2021 Jeep Wrangler Backup Camera Display Recall (22V638)

Recall 22V638 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Wrangler in recall 22V638?

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

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator 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 Wrangler with recall 22V638?

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.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Wrangler shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the display function, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V638?

Recall 22V638 covers 7,895 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Gladiator; 2021 Jeep Wrangler; 2021 Ram 1500.

NHTSA lists 7,895 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Wrangler backup camera display recall?

Yes. Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge.

Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, LLC's number for this recall is Z86.

When was recall 22V638 announced?

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 22V638 to NHTSA on August 25, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 6, 2022.

This recall was filed 49 months ago. If your Wrangler was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Wrangler is part of recall 22V638?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V638 is open on your Wrangler, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Wrangler vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Wrangler owners do about recall 22V638?

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 22V638000 applies to your Wrangler.
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 display function 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 Wrangler owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 1,910 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the rearview camera.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 22V638 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,910 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 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 Wrangler: 940 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
• 2021 Ram 1500: 679 complaints in total, 2 about the rearview camera
• 2021 Jeep Gladiator: 291 complaints in total, 1 about the rearview camera

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he noticed that the headlights were obstructing the view of other drivers on the road, and that the drivers were flashing their headlights at him while swerving approaching the vehicle.

2021 Jeep Gladiator owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11495817, filed December 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that an Over-the-Air update was been performed on the vehicle overnight and the following day the battery was drained and needed to be replaced. The contact drove another vehicle to an independent mechanic and purchased a new battery.

2021 Ram 1500 owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11694043, filed October 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated when the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), the image from the rear-view camera was blurry or blank. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring for over 2 years.

2021 Ram 1500 owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11547979, filed October 3, 2023

Can recall 22V638 make my Wrangler 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.

Owners often ask whether this display function recall means their Wrangler qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Rearview camera faults are frequently fixed with a software update, but owners report the screen going black again weeks later. If that happens with your 2021 Jeep Wrangler, each return visit should be documented.

This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V438000, 22V407000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Wrangler went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 22V638