Million-Car Recall Over Blind Reverse

Nearly one million Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles were recalled because radio software can block the rearview camera image, a direct safety risk under federal rules.

Story Snapshot

  • Federal recall cites radio software that can stop the backup camera image.
  • About one million vehicles across multiple brands and model years are covered.
  • Dealers will install a complimentary software update to restore compliance.
  • The defect ties to the federal rear-visibility standard known as FMVSS 111.

What triggered the recall and who is affected

Federal safety regulators said Stellantis must recall approximately one million vehicles in the United States because a software fault can keep the rear camera image from appearing when drivers shift into reverse.

Recall notices describe the problem in plain terms: the radio software can block the camera signal from reaching the media screen.

WardsAuto tied the scope to popular models, including the 2021–2022 Dodge Durango, 2021–2023 Chrysler Pacifica and Jeep Grand Cherokee lines, the 2022 Ram 1500 through 3500 trucks, the Jeep Compass, the Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer, and the Ram ProMaster.

Regulators classify this as a safety noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 111, which sets rules for rear visibility. When the image does not display, the risk of a back-over collision can rise, especially in tight driveways, parking lots, and near pedestrians.

Reuters reported the recall as an official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration action, not a casual service campaign, underscoring the safety posture and legal duty to fix the defect.

What the repair looks like and how to act now

Stellantis will provide a free software update through its dealer network to restore the camera feed and return vehicles to compliance, according to coverage citing the company’s plan and the federal filing.

Owners should check their vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or contact a dealer to confirm coverage.

The repair should not require hardware replacement in typical cases, since the fix targets radio software that manages the display path. Keep backup sensors clear and mirrors set until the update is complete.

Owners who rely on the camera for trailers, tight parking, and busy school drop-offs should schedule the update soon. Federal rules require a consistent image to be displayed within a set time after selecting reverse.

Any delay or blank screen can violate that standard and chip away at the safety layer drivers expect. After the repair, verify the image appears every time and that gridlines and alerts work as expected. Ask for a repair record to document the recall closure.

Why camera failures keep happening across brands

Automakers moved many functions, including cameras, into software-defined radio and display modules. That design brings features and updates but adds integration risk. A small software conflict can mute a camera feed, even when the lens and wiring are fine.

This recall joins a wider pattern of rear-visibility actions across the industry since backup cameras became standard under federal rules. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filings and trade reporting show repeated campaigns tied to the same safety standard.

Stellantis has leaned on software updates for camera-display problems in other campaigns as well, including later actions that used over-the-air or dealer-installed radio updates to restore the image.

Models and years named in contemporary reports

Coverage tied to the June filing lists a broad roster: 2021–2022 Dodge Durango; 2021–2023 Chrysler Pacifica; 2021–2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L; 2022–2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee; 2022–2023 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer; 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500; 2022–2023 Jeep Compass; and Ram ProMaster vans in the affected period.

Reuters put the U.S. count at about one million vehicles and linked the cause to radio software that can block the reverse image, raising the chance of a collision.

The federal recall communication spells out the failure mode: the radio software may prevent the rearview camera signal from reaching the media screen. That language anchors the why and the how. The fix targets the software layer to restore the required image during the backing process.

While reports did not present injury counts for this specific recall, federal rules treat the missing image as a safety failure warranting prompt correction.

Bottom line for owners and shoppers

If your vehicle is covered, get the software update and test the camera right away. If you are shopping for a used vehicle, run the vehicle identification number and confirm the recall is closed before you buy.

A reliable backup view is not a luxury add-on. It is a legal requirement and a smart layer of protection for families, workers, and anyone who parks in the real world where kids, carts, and posts do not announce themselves. This is an easy fix with serious stakes—do it once and do it right.

Sources:

foxbusiness.com, detroitnews.com, investing.com, static.nhtsa.gov