A software defect that can cause rearview camera images to lag when drivers shift into reverse has prompted a U.S. recall of 218,868 Tesla $TSLA vehicles, with federal safety regulators warning the delay raises the risk of a collision.
The issue affects certain Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles running software version 2026.8.6
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A software defect that can cause rearview camera images to lag when drivers shift into reverse has prompted a U.S. recall of 218,868 Tesla $TSLA vehicles, with federal safety regulators warning the delay raises the risk of a collision.
Software version 2026.8.6 is at the center of the issue, with select Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X $TWTR vehicles among those subject to the action, MarketWatch reported. The NHTSA made the recall public on Wednesday, and Tesla has already pushed out a no-cost over-the-air fix.
Tesla stock was up 0.4% at $390.80 in early Wednesday trading.
Recalls have been a recurring feature of Tesla's recent history. The company recalled more than 662,000 vehicles in the first three quarters of 2025, including almost every Cybertruck. This year's rearview camera recall is Tesla's second recall action in 2026, covering 219,000 vehicles, according to Barron's. For comparison, Toyota $TM has recalled 1.1 million cars in the U.S. so far this year across 12 separate actions, and Ford $F has had the most recall activity, with almost 10 million cars across 34 actions, according to Barron's.
Rearview camera defects have drawn significant regulatory attention across the industry. Ford was hit with a $165 million penalty after an NHTSA investigation found the company failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner.
A separate NHTSA investigation, involving roughly 2.6 million Tesla vehicles and centered on a remote-movement feature, was wrapped up last month once regulators determined any incidents connected to it occurred only at low speeds.
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