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Reverse Camera Not Working

A reverse camera that shows a black, blurry or flickering picture usually has a dirty or wet lens, a broken wire at the boot hinge, a failed camera or a screen software fault.

Normal risk

Not urgent, but reverse carefully and use mirrors until it is fixed.

Short answer · Why is my reverse camera not working?

The camera sits low on the boot or bumper and gets dirt, water and road salt. A dirty lens gives a blurry picture. Wiring passes through the boot hinge and can break, giving a black or flickering screen. Water inside the camera causes fog. The infotainment software can also fail to switch to the camera.

On this page

Safe checks you can do

  1. Clean the lensUse a soft cloth and water.
  2. Open and close the bootIf the picture flickers as it moves, the wiring is suspect.
  3. Restart the screenA software glitch may clear.

Questions that narrow it down

  1. Is the picture black?Power, wiring or camera.
  2. Is it blurry or foggy?Dirty lens or water inside.
  3. Does it come and go?Wiring at the hinge.

Possible causes

Listed without ranking. Use the questions above to see which ones fit your car.

  1. Dirty lensBlurry picture.
  2. Broken wiring at the hingeBlack or flickering.
  3. Water in the cameraFog.
  4. Failed cameraNo picture.
  5. Screen software faultDoes not switch.

Questions about Reverse Camera Not Working

Can I clean the camera with a pressure washer?

Keep the jet at a distance; direct high pressure can damage it.

Is replacing the camera hard?

Often not, but some need coding.