The present discloser is directed toward a method for detecting misalignment of a belt for a front end accessory drive system. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of optical sensors, multiple images of the belt arranged on a series of pulleys of the drive system. The belt includes a contrast element that is detectable by the optical sensors system and is visually distinct from a color of the belt. The method further includes analyzing, by way of a controller, data indicative of the acquired images to determine whether the contrast element is present in the captured images, and identifying the belt as being misaligned in response to the contrast element being in at least one of the acquired images.