Almost All Teslas Are Being Recalled. Here’s Why

Tesla has recently announced a recall of most of their vehicles in the US.

This is one of Tesla’s bigest recalls in 2023, and involved over 2 million vehicles in the United States.

This recall, focusing on the Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system, aimed to install new safeguards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted the system’s susceptibility to “foreseeable misuse,” raising concerns about driver attention when using Autopilot.

Tesla’s Autopilot, designed for steering, acceleration, and braking within lanes, faced scrutiny for possibly not ensuring sufficient driver engagement.

The NHTSA’s investigation, spanning more than two years, led to Tesla agreeing to deploy a software update. This update would introduce “additional controls and alerts” to encourage drivers to maintain responsibility while using Autosteer, a component of Autopilot.

Ann Carlson, the acting NHTSA administrator, emphasised the importance of driver monitoring systems considering “humans over-trust technology.” This sentiment reflects the broader challenges faced by auto manufacturers as they balance technological advancement with safety.
 

A Series of Recalls

 
Tesla’s journey through 2023 was marked by various recalls, affecting a wide range of models from the Model X to Semi trucks. The reasons for these recalls were diverse, including issues with the Full Self-Driving Beta software, improperly tightened bolts, and misaligned forward-facing cameras.

 

Notable Recalls in Detail

 

Full Self-Driving Beta Software: On February 15, Tesla recalled 362,758 vehicles due to concerns that the software might behave unsafely at intersections.

Model Y Seat Bolts: A recall on February 27 affected 3,470 Model Y vehicles for potentially loose bolts securing the second-row seat back frames.

Semi Truck Parking Brake: March 24 saw a recall of 35 Tesla Semi trucks due to an electronic parking brake issue.

Model X Camera Strength: On April 5, 38 Model X vehicles were recalled over weak camera signal strength.

Model Y Steering Wheel Fastener: On May 30, 137 Model Y vehicles were recalled due to a potentially loose steering wheel fastener.

Semi Truck Door Warning: June 13 involved the recall of 36 Semi vehicles for issues related to the door warning indicator system.

Model 3 and Model Y Battery Disconnect: A recall on June 19 affected 26 vehicles for a potentially defective pyrotechnic battery disconnect.

Each recall, while varying in scale and nature, underscored Tesla’s proactive approach to addressing safety concerns.
 

 

Tesla’s Response and Customer Assurance

 

In response to the Autopilot system recall, Tesla did not entirely agree with the NHTSA’s analysis but cooperated to resolve the investigation.

The over-the-air software update, including additional controls and alerts, began rolling out to affected vehicles from December 12, 2023. Tesla’s approach reflects their commitment to customer safety and adherence to regulatory standards.

Owners of affected vehicles were advised to check their vehicle’s software version and Autopilot hardware configurations through the Tesla mobile app or the vehicle touchscreen.

This transparency in communication aimed to reassure Tesla owners and facilitate the swift resolution of issues.

 

Autopilot: Innovation and Safety

 

Tesla’s Autopilot system, while a hallmark of innovation, has been a focal point of safety discussions. The system, which includes features like Autosteer and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, is intended for limited-access freeways and requires continuous driver engagement.

The 2023 recalls and subsequent software updates represent Tesla’s ongoing efforts to refine this balance between technological advancement and user safety.