software update – California Lemon Law blog

Porsche has announced a safety defect affecting several Porsche models from 2019 through 2025. The issue can cause the rear view camera image to fail to display — a serious safety concern in today’s camera-dependent vehicles.

What Is the Problem?

In certain rare cases, a software issue may prevent the rear view camera image from appearing when the vehicle is placed in Reverse.

This problem means affected vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 – Rear Visibility, which mandates that a functioning rear visibility system must be available when backing up.

If the rear view camera image does not appear, the driver loses an important visual aid, increasing the risk of backing-up accidents involving pedestrians, objects, or other vehicles.

Affected Porsche Models

The recall applies to the following vehicles:

2019–2025 Porsche Cayenne
2019–2025 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
2020–2025 Porsche 911
2020–2025 Porsche Taycan
2024–2025 Porsche Panamera
2025 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

What Causes the Camera Failure?

Porsche has identified that the issue is related to transient signal noise between the control unit and the Surround View cameras. In rare situations, this signal disruption can interrupt the data feed from the rear view camera, causing the image not to display.

While the exact root cause is still under investigation, Porsche has confirmed that the issue is software-related.

How Will You Know If It Happens?

There is no warning light or message beforehand. If your vehicle is affected, you may notice that the rear view camera screen is blank or does not activate when shifting into Reverse.

What Is Porsche Doing to Fix It?

Porsche dealers will update the driver assistance software to resolve the issue.

Interim owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed on February 16, 2026.
A second notice will be sent once the final software remedy is fully available.

Recall Reference Numbers

Porsche Recall Number: ASB2
NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-896

What Should You Do Now?

If you own one of the affected vehicles:

Monitor your mail for the official Porsche recall letter.
Once notified, schedule a service appointment with your Porsche dealer.
If your rear view camera has already failed to display, avoid reversing in tight spaces and rely on mirrors and physical checks until the fix is completed.

Why This Matters

A non-functional rear view camera may seem minor, but it significantly increases the risk of accidents – especially in crowded parking lots, residential areas, and driveways. Modern vehicles are designed with these systems as critical safety features, and Porsche is taking appropriate steps to correct the issue.

If you drive a Cayenne, 911, Taycan, or Panamera from the affected model years, stay alert and be ready to book your software update when the recall becomes active.

Ford has announced a safety recall for certain 2025–2026 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport models after discovering a software defect that can cause the instrument panel cluster (IPC) to fail at startup. While the failure rate appears low so far, the issue can disable the display of critical safety information—and that creates a significant risk for drivers.

The Problem: A Startup Timing Error That Can Blank the Instrument Panel

The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is responsible for displaying essential vehicle information, including speed, engine warnings, braking system alerts, and other important safety telltales.

In the affected vehicles, the IPC can fail to initialize at startup. When that happens, the screen stays completely blank.

The Root Cause

Ford traced the issue to a timing-related software fault:

During the IPC’s sleep-entry sequence, there is a narrow window where a CAN wake-up interrupt can occur.
If this interrupt happens at the wrong moment, it triggers a memory protection fault in the cluster’s control unit.
The result: the IPC fails to boot, leaving the driver with a blank screen.

A blank cluster means no speedometer, no warning lights, and no safety indicators, which can significantly increase the risk of a crash if the vehicle is driven in that condition.

Why This Matters for Drivers

If the IPC is blank when the vehicle starts:

The driver cannot see speed, engine warnings, brake indicators, turn signals, or safety alerts.
Important telltales required under federal safety regulations may not display.
The driver loses critical information needed for safe operation.

Although the vehicle can still move, driving without a functioning instrument panel is dangerous—especially in traffic, at night, or in poor weather conditions.

Ford reports no accidents or injuries linked to this defect as of November 2025, but the potential safety impact is clear.

Ford’s Internal Investigation Timeline

The issue first surfaced on September 18, 2025, when reports of blank screens in 2025–2026 Broncos and Bronco Sports were escalated to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG). Over the next several weeks, the CCRG analyzed failure reports, warranty data, and comparisons to a similar prior recall (25S88 / 25V-540).

What they found was significant:

Warranty claims were low so far, but
68% of connected vehicles had ignition cycles falling within the window of susceptibility to this startup timing failure—almost identical to the earlier recall population.
No clear factor suggested the newer vehicles were at lower risk than the previously recalled models.

The first warranty claim was logged on May 15, 2025, and by November 7, 2025, Ford had documented 12 potentially related claims.

On that same date—November 7—the Field Review Committee approved a formal field action, confirming the need for a recall.

Which Vehicles Are Affected?

Ford has issued a recall for certain:

2025 Ford Bronco
2025 Ford Bronco Sport
2026 Ford Bronco
2026 Ford Bronco Sport

These vehicles are equipped with the susceptible SX2 Instrument Panel Cluster.

Ford’s recall number is 25SC3, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number is 25V-788.

How the Problem Will Be Fixed

Ford will correct the IPC issue through an instrument panel cluster software update, available:

At Ford dealerships, or
Through an over-the-air (OTA) update (for vehicles equipped to receive OTA updates)
Ford plans to begin mailing recall notices on December 8, 2025.

What Bronco and Bronco Sport Owners Should Do

If your instrument panel cluster ever boots up blank:

Do not drive the vehicle until the IPC initializes correctly.
If your Ford Bronco is affected, contact your Ford dealer to schedule a repair.
Check for OTA update availability.
Monitor for recall notifications and verify your VIN’s status on Ford’s recall lookup page.

Even if you haven’t experienced the issue yet, your vehicle may still be at risk due to the timing-related nature of the fault.

If You Continue to Experience IPC Problems

If the problem persists after the recall repair—or if Ford is unable to fix the defect—owners may be eligible for repurchase, replacement, or compensation, according to California Lemon Laws.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing has announced a safety recall affecting certain 2022–2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. A software error in the Parking Assist ECU — the electronic control unit responsible for displaying the rearview image — may cause the camera image to freeze or fail to display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. This issue means the affected vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 for rear visibility.

What’s Causing the Problem?

The Parking Assist ECU software can experience two types of malfunctions:

Rearview image freezing: The image may freeze for up to 1.8 seconds if the vehicle is shifted into reverse within 0.7 to 2.6 seconds after ignition is turned on.
Rearview image not displaying: If the vehicle’s power is turned off during a brief data-writing process within the first 12.5 seconds after startup, the camera’s alignment data can become corrupted, preventing the image from displaying during the next ignition cycle.

These failures may occur under specific timing conditions and could increase the risk of an accident during backing maneuvers, especially if a pedestrian or object is behind the vehicle.

Timeline of Discovery

Between April 2024 and December 2024, Toyota engineers discovered the issue while reviewing software used in Japan-spec models. Bench testing confirmed that interruptions during image processing or data writing could cause temporary or complete loss of the rearview image. Subsequent testing through October 2025 confirmed that the same software error could affect global models, including those sold in the U.S. On October 24, 2025, Toyota decided to issue a safety recall.

Recall and Remedy Information

Dealers will update the parking assist software. Interim notification letters alerting owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 16, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final software remedy is available.

The recall identification numbers are as follows:

Toyota: 25TB13 and 25LB06
Subaru: WRE25
NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-744

Vehicles Included in This Recall

2022 Lexus Lx
2022 Lexus Nx
2022 Lexus Nx Hybrid
2023 Lexus Es
2023 Lexus Es Hybrid
2023 Lexus Ls
2023 Lexus Ls Hybrid
2023 Lexus Nx Plug-in Hybrid
2023 Lexus Rx
2023 Lexus Rx Hybrid
2023 Lexus Rz
2024 Lexus Gx
2024 Lexus Lc
2024 Lexus Lc Hybrid
2024 Lexus Tx
2024 Lexus Tx Hybrid
2024 Lexus Tx Plug-in Hybrid
2024 Lexus Rx Plug-in Hybrid
2025 Lexus Lx Hybrid
2023 Subaru Solterra
2023 Toyota Bz4x
2023 Toyota Crown
2023 Toyota Highlander
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
2023 Toyota Mirai

2023 Toyota Prius
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
2023 Toyota Rav4
2023 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid
2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime
2023 Toyota Venza Hybrid
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2025 Toyota Crown Signia
2025 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-in Hybrid
2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid
2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2026 Toyota Crown
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
2026 Toyota Rx Plug-in Hybrid
2026 Toyota Tx
2026 Toyota Tx Hybrid
2026 Toyota Tx Plug-in Hybrid

What Owners Should Do

If you own one of the affected Toyota, Lexus, or Subaru models, until the software is updated, owners should exercise extra caution when backing up and verify surroundings visually.

Certain 2025 Acura RDX vehicles may have a problem with the electric power steering (EPS) system software. The software may not be properly calibrated, which can cause the EPS system to enter fail-safe mode and result in a sudden loss of power steering assist.

This issue can make steering more difficult, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

What Causes the Power Steering Problem

During the development of the 2025 Acura RDX EPS software to meet California Idle Stop OBD requirements, Honda’s Tier 2 supplier mistakenly set the EPS target returnability Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) gain to an incorrect value.

This mis-calibration can trigger the problem under specific conditions:

When the driver makes a sharp steering input during a turn
When IDS is in Comfort mode
When the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) is active

In these scenarios, the EPS target returnability output may exceed the system’s safety threshold, causing the system to falsely detect a fault and enter fail-safe mode—cutting off power steering assist.

Timeline of Discovery

October 2024: Honda received the first complaint and began investigating.
March 2025: Investigation efforts continued with further analysis.
May 29, 2025: A dealership review revealed that the customer’s driving mode could be a factor.
July 2025: Honda and its supplier continued in-depth testing and analysis.
August 19, 2025: Honda determined the issue could present a safety risk.
August 28, 2025: Honda confirmed a safety defect and announced a recall.

Between August 2024 and August 2025, Honda received 84 warranty claims related to the issue but reported no injuries or deaths.

The Fix

Honda dealers will reprogram the EPS software on affected Acura RDX vehicles.

Owner notification letters will be mailed starting October 20, 2025.
Honda Recall Number: GMS
NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-582

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA US LLC) has identified a serious issue affecting certain 2022–2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. A software error within the Hybrid Control Processor (HCP) can result in a sudden loss of drive power, creating potential safety risks for drivers and passengers.

What’s the Problem?

The issue stems from the Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) microprocessor. In some vehicles, the microprocessor may become overloaded and reset. During specific reset events, the HCP may misinterpret signals from the BPCM, causing the system to incorrectly shut down propulsion.

This defect could lead to a loss of drive power while operating, increasing the risk of a crash if drivers are unable to maintain control of their vehicles.

When Were the Vehicles Built?

The suspect period began on July 23, 2021, when the faulty HCP software was introduced into production, and ended on August 29, 2025, when FCA placed affected vehicles under plant control. Engineering records and assembly plant data were used to define this production window.

Chronology of Events

The chronology of events surrounding the discovery of the software problem in certain 2022–2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles began on May 1, 2025, when FCA US LLC received a Preliminary Information Request from NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations, followed by FCA’s response on May 23, 2025. A supplemental request from NHTSA arrived on June 23, 2025, with FCA responding on July 14, 2025. Meanwhile, on June 24, 2025, FCA’s Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) team opened an investigation into loss of propulsion complaints in Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEVs. Between June and August 2025, FCA US TSRC worked with FCA US Engineering to review the issue, analyze possible failure modes, and identify the suspect vehicle population. By August 18, 2025, FCA had recorded 96 customer assistance records, 110 field reports, and 320 service records related to the issue, though no accidents or injuries had been reported. Finally, on August 28, 2025, FCA’s Vehicle Regulations Committee concluded that a defect affecting motor vehicle safety potentially exists in all affected vehicles.

Recall Information

Chrysler Recall Number: 73C
NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-576
Affected Vehicles: Certain 2022–2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV)

At this time, the remedy is still under development. FCA US expects to begin mailing owner notification letters on October 23, 2025.

Final Thoughts

The Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV recall highlights the challenges of integrating advanced hybrid technology with complex vehicle software systems. While no accidents or injuries have been reported, the risk of propulsion loss makes this a critical safety concern.

Owners are encouraged to stay informed, act quickly once notifications arrive, and ensure their vehicles are repaired as soon as the remedy becomes available.

Ford Motor Company has announced a safety defect affecting several 2025 Ford and Lincoln models due to a potential braking issue. Certain vehicles may experience a loss of power brake assist, which could extend stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash—particularly when Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features are in use.

Which Ford And Lincoln Vehicles Are Affected?

The recall involves specific 2025 models, including:

Ford F-150
Ford Expedition
Ford Bronco
Ford Ranger
Lincoln Navigator

Ford’s investigation found that the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when ADAS features are active.

What’s the Problem?

The issue was first detected on May 14, 2025, when the Expedition/Navigator Rapid Response Team identified a Ford Management Lease Vehicle with a loss of brake boost. The malfunction triggered a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC), prompting Ford to review connected vehicle data, driver reports, and incident logs.

Customers reported a sudden loss of brake boost, along with extended brake pedal travel and longer stopping distances. While Ford confirmed that affected vehicles still meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 135, 105, and 126), the unexpected nature of the issue poses a safety risk.

Incident Reports

Between March 13 and June 26, 2025, Ford received 37 warranty claims related to this problem.
As of July 14, 2025, there has been one alleged low-speed crash potentially linked to the defect.
No injuries or fires have been reported.

The Recall Process

On July 18, 2025, Ford’s Field Review Committee approved a field action.

The fix involves an Electronic Brake Booster software update, which can be delivered over-the-air (OTA) or performed at a dealership.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on August 25, 2025.
Ford recall number: 25S77
NHTSA campaign number: 25V-488

What Owners Should Do If Their Ford Or Lincoln Is Affected

If you own one of the affected vehicles:

Schedule a dealer visit or wait for the OTA update if applicable.
Monitor your braking performance, especially when using ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control or automatic emergency braking. If you experience unusual brake feel or extended stopping distances, seek service immediately.

Safety Reminder

Even with this issue, Ford states the braking systems remain functional, but stopping distances may be longer without power brake assist. Extra caution is advised until the repair is complete.

If you drive a 2025 RAM 1500, a 2023–2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale, or a 2023–2025 Dodge Hornet, there’s a good chance your vehicle is under recall. Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) has announced a range of issues affecting these models — some of which involve critical safety systems.

For California drivers, especially those still under warranty, this could qualify for protection under the California Lemon Law.

What are the issues?

There are two major recalls currently underway:

2025 RAM 1500 – A software defect in the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may cause it to display incorrect or missing tire pressure readings. That’s more than a dashboard annoyance — tire pressure is essential for safe driving.
2023–2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale & Dodge Hornet – These vehicles may have a faulty rearview camera system, which can result in a black screen when reversing. This isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a safety hazard.

Are repairs available?

Yes, but timelines and availability may vary:

RAM dealers are performing a software update to resolve the TPMS problem.
Tonale and Hornet repairs involve replacing rearview camera components — which may depend on parts availability.

As always, it’s important to document every service visit, especially if you experience delays, repeat repairs, or temporary fixes.

Why this matters under California Lemon Law

If your RAM, Tonale, or Hornet has been in for multiple repairs, or if it’s been out of service for extended periods, California’s Lemon Law might apply. This law gives you powerful rights, including:

A vehicle buyback or replacement
Reimbursement of payments or repair-related expenses
Legal fees covered by the manufacturer, not you

Even a single safety-related issue that isn’t fixed promptly can be enough to trigger Lemon Law protections in California.

What to do next:

If your vehicle has been affected by either of these recalls, contact your dealership for the latest repair schedule.
If you’ve already had issues with TPMS, your backup camera, or other electrical systems, gather your service records.
Don’t assume this is “just another recall” — you may have a legitimate Lemon Law claim.

You shouldn’t have to settle for a vehicle that can’t safely tell you your tire pressure or show you what’s behind you.

If your Stellantis vehicle has been unreliable, frustrating, or unsafe, we’re here to help you understand your rights. In California, you don’t need to tolerate a lemon — and you don’t have to pay to find out if your case qualifies. Call Now for a FREE Case Review at 888-395-3666 or fill in the contact form at the top of the page.

A potential safety concern has been identified in certain 2025 Nissan Frontier and Kicks vehicles, prompting a recall by the Japanese automaker. The issue revolves around the Center Information Display (CID) unit, which may display a blank screen when the transmission is shifted into reverse. This malfunction could lead to non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for rear visibility, as the rear view camera image may not be displayed on the screen.

The problem was first reported in October 2024, when a field report alleged that a 2025 Kicks vehicle’s CID screen showed a blank screen at startup. Nissan investigated the issue and conducted various tests, including cold starts and placing the vehicle in reverse. The results revealed that the rear view image was not displayed on the screen, and the “Camera” button did not display the Around View Monitor image. Further analysis, including bench testing, was conducted to determine the root cause of the problem.

After collecting additional field reports and inspecting the affected parts, Nissan concluded that an intermittent communication error could exist between the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system and the CID modules. This error may result in a blank screen, rendering the rear view camera intermittently inoperable. The company worked with its supplier to develop software to address the concern and identified a similar issue on specific Japan market models equipped with the same IVI system.

To rectify the problem, Nissan has decided to conduct a recall for vehicles equipped with the subject CID in the U.S. market. Dealers will update the software on the vehicle’s center information display to correct the issue. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 1, 2025. The manufacturer numbers for this recall are PD152 and PMA48, and the NHTSA campaign number is 25V-324. Vehicle owners who receive notification letters should schedule an appointment with their local dealer to have the software update performed as soon as possible.