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Why won't your Hyundai's backup camera show an image?
All three of these Hyundai recalls come down to one thing: the rearview camera image does not reach the screen, so the vehicles no longer meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111, "Rear Visibility." The Santa Fe appears in every one. On 2024 Santa Fe SUVs, a trailer parking assist message can obstruct the camera picture; on 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid, a camera that was not installed properly damages its own wiring harness until the image stops displaying. The broadest recall covers 2021-2022 Elantra, Elantra Hybrid, Elantra N, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid and Santa Fe PHEV with a damaged printed circuit board. The repeat pattern is recent Santa Fes and 2021-2022 Elantras, and camera hardware rather than a driving defect.
Warning signs to watch for
- Black, blank or missing image on the screen when you shift into reverse
- A trailer parking assist message covering the camera picture (2024 Santa Fe)
- A rear camera view that appears some times and not others
- Nothing else changes — the vehicle drives normally, so the missing image is the only sign
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these three recalls tells owners to stop driving or to park outside. Hyundai treats all of them as a visibility problem rather than a mechanical one, so driving until your dealer can do the work is acceptable. What has to change is how you back up: until the camera is repaired, rely on your mirrors, turn and look over your shoulder, and walk behind the vehicle before reversing in a driveway or parking lot where a small child could be behind you.
What the free repair involves
The work depends on which recall you have. For the 2024 Santa Fe trailer parking assist message, Hyundai releases an over-the-air software update, so that fix can arrive without a visit. For 2021-2022 Elantra and Santa Fe models, dealers replace the rearview camera. For 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid, dealers replace the camera wiring harness. All three are free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-21 | Hyundai Santa Fe backup camera image may not appear | medium |
| 2024-11-21 | Hyundai Elantra and Santa Fe: rearview camera may not display | medium |
| 2024-04-02 | Hyundai Santa Fe backup camera view can be blocked | medium |
Common questions
Will I still get a letter if my fix is the over-the-air update?
Yes. Hyundai mailed owner notification letters beginning May 31, 2024 for the trailer parking assist recall. Because the remedy is an over-the-air software update, the letter tells you what is happening rather than asking you to book a dealer appointment.
My Santa Fe is a 2024 — which of the two Santa Fe recalls applies to me?
Both can apply to a 2024 Santa Fe. The obstructed image from a trailer parking assist message is one recall; a badly installed camera that damages its wiring harness is the other, covering 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid. Check your VIN against both.
Is a dead backup camera really a recall, or just a broken part?
It is a federal compliance recall. Rear visibility is required by FMVSS 111, so a camera that fails to display an image puts the vehicle out of compliance with the standard. Hyundai repairs it at no cost to you.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.