The trouble with backup cameras: Here’s what we know about the many recalls

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How have backup camera systems performed in Canada? Like in the U.S., there are myriad media reports about vehicle recalls in Canada over faulty backup cameras. Here are a range of recalls reported in just the last few years.

In late July, more than 17,000 Volkswagen vehicles were recalled, requiring the owners to take them back to a dealership. Transport Canada officials said that “(u)nder certain conditions, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse.” As a result, it “could reduce a driver’s ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash.”

In early July, Honda Canada recalled 32,289 Odyssey minivans due to an issue with the rearview-camera-image display.

In late May, Honda recalled nearly 1,000 vehicles due to an issue that could affect the rearview cameras.

In April, General Motors recalled more than a quarter of a million Chevrolet Malibus in Canada and the U.S. due to potentially defective rear-view cameras. The number of affected vehicles in Canada numbered 10,098. At the time, the Associated Press reported that a letter from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the rearview camera on certain Malibu vehicles could display distorted or blank images when they were reversed, increasing the risk of a crash.

In late January, Transport Canada issued a recall notice for 12,179 Toyota Tundra trucks from the years 2024 and 2025 due to an issue that could affect the vehicle’s backup camera.

In early January, Transport Canada announced an update regarding an earlier recall involving more than 40,000 Volvo cars and SUVs . Again, the issue cited was a software problem that could cause the rearview camera images not to display when the vehicle was reversed. Even vehicles recalled previously required a new fix.

In late December of 2025, Porsche recalled more than 25,000 vehicles in Canada because of the possibility that the rearview camera image might not appear on the display.

In October 2025, Toyota recalled 32,733 vehicles in Canada due to rearview camera safety concerns, according to Transport Canada.

The month before, on Sept. 9, Ford issued a massive recall . It affected more than 120,000 vehicles in Canada due to potentially faulty rearview cameras. The notice from Transport Canada was part of a broader recall affecting around 1.9 million vehicles worldwide.

In November 2024, Hyundai recalled 48,509 SUVs and small cars in Canada because of a potential issue with the rearview camera imaging not showing up on the driver’s screens.

An even larger recall in June 2024 by automaker Stellantis involved more than one million vehicles , including minivans, SUVs, and pickups, in North America due to a software problem that could affect the display from the rearview camera. Transport Canada listed 126,530 affected vehicles.