Over 2 million Teslas recalled, addressed through software update amid growing US scrutiny.
Almost all US-sold Teslas recalled due to undersized instrument panel warning lights.
Friday’s announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recalling almost 2.2 million vehicles, indicates heightened scrutiny on the electric vehicle manufacturer. The agency further revealed an upgraded 2023 investigation into Tesla steering issues, advancing it to an engineering analysis—a step closer to a potential recall.
Documents indicate that the update aims to enhance warnings and alerts for drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights that the brake, park, and antilock brake warning lights currently have a font size smaller than required by federal safety standards. This diminutive size can make crucial safety information challenging to read, elevating the risk of a collision. The NHTSA identified this issue during a routine safety compliance audit on January 8. Although Tesla has recognized three warranty claims potentially linked to the problem, there have been no reports of crashes or injuries.
The recall for the warning lights will be executed through a software update, as per documents released by the agency on Friday. The affected models include the 2012 through 2023 Model S, the 2016 through 2023 Model X, the 2017 through 2023 Model 3, the 2019 through 2024 Model Y, and the 2024 Cybertruck.
Vehicle owners won’t need to take their electric vehicles to a dealership for the recall, as is often the case in the contemporary era. Instead, the process typically involves downloading software patches from home. Tesla has already initiated the release of the software update, and owners will receive notification letters starting from March 30.
Shares of Tesla Inc, which have been on a downward trajectory since July and experienced a decline after the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report last week, dropped an additional 2.7% in early trading on Friday, reaching levels not seen since May of the previous year.
In December, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compelled Tesla to recall over 2 million vehicles to update software and rectify a flawed system designed to ensure drivers are attentive while using Autopilot.
The recall follows a two-year inquiry by the NHTSA into a series of accidents occurring during the use of Tesla’s partially automated Autopilot driving system, some resulting in fatalities.
The agency’s investigation revealed deficiencies in Autopilot’s method of ensuring driver attentiveness, leading to “foreseeable misuse of the system.” The additional controls and alerts introduced through the recall aim to “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility,” as mentioned in the documents.
However, safety experts argue that while the recall is a positive measure, it still places responsibility on the driver and does not address the fundamental issue of Autopilot’s failure to respond to stationary vehicles. They note that Tesla’s driver monitoring system, relying on detecting hands on the steering wheel, does not prevent drivers from disengaging.
Tesla’s website emphasizes that its Autopilot and “full self-driving” systems cannot independently operate the vehicles, and human drivers must remain ready to intervene at all times.
In February of the preceding year, the NHTSA compelled Tesla to recall approximately 363,000 vehicles equipped with its “full self-driving” system due to issues around intersections and non-compliance with speed limits. This recall was part of a broader investigation into Tesla’s automated driving systems, casting doubt on CEO Elon Musk’s assertions that cars with “full self-driving” are safer than human-operated vehicles and rarely require manual intervention. Musk’s earlier commitment to deploying a fleet of autonomous robotaxis by 2020 now appears to be delayed.
Furthermore, Tesla is recalling over 1.6 million Model S, X, 3, and Y electric vehicles exported to China, addressing concerns related to automatic assisted steering and door latch controls. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced this recall in early January, with remote upgrades planned by Tesla Motors in Beijing and Shanghai to rectify the identified problems.
The recall for the automatic assisted steering function addresses the risk of drivers misusing the combined driving function, potentially leading to accidents. Another recall focuses on fixing door unlock logic control in imported Model S and Model X EVs, affecting 7,538 vehicles produced between October 26, 2022, and November 16, 2023, to prevent unintended door opening during collisions.
Tesla, despite being the global leader in electric vehicle sales last year, faced competition from China’s BYD, which outperformed Tesla in the fourth quarter and is the dominant force in the rapidly growing Chinese EV market.
The steering investigation upgrade, disclosed in recent documents, spans over 334,000 Tesla vehicles. This investigation, initiated in July of the previous year after receiving a dozen complaints about steering control loss in 2023 Model Y and 3 vehicles, has since accumulated 115 complaints. An additional 2,176 complaints were received after requesting information from the company. Drivers reported instances of a loss of steering control, often accompanied by messages indicating reduced or disabled power-assisted steering. Complaints ranged from an inability to turn the steering wheel to increased effort required.
