A “recall” has been issued affecting nearly 362,800 Tesla vehicles over concerns about its Full Self-Driving Beta software.
The cars in question feature Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system that Tesla markets as Full Self-Driving Beta, according to federal safety regulators. The addition of the optional system adds another $15,000 to the vehicle’s price, as per U.S. News & World Report.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a notice on Thursday that on rare occasions, Teslas could violate local traffic laws, posing a potential risk of a crash if a driver does not intervene, according to the Wall Street Journal.
NHTSA said it informed Tesla about concerns over how the system operated under some specific driving situations, such as traveling through a yellow light or through variable speed zones, the WSJ reported.
Tesla said it has had 18 warranty claims possibly linked to these conditions but was not aware of any deaths related to these situations, NHTSA stated, according to PBS.
While Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode can auto-steer and adjust speed, it is not fully autonomous, requiring drivers to remain alert with their hands on the wheel, according to Tesla’s website.
The company says it will issue an over-the-air software update in the next few weeks to improve its Full Self-Driving functionality, according to the WSJ.
Elon Musk objected to the term “recall” on Thursday, tweeting, “The word ‘recall’ for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat wrong!”
The “recall” includes 2016-2023 Tesla Model S and X models, 2017-2023 Model 3s sedans, and 2020-2023 Model Y SUVs, according to Consumer Reports.
Tesla has previously claimed that using its Autopilot mode is safer than driving without it. It has also said crashes were less likely on Autopilot, but the relative safety of the technology has skeptics, according to The Verge.
“While advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems have the potential to improve safety, they must be implemented responsibly and comply with existing traffic laws,” wrote Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in a joint statement.
“When these systems do not meet these essential requirements, they put all of those who use our roads at risk of injury or death.”
NHTSA said it would continue to assess how drivers use Autopilot and how much it reduces their attentiveness, the WSJ reported.
Currently, no vehicle on the market can drive itself, and even the most advanced technologies need a fully attentive driver at all times, said NHTSA, according to the WSJ.
NHTSA does not approve or test vehicles before they hit the market.
