Tesla is recalling nearly 363,000 of its electric cars because flaws in the complete version of its self-driving software could cause problems, according to a US government regulator.
The recall includes some Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2023, as well as Model Ys manufactured between 2020.
Tesla sold 1.3 million vehicles worldwide last year. The recall applies to any vehicle with a beta version of the fully self-driving software, according to a Thursday filing by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tesla charges customers an extra $15,000 for the software.
The safety agency’s recall request poses a new challenge for Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who has repeatedly said the beta software version is almost ready for full release.
It comes as Tesla faces a slowdown evolution in new car deliveries, reduce prices when demand no longer outstrips production.
The automaker’s Autopilot software, a simpler driver-assistance technology than full self-driving software, has been under investigation by the US safety regulator as of 2021.
Autopilot was enabled in 11 cases when a Tesla plowed into the scene of a road crash, injuring a total of 17 people and killing one. program leader remaining last yearand earlier on Thursday, a US labor watchdog received a complaint that some employees working on Autopilot had retaliatory shooting for trying to form a union.
All of the recalled self-driving software is capable of steering and changing lanes, although drivers still need to pay attention to the road and the vehicle.
But the highway safety regulator said the software “may allow vehicles to act unsafely around intersections”. Vehicles can go straight through the intersection from the turn lane, do not stop at the stop sign or drive carelessly at the yellow light. According to the agency, they can also accelerate beyond the posted limit.
Tesla disagreed with the safety regulator’s analysis, but “decided to conduct a voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution,” according to regulatory filings. Tesla found 18 warranty claims between 2019 and 2022 that may be related to this issue.
Owners of the recalled vehicles must be notified by April 15. Tesla plans to release a free, over-the-air software update to fix the problem. The update “will improve the way the FSD beta negotiates certain driving maneuvers,” the filing said.
Musk said on Twitter that the word “recall” is “outdated” and “completely false”, as the problem can be resolved through a software update.
Billionaire speaking at Financial Times event last year that Tesla was “really close to achieving a level of self-driving safety better than humans.”
Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey, Democrats on the Senate transportation committee, welcomed the recall.
“We have long warned that there are serious flaws in Tesla’s software, including the rolling stop feature, that put the public at serious risk,” they said in a statement. “Tesla must finally stop exaggerating the true capabilities of its vehicles.”
