Quick answer: Land Rover is recalling 94,000 2022–2026 Range Rovers because water can pool around the rearview camera and kill the image. A recall alone does not make a car a lemon. But if your Range Rover backup camera recall problem keeps coming back while the SUV is under warranty, California's lemon law may require Land Rover to buy it back or replace it.
A black backup screen is more than an annoyance. It is a safety feature that should work every time you back out of a driveway in Glendale or a tight garage in Pasadena. Here is what the recall covers, what to do if your camera has already failed, and when it becomes a lemon law claim.
What is the Range Rover backup camera recall?
In October 2026, Jaguar Land Rover told federal safety regulators that the tailgate on 2022 through 2026 Range Rovers may not drain water away from the rearview camera. Water collects around the camera and damages it over time. The result is a distorted image, or no image at all, when you shift into reverse.
The recall covers 93,997 Range Rovers in the United States built between July 2021 and June 2026, and Land Rover expects all of them to have the drainage flaw. You can read the official filing in the NHTSA recall report for campaign 26V678.
The planned fix has two parts. Dealers will drill extra drain holes in the tailgate trim, then inspect the camera and replace it at no charge if water has already damaged it.
When will the fix be available?
Not right away. Land Rover listed this as a "phased" recall. Owners should get an interim letter by mid-December that explains the problem, with a second letter to follow when the final repair is ready. Some Range Rover drivers may wait months with a camera that only works when the weather is dry. If you are in that waiting period, our post on what California's lemon law says while you wait for a recall remedy walks through your options.
Is a backup camera failure a lemon law defect?
It can be. California's lemon law covers warranty defects that substantially affect the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. A rearview camera that goes dark is a safety problem. Federal rules require backup cameras on new vehicles for exactly that reason.
The key word is repeat. One camera replacement that solves the problem is a warranty repair, not a lemon. A camera that fails, gets replaced, and fails again is a different story. So is a dealer that keeps saying "could not duplicate" because the camera happened to work on a sunny day. Our Land Rover lemon law pagecovers the problems we see most often with these vehicles.
Does the recall itself count as a repair attempt?
Generally, no. What counts is the history of visits where you brought the SUV in for the camera problem and it was not fixed. Camera visits from 2023 or 2024 can matter even though the recall was only announced this month. Keep every repair order.
How many repair attempts does it take under California's lemon law?
There is no single magic number. The law asks whether the manufacturer had a reasonable number of chances to fix the problem. A legal presumption helps you if, within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles after you bought or leased the vehicle, any of these happened:
- The same problem was in the shop two or more times, it could cause death or serious injury, and you told the manufacturer about it.
- The same problem was in the shop four or more times.
- The vehicle was out of service more than 30 days total for warranty repairs. The days do not have to be in a row.
Missing that window does not end your claim. The presumption is a shortcut, not a wall. The real question is whether Land Rover had a fair chance to fix the camera and did not, while the vehicle was still under its 4-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle warranty. If your SUV is in that range and the camera has been back more than once, call us.
What should Range Rover owners do now?
- Check your VIN. Use the NHTSA recall lookup or call a Land Rover dealer to confirm your Range Rover is included.
- Report the problem now. Do not wait for the December letter. If your camera image is blurry, flickering, or black, schedule a service visit and describe it in your own words.
- Get a repair order every time. It should list your complaint, the date, the mileage, and what the dealer did. If they could not duplicate it, have them write that down.
- Take video. A short phone clip of the dark screen on a rainy morning is strong proof.
- Track the days. Note every day the SUV sits at the dealer, including days waiting for parts.
Our checklist of five documents to collect before filing a lemon law claim explains what to keep and why.
What can you get if your Range Rover is a lemon?
If your Range Rover qualifies, you get a choice. Land Rover may have to buy the vehicle back, which means refunding what you paid, including your down payment, monthly payments, and loan payoff, minus a deduction for the miles you drove before the first repair visit. Or Land Rover may have to replace it with a comparable new vehicle.
Leased Range Rovers are covered too, and many in Los Angeles County are leased. The paperwork looks a little different because the leasing company owns the vehicle, but the manufacturer can still be required to take the SUV back and refund what you paid under the lease. The law also makes the manufacturer pay your attorney's fees when you win, which is why you pay nothing out of pocket to have us take on Land Rover.
Frequently asked questions
My Range Rover camera works on dry days but fails in the rain. Does that count?
Yes, it can. The defect is water getting into the camera, so an on-and-off problem is exactly what this recall describes. Report it every time and get a repair order. A pattern of "works sometimes" visits can still add up to a reasonable number of repair attempts.
The dealer already replaced my camera once. Can I still make a claim?
Possibly. One successful repair usually is not enough on its own. But if the replacement camera fails too, or the vehicle has had other warranty problems, the full repair history matters. Bring us your records and we will review them at no charge.
My Range Rover is a 2022 with more than 18,000 miles. Am I too late?
Not necessarily. The 18-month, 18,000-mile rule is only a presumption that makes a case easier. Claims can still succeed later if the problem was reported while the vehicle was under warranty. Recent changes to California's lemon law added new deadlines and steps, so talk to an attorney soon rather than wait.
Do I have to let Land Rover do the recall repair first?
You should let the dealer attempt the fix. Refusing repairs can hurt a lemon law claim. The recall repair is free, and if it does not solve the problem, that failed attempt becomes part of your case.
Talk to a Glendale lemon law attorney about your Range Rover
Khachikyan Law Firm, APC, also known as Lemon Busters, handles California lemon law claims for drivers in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, the San Fernando Valley, and across Los Angeles County. If your Range Rover's backup camera keeps failing, we can review your repair history and tell you where you stand. No fee unless we win.
Call (747) 946-5884 or contact us online for a free consultation. Available 24/7. Hablamos español.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; every case depends on its own facts.