2010-2014 Subaru Outback Backup Camera Replacement

My 2014 Subaru Outback intermittently failed with a distorted, and sometimes black picture, until it failed for good with an almost black picture. The display still had the alignment lines overlay so I highly suspected that the problem was the camera itself, and not anything in the radio, or connection. Some research indicated that this is a known problem where water got into the camera.

I called a couple of dealers for estimates but none would give one without running a diagnostic for upwards of $250, which would be applied towards the repair. One dealer did quote the price of the camera at $300. I bought an OEM camera online for about $180 with shipping (see link below).

I did some more research to see if I can do it myself. All indications were that it was a bit of a pain, which it was, but didn’t seem too difficult, which it wasn’t, so I decided to tackle the fix myself. I figured, I couldn't make it much worse, except for maybe not being able to put the disassembled parts back.

To get access to the camera assembly, the Tailgate Garnish must be removed (see picture, above).

This Instructable summarizes the information that I found on the internet, and gives helpful hints based on my experience performing the repair.

Supplies

• Subaru 2010-2014 Legacy Outback Rear View Backup Camera Part Number 86267AJ10B.https://www.discountpartsmonster.com/oem-parts/subaru-genuine-subaru-2010-2014-legacy-outback-rear-view-backup-camera-86267aj10b. There are other suppliers, so shop around. Just search for "86267AJ10B".
• Ratchet
• 8 mm deep socket - e.g., https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-Drive-6-Point-Socket-SHD13108/dp/B07R9FLBD2
• Socket Extension
• Auto Trim Removal Tool Set - e.g., https://www.amazon.com/Tresalto-Auto-Trim-Removal-Tool/dp/B01L8GHB7O/
• (Optional) Poster Putty - e.g., https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Reusable-Removable-Mounting-1436912/dp/B000BQMFEC/
• (Optional) Painter’s Tape

References

• Part names: https://parts.subaru.com/Subaru_2014_Outback/interior.html
• Removing trim: https://youtu.be/WXlM1HzzXts?t=71
• Relacing camera tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzkkcfpejKY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwAgOcaeCXA.
• Discussions: https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/backup-camera-not-working.41729/page-3

• Take pictures as you go.
• Use plastic trim removal tools to avoid damaging trim.
• Mark the nut access holes in the door panel with pieces of painters tape to easily find where to reinstall the nuts.
• Keep the nuts from falling out of the socket by making the socket sticky with, for example, poster putty, or by friction by stuffing a piece of paper towel in the socket. This hint should be used for both removing and replacing the nuts. For more details, see my Instructable: https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Keep-a-Nut-in-Socket-Wrench/
• Be careful, or avoid using power drill/driver to prevent dropping the nuts behind the door panel. A ratchet works fine.
• Put nuts and screws in a plastic compartmented container.

To get access to the camera assembly, the Garnish Tailgate (Rear Gate) must be removed. This involves removing the interior trim panels.

• Open the tailgate.
• Wedge a trim removal tool or blunt blade such as a scraper under the handle screw cover, as shown. (Looks like someone who worked on my car previously was not as careful )-: .)
• Open the screw cover flap.
• Remove the screw.
• No need to remove the handle portion.

• Use trim removal tools to loosen the upper liftgate trim piece.
• Pull trim to remove trim. Some force is needed to remove the clips.
• Put this trim piece aside.

• Pull both side liftgate trim pieces to remove trim from the liftgate. Some force is needed to remove the clips.
• Put the these trim piece aside.

• With a Phillips screwdriver, partially unscrew the plastic clips that attach the large liftgate trim piece, on both the left and right sides.
• Remove the plastic clips from each side. Set aside in compartmented container.
• Pull lower liftgate trim to remove trim. Some force is needed to remove the clips (white clips shown in above pictures).
• Put the lower liftgate trim piece aside.

Remove the left and right liftgate trim at the rear lights. These are attached with clips, as shown. Pull trim straight out, with some force. This trim covers two nuts that are attached to the garnish (which need to be removed), and two nuts that attach the rear light (which do not need to be removed).

• Prepare socket, as described in Step 1, above, to prevent nut from falling out of the socket.
• Remove nuts that are used to attach the garnish. Some nuts are deep inside of the holes in the liftgate. Carefully remove the nuts from the screws, to prevent the nuts from falling inside the liftgate panel.
• No need to remove nuts that are attached to the rear lights (marked with red X, in Step 6, above).
• Optionally mark the removed-nut location with a piece of painters tape, to easily find these location when reattaching the nuts.

After removing the nuts from the garnish, the garnish is still attached to the liftgate panel with blue/green soft clips. The garnish is highlighted in the picture, above. Pull the garnish with some force to release these clips. I also used needle nose pliers to squeeze the blue/green clips to make it easier to remove, but that may not be necessary.

Do not remove the yellow clips; these are used to attach the rear lights, which do not need to be removed.

With the garnish removed, the camera assembly can be replaced.

• If not already done, remove the nuts attached to the old camera assembly.
• Disconnect the camera assembly connection.
• Pull out the old camera assembly.
• Put in the new camera assembly and attach to the existing connector.

With the new camera attached, and the garnish and trim pieces still off of the liftgate, test the new camera.

• Turn on car.
• Put foot on brake pedal.
• Put car into Reverse.
• Verify that camera is working as expected.
• Put car into Park.
• Turn off car.

• Prepare socket, as describe above, to prevent nuts from falling out.
• Reattach the nuts to the camera assembly.
• Reattach garnish to liftgate by pressing its blue/green clips into the liftgate.
• Replace all remaining nuts.

Replace the trim pieces in the opposite order in which they were removed.

I am not a mechanic. I do not perform any of my own car maintenance, but I was able to fix my rearview camera by myself.

I was a bit nervous about taking apart the liftgate trim, fearing I would break something and not be able to put it back together, or I would lose nuts in the door panel. I took my time, and was successful. It took me about 45 minutes to remove the trim, about 1.5 hours to remove the garnish and replace the camera. It took a while because I took off unneccessary parts/nuts, and I was being extra careful. Replacing the trim was relatively quick. If I had to do it again, it would probably be half the time, especially since I now have instructions!

When I reviewed pictures of the backup camera display, the image looked backwards. I thought something was wrong with the camera. Then I realized when you look in the rearview mirror, it is a mirror image, of course! So, the display looks correct when I sat in the driver's seat, but the picture of the display looked backwards! Funny how the (my?) brain works.

I hope this helps you to replace your camera.

Barry