Volkswagen Group brands are recalling more than half a million vehicles in the US after federal regulators identified software issues that can cause rearview camera displays to fail, increasing the risk of a crash while backing up. The recalls affect Audi and Porsche models and highlight growing concerns about software-dependent safety systems, which are now standard across modern vehicles.
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Volkswagen and Audi are recalling 356,649 vehicles due to a software flaw that can prevent the rearview camera image from appearing. The recall affects select models from 2019 through 2026 and will be fixed with a free software update.
Porsche, which is also part of the Volkswagen Group, announced a separate recall late last week covering 173,538 vehicles due to a similar rearview camera issue, indicating a broader problem with camera software across brands.
What owners should know:
- The issue violates federal safety standards for rear visibility, which require that all light-vehicle models (10,000 pounds or less) provide a reliable camera view when backing up.
- Dealers will provide a free software update to correct the problem once the fix is available and owners receive notification.
- The NHTSA expects to mail official recall notices to owners in the coming weeks.
Modern cars increasingly rely on digital systems and camera feeds for safety features. Software bugs in these systems can undermine the very protections they’re meant to provide, from blind-spot warnings to collision avoidance. Given that backup cameras have been mandatory on all new vehicles in the US since 2018, ensuring they work reliably is critical to preventing low-speed backing-up accidents.
For owners of affected Porsche and Audi vehicles, this recall means scheduling a service appointment once notified and avoiding reliance on the rear camera until the update is installed.