Tesla Inc. is recalling 1.85 million vehicles in the United States because the software failed to detect an unlatched hood, the maker of electric vehicles said. According to NHTSA, Tesla started issuing an over-the-air software update to correct the matter mid-June. In that updated software, an open hood is detected, and this notifies the driver.
The recall involves 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The vehicles, Tesla said, were equipped with a hood latch produced in China by Magna Closures Co Ltd.
The automaker said it started investigating customer complaints of unprompted hood opening instances in certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China in March and initiated a latch hardware recovery and in-service vehicle inspection.
Although less common in Europe and North America, Tesla said it started conducting engineering studies in the regions to inspect hood latch assemblies last month and decided to launch a recall earlier this month.
Tesla said it has three reports of the issue in the United States but no reports of crashes or injuries related to the recall.
It is the company’s largest recall since last December, when it recalled some 2.03 million vehicles in the United States—or nearly all of the company’s cars on U.S. roads at the time—to install new safeguards in its Autopilot system.
Yet after reports of 20 crashes involving vehicles that received the new Autopilot update, NHTSA has launched a probe, describing what it has found about the recall as “several concerns.”.
Tesla last week reported its worst quarterly profit margin in more than five years, highlighting the EV maker’s struggle to revive auto sales amid a slowdown in demand.
Tesla Cars In The United States
The hood latch mechanism is the culprit for a major recall of 1.85 million vehicles announced by Tesla in the U.S. Affected models include 2017 and later units, including Model S and Model 3. A risk this issue poses is that if the hood fails to properly latch, it could obstruct the driver’s view or pose as a road hazard.
Owners affected by the problem are asked to book free repairs via the Tesla app or customer support. The company is acting promptly to rectify the situation and ensure all recalled vehicles are inspected and fixed as soon as possible.
Tesla’s action demonstrates its commitment to vehicle safety and customer satisfaction. For further information, owners can check the recall status of their vehicle on Tesla’s official website.
WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters): Electric carmaker Tesla Inc. opens a new tab and is recalling 1.85 million vehicles in the United States for the risk of software failure to detect an unlatched hood, the automaker said Wednesday.
An unlatched hood could fully open and obstruct the driver’s view, raising the risk of a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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