Hyundai has recalled more than 226,000 Elantra and Santa Fe inoperative backup cameras.

According to the safety recall report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rearview camera equipped in the subject vehicles may have been produced with insufficient solder joints on the camera’s printed circuit board (PCB), which may worsen over time increasing the risk of camera failure during operation.

The solder joints may have developed cracks during manufacturing and could worsen due to the camera’s high operating temperature. No warning of the issue will occur, according to the report.

“An inoperative rearview camera will reduce rearward visibility while driving in reverse, increasing the risk of injury to bystanders,” the report states. “Obstruction of the rearview image during operation reduces rearward visibility and increases the risk of a crash or injury to bystanders.”

Affected vehicle models include 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV, and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV.

According to the report, owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first-class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealer for free rearview camera replacement. The new camera was implemented as a production running change in April 2022.

On Aug 1, 2023, the North America Safety Office (NASO) reported increased field claims related to a rearview camera durability concern. On Sept. 5, NASO asked Hyundai Motor Co. to investigate. Hyundai’s duplication testing results were inconclusive so parts from the field were collected for further analysis.

NASO performed replication testing of the subject rearview camera system to support Hyundai’s ongoing investigation.

NASO detected cracks in the camera processor’s solder joints. Some of the samples exhibited abnormal performance, consistent with the alleged condition, while others showed no abnormal performance.

Multiple camera assemblies were identified as faulty due to a black or white image, or an undetected signal. Hyundai then discovered the issue with the camera’s PCB.

As of Nov. 21, Hyundai said it wasn’t aware of any confirmed crashes, injuries, or fires related to the camera issues in the U.S.

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Featured image: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (Provided by Hyundai)