Skip to content
MotorFiable
en

Electrics and electronics

Problems of the parking sensors and cameras: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 28 faults of the parking sensors and cameras in 27 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: unintended tailgate opening from moisture in the reversing camera wiring harness (Mercedes-Benz Citan W415), the infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera fails (MG ZS I) and power tailgate and reversing camera failure (Audi Q3 II).

Documented faults
28
1 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
27
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
27
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

How we work

How it works and why it fails

Parking sensors and cameras

Parking sensors measure the distance to obstacles using ultrasound, and cameras show the rear or a 360-degree view on the screen. They are exposed to knocks, water and dirt, and some fail through software.

What to do

If a sensor beeps for no reason or stops warning, clean it and check it has not been knocked or badly painted. A camera that goes black or freezes may be the tailgate wiring or a software fault that the manufacturer fixes with an update.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults of the parking sensors and cameras. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems of the parking sensors and cameras by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Citan W415Unintended tailgate opening from moisture in the reversing camera wiring harnessYes: on Citans with a reversing camera built between 25 February 2015 and 16 November 2020, moisture could get into the camera wiring harness and make the tailgate open by itself, even while driving. There is a recall; it does not affect every car.
  2. 2Medium severityFrequency: CommonMG ZS IThe infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera failsIt is one of the most repeated complaints about the MG ZS: the infotainment screen freezes, restarts by itself or loses functions, and the reversing camera image can disappear or stay black; sometimes a software update fixes it and other times the unit has to be replaced.
  3. 3Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q3 IIPower tailgate and reversing camera failureOn versions with an electrically opening boot, a specialist reliability profile documents that the tailgate can stop halfway through its travel and that the rear camera module can leave the screen black.
  4. 4Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q5 IIMMI system freezes and failures of the parking sensors and rear cameraA specialist reliability page and a website specialising in leased cars document that the Q5 II's MMI system can freeze or react erratically, losing several functions at once; the parking sensors and the rear camera fail mainly after moisture ingress or a knock.
  5. 5Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Focus IVElectronic faults in early units: Sync 3, parking sensors and stop-startEarly Focus IV units drew complaints about parking sensors that did not work, the Sync 3 infotainment system and flat starter batteries that disabled stop-start and Auto-Hold, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de.
  6. 6Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Focus IVSoftware faults in the eCall and rear cameraThere are software recalls for the Focus IV over a fault in the telematics unit that could prevent the eCall emergency call (production until October 2024), and over a rear camera that could freeze the image (2020-2025).
  7. 7Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Mustang Mach-ERear camera image frozen by a software fault in the multimedia module (APIM)Yes: Ford recalled the Mustang Mach-E for a possible software fault that stops the rear camera working properly (frozen screen). The DVSA records 4,274 UK cars built between October 2020 and December 2023; it is fixed by updating the software in the APIM module.
  8. 8Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Transit ConnectRear camera image freezingFord recalled 5,423 Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect vans built between August 2023 and March 2024 because the rear camera image can freeze and fail to show objects. The fix is a software update and, in some cases, replacing the front module (KBA 15196R).
  9. 9Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLexus UXFrozen rear camera image due to a software fault in the parking assist unitA Safety Gate alert from November 2025 includes the UX: the parking assist unit's software can freeze the rear camera image when you select reverse shortly after starting, or stop it appearing if the car is switched off and on again within a short time. The fix is a software update.
  10. 10Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz CLK C209Sensor and electronics faults: airbag, ESP/ABS warning lights and parking sensorsIt is the largest group of non-mechanical complaints for the CLK C209 on fiches-auto.fr (22 testimonies): airbag or ESP/ABS warning lights on, and parking and steering angle sensors that fail. There is no known official campaign.
  11. 11Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Vito W447Frozen or incorrect reversing camera image at low temperaturesYes: Safety Gate records a campaign covering 220,819 Vito vehicles built between 16 April 2014 and 23 July 2020 whose reversing camera can show a frozen or incorrect image at low temperatures, making it harder to see when manoeuvring.
  12. 12Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel AdamElectronic control unit (BCM), immobiliser, remote key and parking sensor faultsAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are 8 cases of electronic faults on the Adam: immobiliser, remote key, on-board computer, parking sensors and blind spot alert. The listing attributes them to the body control module (BCM) and the wiring. There is no known recall.
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Kangoo IIIFaults with the Easy Link multimedia screen, rear camera and parking sensorsOwners of the first Kangoo IIIs cite an Easy Link screen that freezes or restarts, a rear camera with a black image, parking sensors that warn without an obstacle and ‘camera/radar’ messages on the dashboard. There is no public campaign or technical bulletin: only testimonies.
  14. 14Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model YRisk of a short circuit in the central computer (Hardware 4.1) that can leave the reversing camera without an imageOn Model Y cars with the Hardware 4.1 computer (built 2023-2025), a reverse current when the car is switched on can cause a short circuit on the central computer board and leave the reversing camera without an image; Tesla fixes it with a software update or, if needed, by replacing the board.
  15. 15Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo XInfotainment unit screen goes black and disables the rear camera and speed assistant (ISA)Toyota recalled Aygo X built at the Czech plant between 17 December 2023 and 9 January 2024: inadequate software may leave the infotainment unit screen black and locked, losing the rear camera image and the intelligent speed assistant (ISA). The remedy is to replace the unit.
  16. 16Low severityFrequency: CommonFord Kuga IIIThe rear camera or the Sync screen freezes or goes blackThe reversing camera image may freeze or go black, and the central Sync screen may lock up, lose Bluetooth or disconnect Apple CarPlay/Android Auto; Ford corrects the camera fault with an update of the SYNC4 system.
  17. 17Medium severityFrequency: RareOpel Corsa FInfotainment screen, instrument cluster and reversing camera freezesOn the Opel Corsa F, the central screen, instrument cluster, radio and connected functions can freeze or go black, especially in strong heat; the reversing camera can show a black, unstable or frozen image. These are annoying electronic faults, not mechanical ones.
  18. 18Medium severityFrequency: RareToyota RAV4 VFrozen image from the RAV4's parking assistant rear cameraA November 2025 alert records that on RAV4s built from 2021 to 2025 with panoramic view, the rear camera image can freeze when reverse is selected just after starting, or fail to appear at the next start.
  19. 19Low severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X5 F15iDrive, 360° camera and SOS call module faults on the X5 F15According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (56 for the 2013-2018 X5), there are five electronic faults with the 360° camera, as well as iDrive/GPS faults, faults with the emergency call module (battery) and error messages in the instrument cluster.
  20. 20Low severityFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 5Multimedia system, GPS and reversing camera failureOn the DS5 page, multimedia system faults appear: radio/GPS/driver aids out of service at 40,000 km on a 1.6 THP 200, and several reversing cameras with water ingress or misting.
  21. 21Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery SportElectrical and infotainment faults: freezing screen, sensors and reversing cameraWhat Car ranks the electrics and infotainment, along with the air conditioning, among the biggest sources of trouble on the Discovery Sport. Owners talk about freezing screens, erratic sensors, warning lights with no clear cause and failures of the reversing camera or parking sensors.
  22. 22Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz CLA C117Electronics faults: Parktronic parking sensors and ABS warningsThis is the most repeated non-mechanical complaint: according to the reports on fiches-auto.fr, 17 of 103 cases cite electronics and sensors, with warning lights, unstable Parktronic sensors and ABS warnings.
  23. 23Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz GLA X156Electronics, parking sensor and radio faultsThe fiches-auto.fr fiche records 12 electronics cases, 9 sensor cases and 4 radio or CD cases on the GLA, with multiple warning lights, faulty Parktronic and intermittent warnings.
  24. 24Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMG Marvel RMG Marvel R central screen and 360 camera freezesAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the central screen freezes or restarts and can leave you without access to the climate control and navigation; there are also dropouts of the rear camera image and the 360 view.
  25. 25Low severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Micra VMultimedia screen that freezes and loss of the rear camera signalMicra V owner testimonies describe multimedia screen freezes that require a restart, and occasional loss of the rear-view camera signal.
  26. 26Low severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira Tourer CRear camera failures and intermittent electronic warningsThe fiches-auto.fr profile records 15 electronics and electrical cases on the Zafira Tourer (out of 108 reports): an intermittent rear camera (one case at 92,000 km), engine, ABS or parking assist warning lights that come on, and inconsistent cluster messages.
  27. 27Low severityFrequency: RareAudi A5 II360-degree camera faults on units up to 2017Gebrauchtwagenberater.de reports that F5 A5s built up to the end of 2017 had problems with the 360-degree camera, which were dealt with by a manufacturer service action.
  28. 28Low severityFrequency: RareSuzuki IgnisMultimedia system fault: radio, GPS and reversing cameraAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some Ignis cars have an unstable multimedia screen: the radio fails, the GPS is unavailable, the reversing camera stops working or the USB does not respond. There is no known official recall.

Problems of the parking sensors and cameras by make

Problems of the parking sensors and cameras in your car

1 car has several documented faults of the parking sensors and cameras. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect it, by engine and by year.

Ford 1

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems of the parking sensors and cameras?

Among those we have analysed: Mercedes-Benz Citan W415 (unintended tailgate opening from moisture in the reversing camera wiring harness), MG ZS I (the infotainment screen freezes and the rear camera fails), Ford Focus IV (electronic faults in early units: Sync 3, parking sensors and stop-start), Audi Q3 II (power tailgate and reversing camera failure), Audi Q5 II (MMI system freezes and failures of the parking sensors and rear camera), Ford Mustang Mach-E (rear camera image frozen by a software fault in the multimedia module (APIM)), Ford Transit Connect (rear camera image freezing) and Lexus UX (frozen rear camera image due to a software fault in the parking assist unit). In total, 27 cars with documented faults of the parking sensors and cameras.

What symptoms does a fault of the parking sensors and cameras cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: screen or infotainment system freezes or restarts, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults, battery goes flat while the car is parked, abs or esp warning light on and esp warning light on or flashing.