BMW Recalls 2018 Cars Over Backup Cameras

Owners of BMW models from 2018 up to the current model year are advised to take heed of the latest recall announced by the company, which affects a total of 257,481 vehicles with faulty backup cameras

Cars affected by the recall even include the Toyota Supra, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and Phantom.

According to documents now with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW filed the recall because there is a possibility to adjust the backup camera’s brightness and contrast to the point that “the rear-view image is no longer visible.”

What makes it more problematic for car owners and the brand is that even after shutting off the vehicle, the settings are retained the next time the driver puts the vehicle in reverse. This violates the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

Fortunately for owners of the vehicles included in the recall, BMW found that a simple software upgrade can fix the issue. Once the software is upgraded, the range of brightness and contrast adjustments in the rear-view camera is reduced.

NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance reportedly first became aware of the problem through a 2019 BMW X4 and reached out to BMW on May 15, 2019. Following multiple discussions between both sides, the NHTSA decided the camera software used by BMW on its vehicles does not comply with federal rules.

The recall is the second one affecting the much-talked-about Toyota Supra. The first time the model was recalled was due to an improper weld for the seatbelt guide loop mount. Additionally, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan was also recalled earlier this year when the NHTSA declared the SUV’s brake lights to be too dim in accordance with federal rules.

The table below shows a complete list of all vehicles affected by the recall: