Tesla has issued a recall of 125,227 vehicles in the United States. This step was taken in response to discovering a problem in the Tesla seat belt warning system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the recall on Friday, claiming an elevated risk of injury in an accident owing to the flaw.
Tesla: Noncompliance with Federal Safety Requirements
According to the NHTSA, the affected automobiles do not meet federal safety standards. When the driver is not buckled in, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not function properly. Noncompliance with FMVSS No. 208, S7.3(a)(1), which specifies certain signs, may increase the risk of injury during an accident.
The recall impacts several Tesla models, including:
- 2012-2024 Model S
- 2015-2024 Model X
- 2017-2023 Model 3
- 2020-2023 Model Y
These vehicles span a significant production period, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
Tesla: Over-the-Air Software Update Solution
Tesla intends to address the issue with an over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade. This solution will eliminate the reliance on the driver seat occupancy sensor. Instead, the seat belt reminder signals will be activated based on the driver’s buckle and ignition status.
This software upgrade is anticipated to be deployed beginning in June 2024. This strategy enables Tesla to swiftly resolve the issue without having real vehicle servicing appointments.
Discovery and Investigation
The problem was discovered during an internal compliance examination on April 18, 2024. A 2024 Tesla Model X failed to activate its seat belt reminder signals while undergoing tests for UNECE Regulation No. 16.
Following this revelation, Tesla launched a detailed inquiry from April 22 to May 14, 2024. The company used fleet query analytics to calculate the number of affected vehicles. The recall decision was made on May 20, 2024, after 104 warranty claims were identified as potentially related to the problem.
Previous Recalls and Investigations
This isn’t Tesla’s first recall this year. In January, the company recalled 200,000 Model S, X, and Y vehicles owing to a software flaw that could impair drivers’ visibility when reversing. In April, Tesla recalled 3,878 Cybertrucks to address an issue with the accelerator pedal pad.
Additionally, US auto safety regulators are investigating whether Tesla’s December recall of nearly 2 million vehicles to install additional Autopilot measures was sufficient. This investigation followed a string of accidents involving Tesla vehicles.
Tesla’s proactive recall of 125,227 vehicles demonstrates the company’s dedication to safety. By correcting the seat belt warning system problem via an OTA software update. Tesla assures that the impacted vehicles satisfy federal safety regulations on time. This recall serves as a reminder of the necessity of adhering to safety rules and ongoing efforts in the automotive industry to ensure vehicle safety.
