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Why does my Polestar backup camera screen stay blank?
All three of these Polestar recalls describe the same defect: the rearview camera image fails to appear when the car is shifted into reverse, which puts the vehicle out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111, Rear Visibility. Two of the three cover the Polestar 2 across the full 2021-2025 range — an April 2025 campaign and a second, separate action filed in September 2025 — so many Polestar 2 owners will see two notices for what looks like the same symptom. The third covers the 2025 Polestar 3. Every one is a software problem rather than a broken camera, and all three are rated moderate rather than critical.
Warning signs to watch for
- A blank or black screen instead of the camera view when you shift into reverse
- The rear camera image appears on some drives but not on others
- No other warning: the notices describe no dashboard light, noise, or change in how the car drives
- Nothing visibly wrong with the camera itself — the fault is in the vehicle software
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the three notices tells owners to stop driving or to park outside, and none is a fire or stall risk. Polestar treats all three as moderate: the car brakes, steers and drives normally, and the only loss is the reverse image. Until the software is installed, treat the car as if it has no camera — turn and look behind you, use your mirrors, and take extra care in parking lots, driveways and anywhere children or pedestrians may be behind the vehicle. Book the update promptly.
What the free repair involves
In every case the repair is a software update, not a new camera. For the two Polestar 2 campaigns, a dealer installs the updated software. For the 2025 Polestar 3, Polestar can deliver it either at a dealer or as an over-the-air update, so that one may install itself without a shop visit. All three are free of charge, and owner letters have been mailed for each campaign.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-15 | Polestar 2 rearview camera may not show in reverse | medium |
| 2025-05-07 | Polestar 3 backup camera image may not appear | medium |
| 2025-04-25 | Polestar 2 backup camera may show no image | medium |
Common questions
I have a Polestar 2 and received two camera recall notices — why?
Polestar filed two separate campaigns, in April and September 2025, and both cover 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles with the same reverse-image failure. Have your VIN checked against each one; a dealer software update was issued for both.
Will the Polestar 3 fix arrive over the air?
It can. Polestar says the Polestar 3 software will be updated either by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. If your car has not taken the update on its own, contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504.
Is a camera problem really worth a federal recall?
Yes. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 requires a rear visibility image when the car is in reverse, so a camera that does not display makes the vehicle non-compliant. NHTSA treats that as a back-over hazard, which is why all three were filed.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.