2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Backup Camera Recall (21V729)

Recall 21V729 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in recall 21V729?

A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Grand Cherokee with recall 21V729?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the camera.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V729?

Recall 21V729 covers 69,138 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

NHTSA lists 69,138 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Grand Cherokee backup camera recall?

Yes. FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge.

FCA US LLC will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 28, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y67.

When was recall 21V729 announced?

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V729 to NHTSA on September 21, 2021.

This recall was filed 61 months ago. If your Grand Cherokee was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Grand Cherokee is part of recall 21V729?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V729 is open on your Grand Cherokee, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V729000 is open on your Grand Cherokee, it will be listed there, along with Jeep recall number Y67. You can also ask any Jeep dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Grand Cherokee owners do about recall 21V729?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V729000 applies to your Grand Cherokee.
2. Call a Jeep dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the camera happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Grand Cherokee owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 405 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the rearview camera.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 21V729 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 405 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the rearview camera. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 405 complaints in total, 1 about the rearview camera

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V544000 (Exterior Lighting), 23V413000 (Suspension) and 23V577000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs.

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11543919, filed September 11, 2023

Can recall 21V729 make my Grand Cherokee a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 21V729000 does not automatically make your Grand Cherokee a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

A rearview camera that blanks out or freezes is a safety issue because federal rules require a working backup image. Camera problems are often software related, and many owners see them come back after an update.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V729