Tesla recalls 435,000 vehicles over ‘defective’ feature that can increase crash risk
TESLA has issued a massive 435,000 vehicle recall over a software defect causing specific models’ position lights not to illuminate.
Side, rear, or front marker lights that fail to activate lower an electric car’s visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Affected Teslas include 142,277 made-in-China Model 3s manufactured between December 27, 2020, and November 7, 2022, and 292,855 made-in-China Model Ys produced between January 1, 2021, and November 11, 2022.
SAMR’s recall report read: “For some vehicles within the scope of this recall, during the process of waking up from the parking state, the software of the vehicle’s position lights may have an error when initializing internal parameters, resulting in the position lights on one or both sides of the rear of the vehicle not being able to light up.”
Tesla will fix the potentially dangerous software defect through an over-the-air update, SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation) reports.
Drivers can now use their Tesla mobile app to download the new software to their car from their phone once it’s available.
Elon Musk’s electric car company previously required customers to enter their car and apply software updates through their car’s touch display.
It marks the 20th recall of the year for the troubled car brand and is the second China recall that Tesla has issued recently.
Musk’s company recalled 80,000 Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles last week over software and seat belt issues.
Only 16% of the 80,000 Teslas recalled last week in China will need a service center visit.
The other 84% of the 80,000 recalled vehicles can be fixed through an over-the-air update.
Tesla has issued 19 recalls in the U.S. so far during 2022, potentially affecting over 3.7million vehicles, U.S. Department of Transportation reports.
