Nearly a quarter-million Ram 1500 pickups on U.S. roads may lose their backup camera feed at the worst possible moment. Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a radio software error on certain 2025 and 2026 Ram 1500 trucks can prevent the rearview image from appearing when you shift into Reverse. Campaign 26V560 (Chrysler recall number 83D) covers an estimated 239,131 vehicles and is classified as a rear-visibility compliance issue, not a mechanical camera failure.
Which Ram 1500 trucks are affected
The recall applies to 2025 and 2026 Ram 1500 half-ton pickups built between October 6, 2023, and February 23, 2026. Trucks assembled after that window received updated radio software and are outside the affected population. Stellantis narrowed the scope using production records and warranty data after field reports of blank backup-camera screens surfaced in early 2026.
If you drive a Ram 2500 or 3500 heavy-duty model, a Ram Classic, or an older-generation 1500, this specific campaign does not apply. Always confirm with your VIN rather than guessing from the model year alone.
Why a blank screen violates federal safety rules
Backup cameras are mandatory equipment on new light vehicles, but the legal requirement goes further than mounting a lens on the tailgate. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, Rear Visibility, requires the rearview image to appear at the start of each backing maneuver and to meet minimum field-of-view and image-size thresholds. When software prevents that image from loading, the truck is technically noncompliant even if the camera hardware itself is intact.
NHTSA's filing notes that Chrysler identified no dashboard warning when the image fails to display. That makes the defect easy to miss during a quick driveway test: the screen may work on Monday and go dark on Tuesday after a software glitch. Because a missing rearview feed reduces visibility behind a vehicle that can exceed 19 feet in length, regulators treat the condition as a crash-risk issue rather than a convenience problem.
What owners should do right now
- Check your VIN. Affected VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov/recalls starting September 9, 2026. Enter the 17-character number from your door jamb or registration card.
- Watch for mail. Chrysler expects to begin mailing owner notification letters around September 24, 2026. If you bought used, the letter may still go to a previous owner, so do not wait for paper before checking online.
- Call if you need help. Chrysler customer service is available at 800-853-1403. Reference recall 83D or NHTSA campaign 26V560. The NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline is 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171).
- Back up with extra care until the fix is applied. Walk behind the truck before reversing in driveways, parking lots, and job sites. Use side mirrors and, when available, parking sensors—but do not treat sensors as a substitute for a camera feed that federal rules require to be visible.
Running your truck's VIN through the CarDiary VIN check alongside NHTSA's official recall lookup is a quick way to confirm whether campaign 83D applies before your dealer letter arrives.
The fix: over-the-air update or a dealer visit
The remedy is a radio software update, not a camera replacement. Chrysler will push the correction over the air (OTA) on trucks equipped for wireless updates, or perform the same software flash free of charge at a Ram dealer for units that require a wired download. Because the defect lives in the infotainment stack supplied by Harman Becker Automotive Systems, the repair time is typically measured in minutes rather than hours in the service bay.
OTA recalls are convenient but easy to postpone. If your truck prompts you to install an update, treat it like any other safety recall—delaying the download leaves the blank-screen condition in place. After the update, shift into Reverse several times in a safe location to confirm the camera image loads immediately each time.
Monthly fuel costs while you own a recalled Ram 1500
A software recall does not change what it costs to keep a full-size pickup on the road. According to EPA fuel-economy data at fueleconomy.gov, a 2026 Ram 1500 4WD with the 3.6-liter V6 is rated at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway). The turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane in 4WD posts 20 MPG combined, while the available 5.7-liter V8 drops to 18 MPG combined on 4WD models using midgrade fuel.
At the AAA national average of roughly $4.48 per gallon for regular gasoline in mid-September 2026 (AAA Fuel Prices), a driver covering 15,000 miles per year in the common 4WD V6 configuration would burn about 714 gallons annually:
- 714 gallons × $4.48 = about $3,200 per year, or roughly $267 per month in fuel alone.
- Stepping up to the 5.7-liter V8 at 18 MPG combined pushes the same mileage to about 833 gallons, or roughly $3,730 per year at midgrade prices that run higher than regular in most states.
Those figures exclude insurance, registration, tires, and financing. They also assume EPA combined mileage; real-world results vary with payload, towing, and winter idle time. You can model your own commute using the CarDiary MPG and fuel cost calculator if your driving mix differs from the EPA test cycle.
Registration and inspection deadlines still apply
A pending recall does not pause state paperwork. Ram 1500 owners must still renew registration on schedule and meet any safety or emissions inspection requirements in their state. If you are unsure when your next inspection window opens, the CarDiary vehicle inspection due date tool tracks deadline rules by state so a software fix in the infotainment stack does not slip past a separate compliance date on your calendar.
How this recall fits the broader Stellantis safety picture
Campaign 26V560 arrived in the same month as other Stellantis actions affecting Jeep and Chrysler family vehicles, including a larger Jeep Grand Cherokee coil-spring recall and additional Ram 1500 notices for different components. Each campaign carries its own NHTSA number, remedy, and VIN list. Fixing the rear-camera software on recall 83D does not automatically address unrelated open recalls on the same truck, which is why a full VIN search remains the safest starting point.
For work-truck fleets running multiple Rams, logging which VINs received the OTA patch—and which still need a dealer flash—prevents a single missed update from leaving a driver backing a 5,000-pound truck blind on a busy job site. Store the confirmation screen or service-ro invoice with your maintenance records once the software update completes.