Hyundai Sonata Backup Camera Not Working [Causes and Solutions]

Your Hyundai Sonata backup camera used to be reliable. But now, it keeps acting up whenever you turn it on.

If that sounds like you, I’ve explained the steps to take to fix your Hyundai backup camera yourself. Don’t worry if you’ve never repaired a backup camera before, as I’ll show you how to apply each solution in simple steps. Let’s dive in!

First, you should know why your Hyundai Sonata backup camera has stopped working.

Common issues that cause a Hyundai Sonata backup camera to stop working are blown fuses, a faulty head unit, outdated software, and a bad reverse switch. Your Hyundai Sonata backup camera might also stop working because its wires are frayed, or the camera is damaged.

Keep reading to learn how to fix these issues.

Table of Contents

Troubleshooting Hyundai Sonata Backup Camera Problems

Reboot Your Head Unit

A faulty head unit can prevent your Hyundai Sonata backup camera from working.

The head unit controls all the electronic devices on the dashboard, which includes your backup camera. So, any issue with the unit can affect these electronic devices.

You can fix your faulty infotainment system by rebooting it. To reboot your head unit, press and hold the volume knob on the system for 60 seconds. Another way to reboot the unit is to push the tiny button on the bottom right corner of the infotainment screen.

After rebooting your infotainment system, check if your backup camera is working. If the device isn’t working, move on to the next step.

Update Your Infotainment System

Does your backup camera only work intermittently? If so, there might be a software bug in your infotainment system. This bug causes the backup camera to malfunction: showing a blank screen sometimes and displaying the correct rear-view image at other times. Several backup cameras also show the wrong picture when the system is corrupted.

To solve this problem, you’ll need to update your infotainment system software.

Follow these steps to update the infotainment system software in your Hyundai Sonata:

Get a USB drive or SD card with about 32GB.
Open the browser on your computer.
Then enter the URL: https://update.hyundai.com/
Click on Navigation Updater Download.
You’ll see two download buttons: one for Windows devices, and the other for Mac devices.
Tap on the suitable download button for your device.
The file will start downloading.
After downloading and installing the file to your system, open it.
Then, sign in to your Hyundai account.
Click on Sonata on the dropdown list on the screen.
Select your model year and tap on Ok.
Now, you need to choose the location where you want to save the update file.
Plug the empty USB drive into your computer.
The flash drive name will appear on the screen.
Click on the flash drive and tap Next.
The system will ask if you want to format the USB drive.
Click on Yes to continue.
After formatting your USB drive, your Uconnect system will upload your software update file to the drive.
Disconnect your flash drive from your computer.
Insert the drive into the USB port directly below your infotainment screen.
The system will read the USB drive.
Then, it will ask if you want to start the update.
Tap Ok to confirm that you want to start the update.
Next, press the Start button to continue with the update.
A screen showing the update details will appear.
Click on Start Update to continue.
The update will begin now, and it will take about 45 minutes.
Even if you turn off your car, the update will continue in the background.
When you turn your car back on, you’ll see a screen showing you the new features and updates on the system.
You have completed the software update.

Your backup camera will work properly now. If the backup camera stops working again after the update, move on to the next tip.

Check and Replace Blown Fuses in Your Car

Another reason why your backup camera may stop working is a blown fuse. Blown fuses often cause short circuits.

Simply put, a short circuit is a situation where electric current flows through the wrong path. This means that electricity won’t flow to the electronic devices in your car.

Without electricity, your backup camera can’t work. So, you’ll have to fix the short circuit to get the camera to resume working.

You can fix the short circuit by changing the blown fuses in your car. Inspect all the fuses in your vehicle and replace the ones that seem blown. If a fuse is blown, the metal strip inside the fuse will be broken.

When choosing replacement fuses, make sure to select the ones that match the color and amperage of the original fuse.

If your backup camera doesn’t display a clear rear-view image after you’ve replaced the blown fuses in your car, continue to the next step.

Check and Fix Your Reverse Switch

One common issue that prevents the Hyundai Sonata backup camera from working is a bad reverse switch.

When you select the Reverse gear, the reverse switch is triggered. This activates the backup lights, which signal your backup camera to turn on. If your reverse switch is broken, your backup lights will stay off when your gear is in Reverse. As a result, the backup camera won’t work.

You can tell that your reverse switch is broken if your backup lights don’t flicker when you switch to the Reverse gear.

Ask a friend to shift to the Reverse gear while you stand behind your car. Then, check if your backup lights blink as your gear moves to Reverse. If the backup lights don’t turn on, your reverse switch is faulty. In that case, you’ll need to fix the switch.

Here’s how to repair the reverse switch in a Hyundai Sonata:

Locate the reverse switch on your gearbox.
The switch is a round button surrounded by four wires.
Remove the four switch wires from their terminals.
Move your gear to the Drive
Loosen the locknut housing the switch.
Then, rotate your reverse switch to unscrew it from the locknut.
Get a circuit tester with an independent power supply.
Connect the tester to the two reverse light terminals.
The light on the tester will turn on.
Screw in the switch until the tester light goes off.
Mark your reverse switch and gearbox at the point where the light went off.
You can use paint or a bold chalk color to make the mark.
Disconnect your circuit tester from the reverse light terminals.
Then, connect it to the inhibitor terminals.
Screw in the switch until the tester light turns on again.
This time, mark only the gearbox at the point where the light came on.
Screw out your reverse switch until the mark on the reverse switch is halfway between the two marks on the gearbox.
Finally, tighten the locknut holding the switch and reconnect the switch’s wires.

Your reverse switch will resume working after this, and your backup camera should turn on. However, if the camera fails to work after this, try the next tip.

Check and Repair Frayed Wires on the Camera

If you’ve been using your backup camera for a while, the camera’s wires might be frayed. Frayed wires can prevent your backup camera from working.

Although the back of your trunk is the only proper location for your backup camera, it doesn’t do much good for the camera’s wires. The force you apply whenever you open or close the trunk causes the wires to weaken. Eventually, these wires become loose and break apart.

If your backup camera’s wires are broken, you’ll need to splice them with new wires.

The tools you’ll need for the wire splice are a pair of pliers, a soldering iron, a wire stripper, and a new connector for your camera.

Follow these steps to splice the frayed wires on your Hyundai Sonata backup camera:

Open up your trunk.
Cut off the wires in the fraying area with your pliers.
Disconnect your camera’s connector from the trunk.
Grab the new connector.
Use your wire stripper to remove a small amount of insulation on your camera’s and connector’s wires.
Twist both wires together.
Heat your soldering iron.
Feed solder from the top of the wires.
Place your soldering iron under the twisted wires.
Drag your solder and soldering iron across the twisted wires until every area is soldered.
Now, wait for the solder to melt.
Insulate the spliced wires with black tape to complete the process.

Your backup camera should be back to normal now. But if you still discover an issue with the camera, continue to the next step.

Replace Your Backup Camera

If you’ve applied all the tips above, yet your backup camera keeps acting up, the camera might be dead. As such, you’ll need to replace it.

You’ll need a screwdriver, a panel removal tool, a right angle pick tool, and a 10mm socket and ratchet.

Follow these steps to replace your Hyundai Sonata backup camera:

Open up your trunk.
Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the clips on the trim piece inside your trunk.
Then, pop them out with a panel removal tool.
Next, locate the pull handle on the trunk.
Pry out the handle with your flathead screwdriver.
You’ll find two Phillips screws inside the handle.
Take out these screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
You can now remove the trim piece.
This will reveal your backup camera, which is located behind your lock cylinder.
Using a 10mm socket, remove the bolts attached to the silver plate on your lock cylinder.
Pull out the cylinder.
You’ll be able to access the camera now.
Push your camera assembly outward.
Then, press in the clips holding down the assembly with a right-angle pick tool.
Unplug the camera’s connector from the device.
Now, close your trunk.
Locate the panel that houses your backup camera at the back of the trunk.
Use the panel removal tool to pry out the panel.
Detach the panel from your car.
Turn over the panel.
Remove the four screws mounted on the backup camera with a Phillips screwdriver.
Take out the camera from the panel.
Insert your new backup camera into the panel.
Re-install the screws and bolts you took out earlier.

Video tutorial:

Your new backup camera should work properly.

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Wrapping Up

If you apply the tips in the correct order, you’ll be able to fix your backup camera. However, if the backup camera is still malfunctioning, contact your dealer.