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Mercedes-Benz backup camera recalls: blank, frozen and delayed rear images
All six recalls concern what you can see or hear while reversing, and five are the same defect in different clothes: the rearview image does not show up properly. 2019-2021 Sprinter vans are hit twice by camera software errors, one of them delaying the picture past the two-second requirement; 2015-2018 Metris vans have a defective memory chip that freezes the image on screen; and 2018-2021 A-Class, CLA, GLA/GLB, GLC, C-Class, E-Class, CLS, GLE/GLS and AMG GT models appear twice, through MBUX multimedia and rearview camera software faults. The outlier is 2022-2025 S-Class, EQE and EQS models, whose acoustic pedestrian system plays the wrong external sound in reverse.
Warning signs to watch for
- A black or blank screen when you shift into reverse instead of the camera view
- The rear image arriving late — not displayed within two seconds of starting to back up (Sprinter)
- A frozen picture that stays on screen and does not update as the van moves (Metris)
- On 2022-2025 S-Class, EQE and EQS models, the wrong external pedestrian warning sound while reversing
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these six recalls tells owners to stop driving or park outside, and NHTSA sets no restriction on any of them. You can keep driving normally. What you should change is how you reverse: until the repair is done, assume the camera may not work, turn around, look over your shoulder and use your mirrors rather than trusting the screen. On the EQ and S-Class sound recall, be aware a pedestrian behind you may not hear the vehicle backing up, so reverse slowly in parking lots and driveways.
What the free repair involves
Most of these are software fixes: dealers update rearview camera software, the MBUX multimedia software or, on the newest recall, the AVAS pedestrian sound software. The 2021 MBUX recall can also be handled as an over-the-air update instead of a dealer visit. The Metris memory chip fault is the exception — dealers replace the rearview camera outright. Every repair is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| medium | 6 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-05 | Mercedes-Benz EVs play wrong backup warning sound for pedestrians | medium |
| 2022-04-27 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter backup camera may not show image | medium |
| 2022-04-08 | Mercedes-Benz backup camera image may not appear | medium |
| 2022-02-22 | Mercedes-Benz Metris backup camera image can freeze onscreen | medium |
| 2021-05-14 | Mercedes-Benz Backup Camera May Go Black on Startup | medium |
| 2021-02-17 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter backup camera image may be delayed or blocked | medium |
Common questions
Can this be fixed over the air, or do I need a dealer appointment?
Only the 2021 MBUX multimedia recall lists an over-the-air option alongside a dealer update. The Sprinter, later camera software and AVAS recalls are dealer software updates, and the Metris fix requires replacing the camera. Your notification letter states which applies.
My backup camera seems fine — do I still need the recall done?
Yes. The notices describe faults that may not show up every time you reverse, such as an image that goes black at startup or appears late. Several vehicles also fail a federal rearview visibility standard, so the free repair applies regardless.
Is the EQ and S-Class pedestrian sound recall the same problem as the camera ones?
No. Nothing is wrong with the camera there. Software in the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System plays an incorrect external warning sound while reversing, so people behind an otherwise quiet electric vehicle may not hear it. Dealers update the AVAS software free.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.