Mazda 3 Backup Camera Not Working [How to Fix]

Did your Mazda 3 backup camera suddenly stop working? Then you may want to fix it immediately.

Sometimes, you don’t need any expertise to fix the issues in a backup camera. You can repair the backup camera yourself, as long as you get a detailed guide on how to do it.

In this post, we’ll outline some handy tips to help you fix your Mazda 3 backup camera. But before we do that, you should know why your backup camera isn’t working.

Here are some common causes of backup camera issues in your Mazda 3:

The Connect system has crashed.
Your hatch opening switch is bad.
Your infotainment system software is outdated.
The camera is damaged.

That said, let’s explore some troubleshooting options to help you resolve this issue.

Table of Contents

Troubleshooting Mazda 3 Backup Camera Issues

Restart Your Mazda Connect System

If your Mazda 3 backup camera doesn’t display your rear-view image when you are reversing, it doesn’t mean that the camera is faulty. Rather, your backup camera might just be showing a blank screen because your infotainment system, the Mazda Connect, has crashed.

Rebooting your infotainment system should fix this problem.

Here’s how to reboot your Mazda Connect:

If you’ve plugged any device into your USB port, remove it first.
Click on the BACK button on your stereo system and hold it.
While still holding the BACK button, press and hold the MUTE button.
Next, search for the NAV button and tap it.
Press and hold these three buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds.
Your infotainment system will go off and turn back on.

Alternatively, you can turn off the ignition and switch it back on to restart your Mazda Connect. But restarting the system using this method rarely fixes a faulty backup camera.

After rebooting your infotainment system, check if the backup camera is working. If you still don’t see any image on the backup camera’s screen, continue to the next tip.

Replace Your Trunk Release Button

Another component in the Mazda 3 car that can cause issues for your backup camera is your trunk release button, otherwise known as a hatch opening switch. Because the trunk release button is wired with the backup camera, the camera may only work intermittently when the button goes bad.

You can tell that your trunk release button is bad if the rubber on the switch is split.

To solve this problem, you’ll need to get a new switch. The hatch opening switch for the Mazda 3 only costs about $72, and you can replace it yourself.

Here’s how to replace the Mazda 3 trunk release button:

First, you’ll need to remove your hood cable release mount, which is located beside the trunk release button.
Look for a tab behind the hood cable release mount.
Use a flathead screwdriver to push up on the tab. Then pull the tab towards you to detach your hood cable release mount.
This should reveal the two mounting screws and the trunk release button to your car.
Remove these screws.
After unbolting the mounting screws, grab the kick panel and pull it out.
The kick panel should be hanging down now.
You’ll notice that a white tab is the only thing holding the kick panel to your head unit. This tab is connected to your trunk release button.
Disconnect your hatch opening switch from the white tab to release the kick panel.
Now, flip over the panel.
You’ll discover two tabs holding the trunk release button to the kick panel.
Use your flathead screwdriver to push up on these tabs.
Your old hatch opening switch should be free now.
Next, remove the replacement switch from its package.
Place your trunk release button in the opening in your kick panel and pull it down until you hear a click.
Reconnect the button to the white tab on your head unit.
Line the bottom of the kick panel to the area where you’ve just removed it and push it back into place.
Insert the mounting screws onto the panel.
Now, line up the tabs on the hood release cable and click it into place.

Your backup camera should be working smoothly now. But if it isn’t, move on to the next step.

Update Your Infotainment System Software

If you’ve been using your Mazda 3 backup camera for a while, the device may malfunction. Mazda creates regular software updates for its infotainment system to ensure the backup camera and other components keep functioning properly.

If your infotainment system software is outdated, your backup camera might stop working. You can fix this issue by updating the software.

Usually, the Mazda Connect system updates its software automatically. But a bug in the system might have canceled the update. In that case, you’ll need to update your infotainment system software manually.

Follow these steps to update your Mazda 3 infotainment software manually:

Tap on Settings from the home screen.
Select System. Then choose Software Update.
Click on Check for Software Updates.
If your current software version is outdated, the system will display the new version.
Click on the Update button to start the update.
Your Mazda Connect will now show the terms of use, which you need to agree with.
Once you’ve agreed to the terms of use, the update will begin.
The update will now start downloading.
After the system has downloaded the update, it will install it.
When the installation is complete, turn off your ignition. Then switch on your engine to enable the update.

Is your backup camera working now? If not, try the next tip.

Replace Your Backup Camera

If none of the tips above fixes your backup camera, the camera might be faulty.

In that case, you’ll need to replace the camera.

Get a new backup camera and ask your technician to do the replacement.

Your backup camera should resume working properly after you’ve replaced it.

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Wrapping Up

If you follow these tips carefully, you may be able to fix your Mazda 3 backup camera after trying the first tip. However, if your backup camera fails to work after you’ve applied all the solutions in this article, contact your dealer for further assistance.