2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 Backup Camera Software Recall (26V283)
Tesla, Inc. · 218,868 vehicles · Reported May 4, 2026
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 218,868 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model S; 2021-2023 Tesla Model X; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles. 8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 26V283 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V283000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-26-00-001 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 4, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model S; 2021-2023 Tesla Model X; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 218,868 |
| Build dates | September 21, 2020 to December 25, 2021 |
| Component | Back Over Prevention > Software |
| Safety risk | A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 in recall 26V283?
8.6.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. 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 2021-2023 Model 3 with recall 26V283?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, 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 software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V283?
Recall 26V283 covers 218,868 vehicles: 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model S; 2021-2023 Tesla Model X; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 218,868 vehicles in this campaign, built September 21, 2020 to December 25, 2021. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model X |
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model 3 backup camera software recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
When was recall 26V283 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 26V283 to NHTSA on May 4, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 3, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 21, 2020 | First affected vehicle built (per Tesla, Inc.'s filing). |
| December 25, 2021 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| May 4, 2026 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V283000. |
| July 3, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 5 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 460 days. If your Model 3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model 3 is part of recall 26V283?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V283 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V283000 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-26-00-001. You can also ask any Tesla dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Model 3 owners do about recall 26V283?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V283000 applies to your Model 3.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Model 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 5,758 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 10 of them about the rearview camera.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 26V283 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 5,758 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 10 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.
- 2023 Tesla Model Y: 1,166 complaints in total, 1 about the rearview camera
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 1 about the rearview camera
- 2022 Tesla Model Y: 865 complaints in total, 4 about the rearview camera
- 2022 Tesla Model 3: 765 complaints in total, 2 about the rearview camera
- 2021 Tesla Model 3: 664 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
- 2023 Tesla Model 3: 427 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
- 2023 Tesla Model X: 194 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
- 2021 Tesla Model S: 179 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while reversing in her driveway, the front driver's side camera did not indicate there was a gate in the viewing area. The driver crashed into a metal gate on her property. The front bumper was damaged.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11568799, filed January 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving in reverse, the back-over protection camera was inoperable. The contact stated that due to the failure, the contact crashed into a parked vehicle which was parked behind the contact's vehicle. There was no damage to the other vehicle.
2023 Tesla Model Y owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11568029, filed January 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle or using the onboard navigation system to search for a charging station, the entire infotainment central processing unit shut down unintendedly.
2022 Tesla Model Y owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11719376, filed February 20, 2026
Can recall 26V283 make my Model 3 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of 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 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3, each return visit should be documented.
This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 25V002000.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Model 3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model 3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V283
Is the 26V283000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 3, 2026.
How do I know if my Model 3 is part of recall 26V283000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Is it legal to drive with a blank backup camera?
Federal safety rules require new vehicles to have a working rearview image, which is why camera failures are recalled. Have it repaired, and use mirrors and extra care until then.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 26V283000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.