Rear View Camera Defect in Certain 2024–2025 Toyota Tundra Vehicles
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing has identified a safety-related defect affecting certain 2024–2025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. The issue involves the rear view camera image failing to display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, creating a potential safety risk during backing maneuvers.
Because a functioning rearview camera is required under federal safety regulations, the affected vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, which governs rear visibility.
What Is the Problem?
The defect is linked to the parking assist electronic control unit (ECU), a key component of the Panoramic View Monitor system. This system is designed to display images from various cameras around the vehicle, including the rearview image when reversing.
Due to a software logic issue, the parking assist ECU may:
- Become stuck displaying a previous camera view
- Display a black screen after a camera view change request
If either condition occurs and the driver then shifts into reverse, the rearview image may fail to appear. When this happens, the driver may not have the federally required visual assistance while backing up, increasing the risk of striking a pedestrian or object behind the vehicle.
Vehicles Affected
The defect affects only a specific subset of vehicles:
- 2024–2025 Toyota Tundra
- 2024–2025 Toyota Tundra Hybrid
- Vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system
- Vehicles containing a parking assist ECU with specific software logic from a particular supplier
- Not all vehicles built during the production range were sold in the U.S.
- Not all Tundra vehicles are affected
- Vehicles without the PVM system or with different ECU software are not impacted
- Whether the rear view image fails depends on certain operating conditions
All involved vehicles contain the affected ECU software, but the failure may only appear under specific sequences of camera view changes.
How the Issue Was Discovered
Toyota first became aware of the issue in March 2025, following a field report claiming that the front or panoramic camera view remained on while reversing. At the time, the problem could not be duplicated by the dealer.
Additional sporadic reports followed in April and May 2025, but again, the issue could not be consistently reproduced.
In July 2025, a customer reported the problem a second time. Toyota and its supplier inspected the vehicle and were able to duplicate the camera view “stuck” condition by manipulating driving speed to trigger PVM on and off. However, the condition could not be reproduced solely by changing shift positions.
Beginning in August 2025, the supplier conducted extensive vehicle and bench testing. These tests revealed that during certain camera view change requests, system events may occur out of sequence. When this happens, the PVM system may become locked on a camera view or display a black image and cannot recover until the vehicle is restarted.
Toyota’s Safety Determination
Based on testing and analysis, on January 16, 2026, Toyota determined that:
- Certain vehicles contain parking assist ECU software that can cause the PVM system to freeze or go black
- This condition may occur before first sale
- If the issue occurs and the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the rear view image may not display
- The vehicle would not meet the rear visibility requirements of FMVSS No. 111, paragraph S6.2.1
Recall Remedy and Owner Notification
Toyota will address the issue by updating the parking assist ECU software.
Key recall details:
- Toyota recall numbers: 26TB02 and 26TA02
- NHTSA campaign number: 26V-038
- Owner notification letters: Expected to be mailed March 10, 2026
Once notified, owners should schedule a service appointment with an authorized Toyota dealer to have the software update performed.
Why Rear View Camera Failures Matter
Rear view cameras play a critical role in preventing backover incidents, particularly involving children and pedestrians. A camera system that intermittently fails—or fails entirely during reverse—can significantly reduce a driver’s situational awareness.
What Owners Should Do
Owners of affected vehicles should:
- Watch for recall notices from Toyota
- Schedule the software update promptly once notified
- Report any camera display issues to their dealer
- Keep records of all service visits and communications
If the issue persists after repair or results in repeated service visits, owners may want to explore additional consumer protection options available under state and federal law.