Your backup camera went blank, you got the recall fix, and it’s still happening. Here’s what that may mean under California law.
Author: Caroline Alemany at the Law Offices of Jon Jacobs
November 2026 Blog | Serving All of California
Data verified by Lina Nahhas, Law Offices of Jon Jacobs on 11/05/26
If your Jeep, Ram, Dodge or Chrysler got the Stellantis rearview camera recall fix and the backup camera still goes blank, you may have a California lemon law claim. Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a manufacturer that can’t fix a covered defect after a reasonable number of tries may have to buy back or replace the vehicle. Recall repair visits may count toward those tries.
Picture it: you shift into reverse in a crowded Target parking lot, and the screen shows nothing. You got the update. You may even have gone to the dealer. And here you are again, craning your neck and hoping for the best.
What’s Actually Wrong With the Backup Camera?
In August 2026, Stellantis recalled 844,027 U.S. vehicles under NHTSA Recall 26V531 (Chrysler recall code 78D). Early news reports, like CBS News, put the number at nearly 850,000. The problem is radio software that may keep the rearview camera image from showing when the vehicle is put in reverse.
That’s not a cosmetic glitch. Federal safety standard FMVSS 111 requires a rear-view image at the start of every backing event, and the recall filing says these vehicles may not meet it. The fix is a free radio software update, sent over the air or installed by a dealer by USB, according to Cars.com.
Affected vehicles include:
- Chrysler: 2026–2027 Pacifica, 2026 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid, 2026 Voyager
- Dodge: 2026–2027 Charger
- Jeep: 2026 Wrangler, Gladiator, Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, Grand Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer L
- Ram: 2026 1500, 2500, ProMaster and ProMaster EV
Has Stellantis Recalled Backup Cameras Before?
Yes. This isn’t the first time:
- 2024: more than 1 million 2021–2023 vehicles recalled for a similar camera display problem
- August 2026: 844,027 2026–2027 vehicles (Recall 26V531)
- September 2026: about 239,000 2025–2026 Ram 1500 trucks for the same kind of issue
If you drive a 2023–2027 Stellantis vehicle, check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Is a Backup Camera Problem a Safety Issue?
Yes. A rearview camera that doesn’t display is the reason for a federal safety recall. Stellantis itself tells drivers to use their mirrors and stay aware of their surroundings until the fix is in.
That matters under California law. A defect that’s likely to cause death or serious bodily injury gets a faster path under the lemon law. Think of a backup camera like a smoke detector: when it works, you barely notice it. When it fails, the risk lands on whoever is behind you.
How Do I Know If My Jeep, Ram, Dodge or Chrysler Is a Lemon?
A recall neither qualifies, nor disqualifies, a vehicle as a lemon. (Our guide to recalls and California lemon law explains the difference.) What matters is your repair history. Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act:
If a manufacturer can’t fix a warranty defect after a reasonable number of attempts, it must replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price (Civ. Code § 1793.2(d)).
Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a vehicle is a lemon if a defect likely to cause death or serious injury was repaired two or more times, the same defect was repaired four or more times, or the vehicle was out of service more than 30 days (Civ. Code § 1793.22(b)).
That 18-month window is a shortcut, not a deadline. Ask yourself three questions:
Is it still under the factory warranty? Many 2023–2027 Stellantis vehicles may still be covered. [VERIFY warranty terms by model year]
Did the camera fail again after a repair or update? Each dealer visit for the same problem may count, including the recall visit.
Is it written down? Repair orders are the backbone of a lemon law case.
If you answered yes to all three, it’s worth a free case review.
What the Manufacturer May Not Tell You
The recall letter tells you how to get the update. It won’t tell you that a repair that doesn’t hold may count against the manufacturer. Don’t assume the recall “fixes” your legal claim.
An over-the-air update also leaves little paper trail. If the camera fails after an OTA update, take it to the dealer and make sure the problem is written on a repair order. The manufacturer may be counting on you not knowing this.
What Should I Do If My Camera Still Fails After the Recall?
- Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
- Get the recall remedy, over the air or at the dealer.
- Write down every failure: date, mileage, what happened. A quick phone video helps.
- Go back to the dealer if it happens again, and ask that the repair order describe the symptom in your words.
- Keep every repair order and track days out of service.
- Don’t sign manufacturer paperwork (like a “goodwill” offer or release) before talking to a lawyer.
- Call us. Let us tell you in a few minutes whether you may have a case.
What We’ve Seen
In cases we’ve handled involving Stellantis infotainment and camera software, a common pattern is a “fix” that works for a few weeks before the screen goes dark again. The owners who kept every repair order were in the strongest position. We saw the same pattern with Toyota’s Camry Hybrid dashboard recall, another software-update fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Recall Repair Count as a Repair Attempt Under California Lemon Law?
It may. A dealer visit to fix a warranty defect, including a recall visit, can count toward the “reasonable number of attempts.” Every case turns on its facts, so keep the repair order from each visit and have an attorney review them.
My Camera Was Fixed by an Over-the-Air Update. Can I Still Have a Case?
Possibly. If the camera fails again after the update, take the vehicle to the dealer and get the problem documented on a repair order. That record matters if you later bring a claim.
My Vehicle Is a 2023 or 2024. Does This Apply to Me?
Stellantis has recalled several model years for rearview camera display problems. If your vehicle is still under warranty and the same defect keeps returning after repairs, you may have a claim. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
How Do I Start a Lemon Law Case?
Start with a free case review. We’ll look at your repair orders and tell you whether you may have a claim. You can also read how to file a lemon law case in California.
What California Lemon Law Can Do for You
Under the California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, you do not have to prove the manufacturer did anything wrong. You only have to show that a substantial defect covered by warranty was not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, or that the car spent too long in the shop.
If your case qualifies, your options may include:
- A buyback, where the manufacturer takes the car back and refunds your down payment, monthly payments, and remaining loan or lease balance, less a mileage offset and any non-manufacturer add-ons
- A cash settlement that lets you keep the car and get compensated
- Attorney fees and costs paid by the manufacturer, not by you!
The right outcome depends on your repair records and paperwork, which is why a quick review of your history is the best first step.
No Fees. No Costs. No Bull.
At the Law Offices of Jon Jacobs, LemonBuyBack.com, we handle California Lemon Law (Civ. Code, § 1793.2 et seq.) cases exclusively, and we front all attorney time and costs. That means no retainer, no hourly bills, and nothing out of your pocket. When we win, the manufacturer pays our fees. We’ve handled 4,000+ cases with a 99.9% success rate. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. From Sacramento to San Diego and everywhere in between, we represent vehicle owners across the entire state.
If your camera keeps going blank after the recall fix, do not let it keep draining your time and patience. Let us tell you in a few minutes whether you may have a case.
Call (844) 4-MY-LEMON (844-469-5366)
Visit lemonbuyback.com for a free case review
Friends don’t let friends drive lemons.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Contact our office for a free, no-obligation review of your specific situation.
