Toyota has announced a safety recall for three popular Lexus crossovers in the United States. These are certain model years of the compact NX, midsize RX, and three-row midsize TX. The issue is linked to a backup camera display that could go blank when shifting into reverse, a situation that contravenes federal safety standards. This isn’t the first time certain Lexus models have been involved in a recall for faulty backup cameras, so here’s a closer look at what’s happening.
Lexus SUV Safety Recall
Lexus
In October 2025, a massive rearview camera recall affecting over a million Toyota and Lexus models was initiated. That recall was specific to models equipped with the Panoramic View Monitor system, but this month’s new recall doesn’t specifically mention this monitor, which is an option on the NX, RX, and TX.
The 2026 recall affects 144,200 vehicles and applies to the following models/model years:
- 2022-2025 Lexus NX
- 2023-2026 Lexus RX
- 2024-2026 Lexus TX
Lexus will either update the backup camera software or replace the backup camera, should that be necessary. Both fixes will be free of charge for owners of affected models.
Owner notification letters will be sent out by md-May 2026, but anyone can call the Lexus Guest Experience Center before then on 1-800-255-3987 for more information. Alternatively, you can search for relevant Lexus recalls using your vehicle identification number.
Why Are There So Many Backup Camera Recalls?
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Camera-related recalls have been widespread in recent years. Over 1.7 million Ford and Lincoln models were recalled for a similar issue earlier this March, Toyota had to recall 162,000 Tundras in January, and Audi recalled over 350,000 models for the same thing, also in January 2026.
While a faulty rearview camera doesn’t immediately put drivers in danger, the fact that there’s a federal safety standard for these cameras makes a recall more likely if anything does go wrong. Art Hyde, director of the automotive engineering program at the University of Michigan, told Automotive News in a 2024 interview that modern rearview cameras are more software-based than before, which leads to a greater chance of issues. He said the auto industry is in the midst of a learning curve as software-defined vehicles become more common, which increases the chances of recalls.
“I think it’s very difficult to proof out software,” Hyde said. “Particularly, you have to proof out not just software alone, but software in the context of the hardware.”
Fortunately, many software-related recalls can be resolved via a quick over-the-air update, but it does add a pain point to vehicle ownership that didn’t exist 10 or more years ago.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog