Toyota is recalling 144,200 Lexus SUVs after regulators flagged a glitchy backup camera that can leave drivers staring at a blank or frozen screen when they shift into reverse. The defect affects vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), and in most cases dealers can cure the problem with a simple software update. The fix is free, but until service is done, owners are being urged to go old school and lean on mirrors and shoulder checks when backing up.
Which Lexus models are affected
The recall zeroes in on certain Lexus crossovers, including NX, RX and the newer TX, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The affected lineup covers 2022–2025 NX250 and NX350 models, 2023–2026 RX350 versions and 2024–2026 TX350 vehicles, based on the federal paperwork. Local outlet FOX 10 Phoenix notes that owners can bring any affected Lexus to a dealer for the no-cost remedy.
What is wrong and how dealers will fix it
The safety recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains that software in the parking-assist ECU on PVM-equipped vehicles can, under certain startup conditions, cause the rearview image to freeze briefly or fail to appear when reverse is engaged. That behavior puts the vehicles out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, which covers rear visibility, and it can raise the risk of a crash while backing up. Dealers will update the parking-assist software and, where needed, replace rearview cameras at no charge to owners.
What drivers should do now
If you own one of the listed Lexus models, you should plug your vehicle identification number (VIN) into Toyota’s recall lookup or the federal recall database, then book a dealer appointment for the free fix, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Until your software update or repair is complete, officials say you should not treat the backup camera as your only set of eyes. Use your mirrors and a quick shoulder check to confirm what is behind the vehicle before you roll.
Another bump in a busy recall season
This recall hits during a crowded season of Toyota safety actions. On March 11 the automaker announced a roughly 550,000-vehicle Highlander seat-back recall, as reported by Fox Business, and earlier this year Toyota pulled back about 161,268 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid pickups over a similar rearview-camera issue, per an NHTSA campaign notice. Regulators say this run of software-era recalls is a reminder that modern camera and infotainment tech can create real safety problems when the code does not behave.
The recall notices direct owners to their dealers and to NHTSA resources for confirmation and scheduling. Drivers with questions can also call the NHTSA vehicle-safety hotline. Owner notification letters and VIN lookup updates are expected to follow the federal filings, so if you drive a listed Lexus, it is worth checking your VIN sooner rather than later.
