Tesla recalls cars over faulty windows, injury risk

Austin, TX – October 1, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 1,096,762 vehicles whose malfunctioning windows may hurt the occupants when closing.

The recall involves the following models: 

  • 2017 – 2022 Tesla Model 3
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model S
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model X
  • 2020 – 2022 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary

Tesla cars use an automatic reversal system for safety on their power-activated windows. If the window encounters an obstacle while closing, it retracts.

In the affected vehicles, the automatic reversal system may not react correctly when it hits an obstacle. It may exert too much force before it stops or retract less than it should.

Recall risks

If the window continues to close when it encounters an obstacle, such as an outstretched body part,  it could cause an injury.

 Other Tesla recalls and investigations

In June 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) escalated its investigation of Teslas crashing into stopped emergency vehicles after it discovered additional crashes that were not associated with emergency scenes. The goal of the investigation is to figure out whether the measures Tesla currently uses to ensure that the driver is paying attention to the road are sufficient.

One of the most recent Tesla Model S recalls occurred in April 2022, when the automaker recalled 594,717 vehicles over a failure to warn pedestrians of the cars’ largely silent approach.

Repair

Dealers will release an over-the-air (OTA) firmware update to the affected vehicles, calibrating the automatic reversal system to safely retract when hitting an obstacle. There will be no cost to owners for this update.

Affected owners will be notified on or around November 15, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 1 million Tesla vehicles are affected by this Tesla automatic window issue. To see if your vehicle is included, run a Tesla recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloTesla recalls cars over faulty windows, injury risk

Tesla issues recall due to loss of access to essential functions

Austin, TX – May 21, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 129,960 vehicles because the infotainment system’s central processing unit (CPU) may overheat, resulting in a loss of access to essential functions, such as warning lights.

This increases the risk of a crash or injury.

The recall includes the following models:

  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model S
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model X
  • 2022 Tesla Model 3
  • 2022 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary

During the fast-charging process, the infotainment CPU — the processing unit that controls the screen display — may fail to cool down properly due to a firmware issue. The excess heat can slow down the CPU or trigger a restart. As a result, the center screen may lag or go blank.

Recall risks

If the center screen is not functioning properly, the driver may be unable to view features such as the rearview camera image, the gear selection screen, windshield visibility control settings and warning lights. This increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Warning signs

The Tesla infotainment system’s display may lag or appear blank.

Other Tesla recalls

A recent 2022 Tesla Model 3 recall,  announced in May, involved the failure to display the unit of speed (miles per hour or kilometers per hour). The recall also included the 2018 – 2021 model years. 

In April, the 2017 – 2022 models of the same vehicle were recalled for a second time over a faulty pedestrian warning system

Another recall that Tesla issued in April was over airbags that may fail to deploy. The 2021 – 2022 Model X vehicles were part of this recall.

The repair

Tesla started deploying an over-the-air (OTA) software update to address the overheating of the CPU on May 3 at no cost to owners. It is not clear if the update has been rolled out to all affected cars as of the time of this publication.

Owners can expect to receive further communication from Tesla regarding the repair program by July 1, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 130,000 Tesla vehicles are included in this recall. To see if your vehicle is one of them, perform a Tesla recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiTesla issues recall due to loss of access to essential functions

Tesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Austin, TX – April 23, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 7,289 of 2021-2022 Tesla Model X vehicles whose front airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are rolled down. This reduces the level of protection during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.  

Recall summary  

Tesla vehicles that are affected by this recall have airbags on their A-pillars whose purpose is to protect occupants in front seats in case of an accident. Due to a design flaw, these airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are lowered when the accident happens

The components in question are front-row curtain airbags, with part numbers 1036759-00-G for the right-hand airbag and 1036756-00-G for the left-hand one. 

Recall risks

In a collision, the passenger front-row curtain airbags may not deploy as intended, which reduces the level of their protection,  increasing the risk of an injury. 

Other Tesla Model X Recalls

Apart from this issue with Tesla Model X airbags, these vehicles may have been a part of some of the previous recalls. This includes issues with the pedestrian warning system and frosted-up windshields

The repair

Dealers will solve this issue on affected vehicles by replacing both left and right front row curtain airbags free of charge. Replacement parts are designed in a way that prevents improper deployment. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on June 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Tesla airbag recall affects more than 7,000 vehicles. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicTesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Tesla recalls vehicles due to frosted-up windshields

Austin, TX  – February 13, 2022 –  Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 26,681 sedans and SUVs whose windshields may fail to defrost or defog. This limits driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

This is the company’s fifth recall this year, which affects the following vehicles;

  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model 3
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model S
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model X
  • 2021 – 2022 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary  

All vehicles that are a part of this recall have a heat, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), whose job is to heat and cool the car as needed. Due to a software error, the system may fail to defrost or defog the windshield and also “cause the loss of cabin heating.

Recall risks

A fogged up or a frosted up windshield may limit driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Warning signs

If the defrosting feature is not working properly, the driver will get a corresponding warning message from the HVAC system. In addition, drivers may notice that the windshield is fogged up.  

Other Tesla recalls 

This is Tesla’s fifth recall this year. There was a Model Y recall earlier this month – which also included Model 3, S and X – because of a feature that allowed these cars to “roll” through a stop sign under certain conditions. The automaker already disabled the feature thanks to an over-an-air (OTA) update.

You can read about other recent recalls and Tesla investigations in this article about a recent Tesla recall because of defective seat belt chimes.

The repair

Tesla will take care of this problem by issuing an over-the-air (OTA) firmware update. No Tesla windshield replacement will be necessary. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on April 1, 2022 but it is not clear when the update will be launched.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Tesla defrost recall affects more than 20,000 vehicles. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicTesla recalls vehicles due to frosted-up windshields

Tesla recalls four models over faulty seat belt chime

Austin, TX – February 12, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has issued a recall for 817,143 vehicles across four models over a defective seat belt chime. The absence of an audible reminder to wear the seat belt may cause the driver to operate the vehicle without it, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. 

The recall covers the following models:

  • 2021-2022 Tesla Model S
  • 2021-2022 Tesla Model X
  • 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3
  • 2020-2022 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary

The vehicles have a seat belt chime that activates when the vehicle is started, reminding the driver to fasten the seat belt. This works together with a visual seat belt reminder that can be seen on the vehicle’s dashboard.

If the chime is interrupted when the vehicle was previously used while the seat belt was not fastened, a software error will prevent the chime from sounding off the next time the vehicle is used.  This will happen if, for example, the driver left the vehicle while the chime was still going off with the engine running and then returned.

Recall risks

Drivers may not fasten their seat belts, which augments the risk of an injury in a crash.

While the chime will go off at speeds over 13.7 miles per hour (mph), this may not give the driver enough time to fasten the belt before an accident occurs.

Other Tesla recalls 

The latest Tesla seat belt recall is the electric vehicle maker’s fourth, barely two months into 2022. There was a Tesla Model 3 recall  spanning more than 356,000 vehicles in early January over faulty rearview cameras. This was followed by a Tesla Model S recall involving over 119,000 units for hoods that may open while the vehicle is traveling, obscuring the driver’s view.

The third advisory concerned over 53,000 Tesla vehicles over a “rolling stop” feature that allowed them to go through a stop sign without halting completely, presenting a higher risk of collision with other road users.   

In addition to the recalls, the automaker is subject to two investigations, including one for potentially allowing drivers to play video games on the front console while on the road.

The repair

Tesla already released new firmware to correct the software error, enabling the chime to go off. The firmware update was deployed over-the-air (OTA) to the affected vehicles in late January and early February.

Owners will also receive letters with more information on April 1, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 800,000 vehicles are included in this Tesla recall. To do a Tesla recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloTesla recalls four models over faulty seat belt chime