20.05.2025
When Code Breaks Safety – Infotainment and Cluster Failures Behind Growing Recalls
While software glitches might seem like minor annoyances, like laggy touchscreens or unresponsive apps, in modern vehicles, they increasingly carry safety implications. As vehicles rely more on software to operate critical driver information and visibility systems, even minor bugs can escalate into full-blown safety hazards. This shift has made software, once an afterthought in recall campaigns, a leading cause for mandated vehicle callbacks.
In the past 18 months alone, several major OEMs have issued high-profile recalls due to software failures, especially within infotainment systems and digital instrument clusters. These aren’t just UX issues—they’ve led to black screens, incorrect speed readings, and malfunctioning rearview cameras, all of which directly impact safe vehicle operation.
Rearview Camera Failures: A Widespread Defect
Rearview cameras are among the most regulated and safety-critical components of the infotainment system. Mandated by law in the U.S. since 2018, their failure is treated with the same seriousness as a brake or airbag defect. And yet, a wave of recalls in early 2025 shows how widespread and persistent the issue has become.
- Polestar 2: A software error prevented the rearview camera image from displaying during reverse, a clear violation of FMVSS regulations (NHTSA 25V280000).
- Ford: Multiple recalls were issued for rearview camera malfunctions, affecting thousands of vehicles across several platforms (25V160000, 25V159000, 25V134000).
- Chrysler: An integration failure between infotainment and camera software caused the display to go blank when reversing (25V246000).
- Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi: German OEMs also faced software defects in their camera systems, affecting brands from mass-market to luxury (VW: 25V103000, Porsche: 25V220000, Audi: 25V226000).
In many cases, the root causes were software integration issues with Tier 1-supplied components or flaws in embedded firmware not caught in pre-SOP validation. The result? Millions of affected vehicles, customer frustration, and substantial costs for OEMs.
Instrument Cluster Failures: Driving Blind
Instrument clusters — traditionally mechanical, now fully digital — are another area increasingly vulnerable to software defects. When these systems crash or display incorrect data, the consequences can be dangerous.
- Audi: A critical failure in cluster software caused the entire display to go blank, removing access to speed, fuel, and warning indicators. Audi recalled affected vehicles to install a software patch (25V201000, NHTSA bulletin).
- Ford has issued multiple recalls in the past year for blacked-out instrument clusters or missing warning lights (25V123000, 24V802000).
- Hyundai: Similar cluster display failures led to a recall of several vehicle models (25V105000).
- Jeep: Vehicles were recalled due to inaccurate speedometer readings, a potentially dangerous bug stemming from faulty calibration logic in the software (24V872000).
- Kia: Another digital cluster failure resulted in a total blackout, with affected vehicles needing software reinstallation at service centers (24V757000).
It’s a powerful reminder: when mechanical parts are replaced by code, a simple software bug can have serious consequences in the real world.
Broader System Failures
The scope of software-related recalls isn’t limited to displays and cameras. In October 2024, Mazda recalled vehicles due to software faults affecting multiple ECUs, leading to performance degradation and warning light failures (24V814000). These multi-system issues show how tightly coupled modern vehicle software systems have become—and how one fault can cascade across unrelated features.
Takeaway:
These examples illustrate a dangerous reality for today’s OEMs: infotainment and digital interfaces are no longer cosmetic features—they are mission-critical components. When software is faulty, it’s not just about user satisfaction; it’s about safety, compliance, and liability. And increasingly, regulators are treating them that way.
Coming up in the next article: what legal repercussions have OEMs faced as a result of these types of defects?
Other articles in this series:
- Chapter 1: Software as the New Root Cause – The Rise of Infotainment and Software-Driven Recalls
- Chapter 3: Published on May 27th
- Chapter 4: Published on June 3rd
- Chapter 5: Published on June 10th
- Chapter 6: Published on June 17th
