I am reporting the sequence because the failure occurred 12 days after the recall remedy was performed by VW, while the vehicle was actively reversing, and resulted in a frozen image that no longer represented the area behind the moving vehicle, contributing to a near miss with a pedestrian.
VW sent an over-the-air remote tech update on 8/8/206. Once the update was completed and the system rebooted, the rearview backup camera and cross-traffic safety system are no longer working. We tried a system reset, which did not work, and we tried a hard reset ( car was outside - doors locked and car off for 20 minutes+). Tried to get an appointment, and the dealer pushed us out 3+ weeks—this is unacceptable for a safety system issue. In addition, VW has not completed the engine cover repair/recall even though your system shows no open recalls, which is strange and unsettling. Is VW hiding recall repairs or marking them complete when not done ???
Component/System: Electrical system (wiring, control modules, and related software) Availability for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The electrical cutouts and glitching create an unpredictable and dangerous driving situation. Sudden electrical failures can affect critical systems such as power steering, braking assist, instrument cluster, and engine control — putting myself and other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk of an accident. Rear camera would also black out while reversing and once or twice the gas stopped working on the highway. Dealer/Service Confirmation: Yes. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed. The vehicle has been brought in for repair 7 times for the same recurring electrical cutout and glitching issue. Each visit resulted only in essentially a software update, currently no permanat solution to the problem. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership/authorized service center on all 7 occasions. The manufacturer's representatives (via the dealership) have been aware of this ongoing issue. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: [Describe any warning lights, error messages, or symptoms you noticed — e.g., dashboard warning lights flickering, system reboot messages, loss of display, unexpected shutdowns, etc.] These symptoms have been recurring and have not been resolved despite repeated software updates. Summary: Despite 7 repair attempts, all resulting in software updates only, the electrical cutout and glitching problem persists. The root cause has not been identified or permanently fixed by the dealer. This represents an ongoing safety defect that requires investigation.
This vehicle, since January of 2025, has a screen that flickers and shuts off entirely multiple times per day. Sometimes, it is severe enough that the entire computer system shuts down and none of the safety features are available, such as collision warning, automatic braking, etc.. You also cannot control the heat or see the backup camera because of the screen being broken. This is a persistent issue that VW has no permanent solution for. The car has been in the shop multiple times for multiple weeks attempting a repair, but even the dealer has said to start the buyback process because they have dozens of people with the same issue.
Rear camera, back over prevention system malfunction. Rearview camera image does not display, fails to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.” This happened after the PODS repair was made. Local VW dealer is requiring a diagnostic fee though the problem started immediately after it was serviced.
Related recalls
Electrical system: wiring: relays/solenoids
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Damaged relays may have been installed in the engine compartment fuse box, which could inadvertently activate the horn or engine starter.
- Risk
- A horn or starter that remains activated for an extended period of time can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and as necessary, replace the relays, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97FR.
Recall number 21V616000 · Recall details
Questions about the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport backup camera
Which Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport years have backup camera failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2024 (19 complaints), 2021 (4 complaints) and 2022 (4 complaints).
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