Tesla has issued a new over-the-air (OTA) software recall, this time affecting more than 218,000 vehicles in the United States over an issue that could delay the rearview camera image when shifting into reverse.
According to a new filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall impacts certain 2017 and 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, and 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with Hardware 3 and running software version 2026.8.6.
The issue centers around the rearview camera feed potentially taking up to 11 seconds to appear after the vehicle wakes up. If a driver shifts into reverse during that window, the display may remain blank temporarily, creating a non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111.
NHTSA says the delayed image “reduces the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.” Tesla noted in the filing that drivers can still rely on mirrors and shoulder checks while reversing, but acknowledged the software issue required corrective action.
Transport Canada has not yet issued a similar OTA recall.
OTA Fix Already Deployed
As is common with nearly all Tesla recalls, the fix has already been deployed through a free over-the-air (OTA) software update.
Tesla says it first became aware of the problem on April 10, 2026, after an engineering vehicle running software version 2026.8.6 experienced the delayed rear camera display. The automaker immediately halted deployment of that firmware version while engineers investigated the issue.
Just one day later, Tesla began pushing software version 2026.8.6.1 to affected customer vehicles to correct the problem. By the time the recall filing was submitted, Tesla said more than 99.92% of impacted vehicles had already successfully installed the updated software.
No Crashes or Injuries Reported
Tesla says it is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities connected to the issue. However, the company disclosed it had identified 27 warranty claims and two field reports potentially related to the delayed rearview image.
The recall only affects vehicles equipped with Hardware 3 (HW3), which Tesla stopped producing in January 2024 as it transitioned newer vehicles to AI4 hardware.
This latest recall once again highlights one of Tesla’s biggest advantages compared to traditional automakers: the ability to rapidly deploy software fixes remotely without requiring customers to visit a Service Center.
You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below.
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