Understanding the Tesla Recall of 2023

A Tesla Recall that began in 2023 continues to be a problem this year. The recall caused nearly all Tesla vehicles sold in the United States to need changes.

What’s the problem with Tesla vehicles? As you might expect, there’s always something causing this automaker to upgrade something. Most recently, the NHTSA pushed the EV automaker to issue recalls for 2.2 million vehicles. These models are being recalled because some of the warning lights on the instrument panel are too small. Thankfully, this is another Tesla issue that can be fixed with programming upgrades and over-the-air changes.

How will Tesla handle this problem?

Because Tesla is a pioneer in over-the-air software programming, this latest recall will be handled much the same way as other recalls of the past. The small warning lights are nothing more than a few lines of computer code that can be altered to ensure the lights are larger and more visible. This new recall covers:

• 2012-2023 Model S
• 2016-2023 Model X
• 2017-2023 Model 3
• 2019-2024 Model Y
• 2024 Cybertruck

Yes, that means almost all vehicles made and sold by Tesla are subject to this recent recall, but owners won’t need to visit a Tesla service center to have the upgrades applied.

Regulations galore

How can the NHTSA force Tesla to issue a recall for these small lights? The font size required by federal safety standards dictates the size of these warning lights. It seems that Tesla should have reviewed this when programming the warning systems into its dashboard-replacing touchscreen, which shows all of the lights and controls for a Tesla-branded vehicle. The brake, park, and antilock brake warning lights are smaller than required by federal safety standards. This makes the information hard to read, which could increase the likelihood of a crash.

When will owners be notified of this recall?

This latest Tesla recall stems from a 2023 investigation by the NHTSA. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by letter beginning March 30. The NHTSA found the problem during a routine safety compliance audit. Thankfully, Tesla hasn’t had any reported crashes caused by this issue but does have three identified warranty claims based on the small font size of these warning lights.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Tesla has had to issue recalls and push to have programming upgraded and improved.

What was the last recall for Tesla?

The Autopilot system, which is poorly named, has been a focus of trouble for Tesla and the NHTSA for several years. In December, the NHTSA directed Tesla to recall more than 2 million vehicles to update the software for the Autopilot system. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of this problem, but it finally came down to a recall. If you think about the numbers, this Autopilot recall impacts nearly as many vehicles as the warning light recall.

What’s the problem with Autopilot?

The NHTSA recently completed a two-year investigation into a series of crashes that occurred while drivers were using the Autopilot system. This system was never designed to allow Tesla vehicles to be fully autonomous, but some drivers got used to this system handling the driving duties. Some of the crashes were deadly, causing drivers to lose their lives because they weren’t paying attention to the road while behind the wheel.

The Autopilot system required drivers to verify they were paying attention, but the methods were inadequate to ensure drivers were actually paying attention. This led to misuse of the system and the deaths of a few drivers who were using this system while driving.

How will Tesla fix the Autopilot system?

The Tesla recall issued in 2023 for the Autopilot system to add upgraded controls that encourage drivers to continuously pay attention while driving. Although this could force more drivers to pay attention, it doesn’t fix the most important problem with the system: reacting to stopped vehicles. In many of the investigated crashes, the Tesla vehicle crashed into a vehicle that was stopped.

Although Tesla has consistently maintained that Autopilot and the Full Self-Driving system cannot drive vehicles without human intervention, the company hasn’t done anything to change the names, which suggests these systems can drive these cars without human intervention.

Another Tesla recall from 2023 was issued for 363,000 vehicles with the Full-Self-Driving system because it can misbehave around intersections and doesn’t always follow speed limits. This most recent Tesla recall is probably not the end of the NHTSA’s work to make this fledgling automaker much safer.