A seat belt defect is forcing Tesla to recall 817,143 vehicles, the problem impacting a range of vehicles across the automaker’s entire product line-up.
It’s the latest in a series of recalls and other actions taken by the automaker dues to potential safety problems in recent weeks and coincides with ongoing investigations into potential problems involving Tesla’s semi-autonomous Autopilot technology.
The good news for the automaker is that it will be able to complete a fix for the latest recall using the over-the-air update capabilities built into its vehicles.
The problem involves the reminder chimes that are supposed to alert drivers who have failed to buckle up. That is considered a defect under FMVSS 208, the safety guidelines used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine whether a full recall is needed.
All four Tesla models impacted
According to NHTSA, “If the audible seat belt reminder chime does not activate at the start of a new drive cycle and the driver does not notice the accompanying visual seat belt telltale, the driver may not be reminded to buckle their seat belt and may begin operating the vehicle in an unbuckled state, which could increase the risk of injury.”
So far, NHTSA added, “Tesla is not aware of any injuries or fatalities related to this condition.”
The recall covers the entire Tesla product lines, Models S, X, 3 and Y produced during the 2021 and 2022 model years. (Tesla doesn’t formally use model year designation but federal regulators do.) It is one of the largest recalls the automaker has ever faced.
The problem was discovered by South Korea’s Automobile Testing and Research Institute last month. NHTSA subsequently confirmed the problem and reached out to Tesla ordering a fix.
The automaker has already begun pushing a software fix using its OTA technology.
Remote control repairs
Tesla has used the remote software update system repeatedly in recent weeks:
- It was pressed by NHTSA last month to delete a feature that allowed motorists to play videogames on their Tesla infotainment screens while driving;
- The safety agency also demanded that Tesla deactivate a new feature on its “Full Self-Driving” system that allowed vehicles to roll through stop signs at speeds up to nearly 6 mph;
NHTSA, meanwhile, is looking into a variety of reported problems with various versions of Autopilot, including a crash in California that resulted in two fatalities. A motorist has been charged with manslaughter in that case. Another investigation is looking at why a number of Teslas operating in Autopilot have slammed into stationary emergency vehicles.
While many of the recent problems Tesla has faced were resolved using OTA software, the automaker has had its share of mechanical problems, as well. In December, it recalled 475,318 Model 3 and Model S sedans to fix defects involving the latches of their frunks, or front trunks. The problem with the Model 3 could cause the vehicle’s backup camera to fail, according to Tesla. With the Model S, the latches could unexpectedly release while driving, causing the hood to fly open.