Update: Rearview mirror camera caused Cybertruck windshield replacement!?

[CWiley]

Question is... Shall I now trust them to install the light bar. The reason I was there in the first place!?



Great community here, guys! Thank you all for your comments and input. Because of your input and suggestions, I was able to correct the issue:

I remounted the rearview mirror camera, entered the service menu, and calibrated the FSD cameras. I took the truck out for a 15 to 20-minute drive, giving the cameras time to re-calibrate, and everything was normal. There are no error messages on the screen. FSD is again available. All is well.

That service tech, though well-meaning, needs more training. All the truck needed was a camera calibration. He should never have touched the camera. His evaluation that the sky was falling was speculation, opinion, and shade tree, and he had no technical training foundation to support it.




Has anyone else experienced similar issues after installing a rearview mirror camera?

I made a service appointment to have the Tesla OME light bar installed:
Tesla's service department did not install the light bar, claiming that the third-party rearview mirror camera was too heavy, causing the components under the triangle area housing the FSD cameras and other components to separate from the windshield. The only fix is to replace the windshield.

Tesla service claims that the weight of the rearview mirror camera has pulled the area housing the FSD cameras away from the windshield so much that it has caused the front FSD camera to lose calibration. The service department claims the only fix is to replace the entire windshield, as the laminated area separated from the windshield cannot be repaired. The Tesla service department suggests that I not re-install the camera once the windshield is replaced at my own expense (because it is a third-party installation ). I’m calling it bull that the camera's weight is so heavy that it has pulled the laminate off the window, causing the issue with the FSD cameras.

I thought it was strange that a service tech called me at 10:54 a.m. to ask, “When did you have the camera installed?” without offering additional information about the light bar installation. After I gave them an approximate date, they then informed me that, yes, that is the date that the issue first appeared in our records for your truck.

The whole story:

Saturday: I set an 11 O’clock appointment (Sat. 1/18/ 2025) to install the Tesla OME light bar. Service informed me sometime after 2 p.m. that they would be unable to install the light bar that day because the experienced technician was not present, and they did not want to damage my truck. I was aggravated that they waited until 2 p.m. to tell me ( I got off work at 7 a.m. and had to return at 7 p.m.), but I could respect the techs, admitting they did not have enough experience to complete the job. I was offered a courtesy car, and I was given the option to leave the truck and pick it up on Monday with the light bar installed by their expert Cybertruck service guy.

Monday: The Tesla service department did not communicate with me until I messaged them via the Tesla app around 5:30 p.m., asking if the service completion time of 5:45 p.m. in the app was valid. After receiving the “your service is complete” message, I returned the courtesy car to pick up my truck. The light bar was not installed, and the rearview mirror was hanging by its wires. The mirror was fully installed and working when I left the truck at the Tesla service department.

I inquired why the light bar was not installed, why the mirror was hanging by its wires, and if they were having problems, why they didn’t communicate that to me before my arrival to pick up a finished product. First, I was told they could not re-install the mirror they removed without me signing a waiver because it is a third-party device. Second, the windshield would have to be replaced because the damage caused by the weight of the third-party rearview mirror could not be repaired.

It's unacceptable. Please reinstall the mirror that you removed because I don’t want to accept the truck back in that condition. They refused without me signing a waiver. I would not sign a waiver. I did not sign a waiver for them to remove it. They say I did when I signed the service agreement. I wanted to leave the truck and keep the courtesy car, but they refused; with no longer a warranty issue, you’re on your own as to how you get home or take the truck as is or call other transportation. I complained about the service to no avail.


They claim that the components under the triangle plastic area have pulled away from the windshield due to the weight of the third-party mirror, causing the FSD cameras to fail calibration. They gave me the truck back with the rearview mirror camera hanging by its wires. According to them, the windshield would have to be replaced anyway.

Red arrows point to the area they say is separating from the windshield... due to the weight of the rearview mirror camera.

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[ShockAuto]

I’ve installed the hannshow one on my YT channels and my own custom one, radar detectors and more, so in my personal opinion and experience this is absolutely ridiculous. At this point I’d attempt to glue that part back yourself, no need to replace the entire windshield

 

[REDNAVE]

So confused why they messed with the mirror in the first place. Regardless, what’s FSD camera have to do with adhering the light bar to the outside of the glass?!
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.

 

[JCERRN]

Too bad they turn off the cars cameras during service.

 

[CWiley]

So confused why they messed with the mirror in the first place. Regardless, what’s FSD camera have to do with adhering the light bar to the outside of the glass?!
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.

That was my question. Why were you in there in the first place?

 

[CWiley]

So confused why they messed with the mirror in the first place. Regardless, what’s FSD camera have to do with adhering the light bar to the outside of the glass?!
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.

And thank you.

 

[REDNAVE]

That was my question. Why were you in there in the first place?

Did you sign anything before the work? I had to sign for all the mods in my CT while they investigated a running bar issue (it somehow came unplugged ?) if you didn’t sign then I’d kindly ask why they obviously touched that area without consent, and where’s their proof that any alleged delamination was present before they touched it.

 

[YukonJack]

Very odd and seems unrelated to the installation of the lightbar. Even if it was loose before they received it why would that stop them from installing the lighbar?

I'm not aware they need to get into that area for any adjustments? The lightbar doesn't get glued down far enough to interfere with any of those components. Did they bump into it; investigate the connection; try and disconnect it and fail?

SC don't like cameras and the likelyhood they looked for a power cord to disconnect is high. With the power cord typically coiled up inside the triangle panel its not an easy task to just pull the power cord. Any chance you have video from the rearview camera showing was happend?

Assume your using a SC near Atlanta, GA? One of the SC I tried to get mine installed at said they were not trained or equiped for glueing the lightbars.

Sorry this happened. Try and escallate.

Let us know how this progresses.

 

[Deleted member 17810]

Wasn't there a service by bulletin for the camera housing falling by itself?it was all over the forums a few months ago.

 

[raulx]

I love Tesla cars but I fckng despise their service centers and scummy techs, here is another example why.

 

[CWiley]

I’ve installed the hannshow one on my YT channels and my own custom one, radar detectors and more, so in my personal opinion and experience this is absolutely ridiculous. At this point I’d attempt to glue that part back yourself, no need to replace the entire windshield

Thank you. This is my contention. I watched various installations of this very same camera and updates on how they love the camera after several months. I have seen no occurrence of the camera's weight pulling anything off the windshield.
The camera, however, is apparently out of calibration. I get an intermittent screen message; I don't remember exactly what it says, 'Self-driving awareness not available. May return on your next drive.' I will calm down a little before I return to service. I will send the service manager a letter rather than a confrontation. I will decide how to follow up based on his/her response.

 

[CWiley]

Did you sign anything before the work? I had to sign for all the mods in my CT while they investigated a running bar issue (it somehow came unplugged ?) if you didn’t sign then I’d kindly ask why they obviously touched that area without consent, and where’s their proof that any alleged delamination was present before they touched it.

I was there to have the light bar installed. I signed that service ticket. I received the truck back with the camera hanging by the wires. They refused to put it back without me signing a waiver. I would not sign a waiver. What I think happened. I installed that camera, and I know the screw that holds the mirror was complex to install. They took it off, probably attempted to reinstall it, found out how hard it was, and decided they needed a waiver if they messed something up. Just my thoughts...

 

[CWiley]

Too bad they turn off the cars cameras during service.

Yes it is...

 

[REDNAVE]

I was there to have the light bar installed. I signed that service ticket. I received the truck back with the camera hanging by the wires. They refused to put it back without me signing a waiver. I would not sign a waiver. What I think happened. I installed that camera, and I know the screw that holds the mirror was complex to install. They took it off, probably attempted to reinstall it, found out how hard it was, and decided they needed a waiver if they messed something up. Just my thoughts...

Is a camera cleaning mentioned anywhere on your service ticket, that could explain why they were messing around in that area. But that makes sense that they just got spooked by the difficulty of getting that screwed back in. Will they let you reattach it so they can continue?

during my digital mirror install my FSD cameras became uncalibrated, I had to remove the screw, optimize my wire management and then carefully put it back up without over tightening. I found it best to pull up the camera view in the settings to make sure that the camera was not pushed up too high. After a 10 minute recalibration everything worked again.

 

[CWiley]

Very odd and seems unrelated to the installation of the lightbar. Even if it was loose before they received it why would that stop them from installing the lighbar?

I'm not aware they need to get into that area for any adjustments? The lightbar doesn't get glued down far enough to interfere with any of those components. Did they bump into it; investigate the connection; try and disconnect it and fail?

SC don't like cameras and the likelyhood they looked for a power cord to disconnect is high. With the power cord typically coiled up inside the triangle panel its not an easy task to just pull the power cord. Any chance you have video from the rearview camera showing was happend?

Assume your using a SC near Atlanta, GA? One of the SC I tried to get mine installed at said they were not trained or equiped for glueing the lightbars.

Sorry this happened. Try and escallate.

Let us know how this progresses.

The service tech was going down a rabbit hole for another issue, which the truck was not there for. However, he claims he was doing me a favor because the light bar is a permanent attachment. With the cameras out of calibration and, in his opinion, the windshield replacement the only solution, he supposed he was saving me from wasting a light bar installation. Assuming I would have to replace the windshield. He took the camera down to investigate the FSD camera calibration. It may be honorable, but he causes a definite problem for me, trying to prevent a possible problem. I requested the truck back as I left it with them, whole, concerning the rearview camera. It was a tough install, and when I completed it, I never wanted to see that install again!

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