NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (not to be confused with NHTSA, the National Ham-based Team Sports Association) has issued a notice about a Toyota recall that affects 1,024,407 vehicles, badged as Toyotas, Lexuses, and the Subaru Solterra. The issue affects the rear view camera display, and while this recall is, I suppose, news, what really interests me is the question of whether we, collectively, have come to rely on rear view cameras over more traditional rear view mirrors.
Here’s what the NHTSA has to say about the recall itself:
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA ID Number: 25V744000
Manufacturer Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Components BACK OVER PREVENTION
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1024407
Summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, “Rear Visibility.”
Remedy
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 16, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru’s number for this recall is WRE25.
This seems to be a software error of some sort that causes the image freeze or blank screen on the rear-view camera image. Current federal motor vehicle safety standards do require a rear-view camera, so the cars affected by this recall legally need to be fixed to be in compliance with FMVSS standards.
But what all of this is really making me wonder about is if we are now at the point where most drivers expect rear view cameras when they reverse, and if so, is that the first place their eyes instinctively dart when reversing – down to the rear-view camera screen in the dash, or up to the old-school rear-view mirror?
As someone who daily drives an old car with no cameras whatsoever, but also often drives modern press vehicles absolutely covered in cameras, I still find myself using the mirror by default, and having to remind myself about the camera.
The exception, I suppose, would be in vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck that only have the barest, most minimal, nearly useless inside rear-view mirror just to meet the legal requirements:
Rear-view camera systems have been required since 2018; this means we’re at close to eight years of all new cars having them. Is that enough time to make a subtle yet real driving behavior shift? If you took an average driver and put them in a car that lacked a rear-view camera, I wonder how many would feel uncomfortable reversing without one?
Then there’s the people who shun both screen and mirror and instead just turn around in their seat, arm slung behind the back of the seat, looking all cavalier and cool as you whip backwards through a crowded parking lot, sending shopping carts spiraling away like pinballs.
This is a subtle shift, certainly less dramatic than the widespread loss of the skills of driving a manual transmission, but it’s still something real, and I don’t feel like I have a good sense of how widespread this change is.
Let’s do a little poll here; I realize this more car-focused audience likely doesn’t represent mainstream drivers, but it’s a start, at least. Here we go:
Oh, and if you have a 2022 to 2026 Rav4 or Camry or Prius or Highlander or Land Cruiser or Lexus LC, LS, GX, NX, or, jeez, so many more, maybe check your mail to get this all sorted out.
A lot of newer cars have poor rear visibility so the camera is the better option. When we had a car with a camera I used it, but my wife preferred the mirror and complained how hard it was to see. Now we drive older vehicles that neither have nor need cameras.
My ride has very good rearward visibility. It is also the first I one I’ve had with a rear camera. Initially I did my usual turn-around-and-look. The display is good for parallel parking though, so I’me generally doing a hybrid (minor pun intended) between the two.
It really depends on the situation. On my Subaru Forester, the location of the camera, and the wide angle lens, allows me to see things (like oncoming cars) way sooner than I would be able to by using the mirror.
In addition, under certain lighting conditions, the backup camera is the only way to see.
That being said, I tend to check ALL three mirrors, and the camera, before backing.
If I’m backing a long distance I’ll generally use the mirror or turn around in my seat. Backing into or out of tight areas: camera.
It has never been news that a car will always be built around it’s options, not the options around the car.
It’s very easy to check: If an option is available – the car sucks without it. It’s that simple.
If there’s a rear camera, or a 360 – visibility without either of these will be nonexistent. My CRX had a verticall glass panel on the rear hatch. Perfect visibility. Today, they wouldn’t bother.
If there’s an AC – the HVAC fan itself will be weak. Try a fan on a mid-80s Peugeot or Renault. Cars that never had ACs, not even optional. It will undo your perm at the strongest setting.
If there’s a blindspot monitoring – the rearview mirrors themselves will be the size of quarters, and completely useless without the BSM.
If there’s a HID headlights option, the hallogen ones will be like two fireflies on a diet.
And on it goes.
I actually find myself using the side view mirrors the most.
I have to admit, I’ve adapted to the cameras pretty thoroughly. I supplement by looking around as needed, because the mirror won’t show me anything the camera doesn’t.
Our ’17 CX-3 has an open recall for what sounds like a similar glitch, but at 113K I’ve only seen maybe a hint of the problem. It’s a long haul to the nearest Mazda dealer, so I’m ignoring it for now.
I use the backup camera on my Silverado, but also turn and look first. A 360 to look for obstacles, small children, etc. It’s a both. On my other vehicles, turn and look only. I once backed my father-in-law’s truck for a half mile on a snowy mountain road (closed by an obstacle, no place to turn around) by looking over the shoulder.
My Dad literally picked up a new Rav4 on Monday.
I suspect he will be a bit peeved to get a recall within 2 days.
Screen here. I didn’t have a back up camera until 2020 and always wondered how anyone could solely use one but you get used to having one fast.
Rear and door mirrors, with a couple of checks of the camera view before moving and if reversing round a corner
I find myself starting the car and starting to back up before the system has even booted up so the rear camera view isn’t even there yet.
I have to remind myself to wait for it to start up. Or to use the mirror / turn my head.
Over the backseat, except when customers bring in modern cars with the visibility of a WW2 pillbox. I especially find the hyper distorted/coche en place/omniview distracting and disorienting.
I said the camera screen because when available I go to that, but half our fleet is not equipped and I am comfortable using mirrors and looking back
If it were possible to see anything out the rear window, I’d look there or use the mirror.
A lot of cars today completely disregard rear visibility since the camera is required. The rental Kia K4 i just had was this way. I could see traffic in the mirror just fine, but when it came to seeing things directly behind the car when reversing, I might as well have been in an F-150. The camera was essential.
My ’00 300M had terrible rear visibility. The trunk lid was so high it hid most of what was behind.
I am head on a swivel, everything at the start, then I am turned looking backward once I’m rolling.
Some combination of “all of the above”, for the two vehicles that have backup cameras. I’m inevitably parked between two giant macho trucks that obscure vision anywhere but directly to the rear; the camera along with cross-traffic alert is essential to deal with that, and the phalanx of pedestrians pushing shopping carts with a total lack of situational awareness. The old Boxster has no camera and never will. So it’s #3 and take your best shot…
I wish the NHTSA (former, not the latter), would get on Volvo for the same issue. There have been numerous software updates to ‘fix’ the issue, but the rearview camera constantly does not work. search the reddit threads for examples. The real fix would be to update the entire IHU as the chip used is from 2006 and overworked.
Kinda surprised how balanced the pole is. (I am a turn around guy who is getting older and uses the mirrors more and more.)
Camera to me is more for hooking up the trailer, for which it is really handy. But does not work from November to April here due to being covered in salt and dirt from the roads.
I will say the visibility out of modern cars is getting worse. Add the dark tint on rear windows, like my wife’s SUV, and looking out the back window at night is getting harder. I use the camera on that after dark quite a bit.
Definitely “depends” situation.
Slow Bown Wagon, visibility for miles, I put my right arm behind the passenger seat and look behind me. Got dinged in drivers ed for only using the mirrors back in the stone age.
2017 VW Golf – camera is behind the logo on the hatch, it is always clean, so mostly use that and turn around to double check for traffic from the sides
2021 Outback XT. God help you. The camera is just out in the elements getting covered in crap 9 months out of the year and blInd spots are huge and the auto crash detect isn’t going to help at the corners.
I strategically park it.
Amazing how much better the VW is for half the price (not to mention 100 other things but it’s just getting on 50k miles so I presume im close to learning what all the hate is about)
For all the hate piled on VW, I’ve had way fewer issues with my 2017 GTI than with the Subarus in my fleet. YMMV. (Spoken today after the quote to replace head gaskets, et al on a low mileage 2008 Outback).
The hidden flip-out camera on the VW is such a neat feature. I have a 2016 sportwagen and it was my first car with a rear-view camera. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was until my girlfriend got a newer car with non-hidden camera and had to clean it almost daily during the winter.
I just recently had the water pump/thermostat replaced at 85k miles. First major issue I’ve had. Despite that, I wholeheartedly agree that the Mk7 is outstanding value for the price.
Thanks for the kind words on the VW.
Thinking about the old school truckers and the ghost of C.W. McCall laughing at needing anything more than the side view mirrors, which I can do when using the SBW properly thereby blocking the rear view – making dump runs, transporting firewood, helping friends move a bathtub, etc. I do like how the Outback automatically tilts down the right side mirror in reverse to help see the parking spot lines or the drop-off on the side of my driveway.
I do all three but the camera with its wide angle is best for spotting cross traffic. It’s like having a spotter standing behind your car.
My wife’s vehicle has a camera that I only ever use when backing right up against something lower than the rear glass, like the trash bin. Mine has no camera.
Poll needs an “all of the above” – that’s what I do…
Backup camera in my Volt has absolutely conditioned me to look at the screen rather than the mirrors. Rearward visibility with the mirror is pretty poor in the Volt, so the camera is great. However, I feel pretty stupid when I look down at the Delco radio in my Chevy pickup when I throw it in reverse
If camera then use that. Failing that then I am usually looking in my side mirrors more than the rearview mirror.
From the Old Dogs New Tricks files: I started driving US cars at a time when shoulder belts were just being made standard and pretty much every vehicle had a carb, and an ignition system with points and condenser. It took me a year or so to get used to looking at the screen starting about 10 years ago, but now it’s my go to. With newer vehicles having high beltlines, short/small rear side/quarter windows, and massive C/D pillars, the camera just gives so much better of a view vs. the mirror or looking backward over the seat. I do still look side to side when backing up to compensate for less than 180 degree camera view.