Tesla has “recalled” over 2 million electric vehicles over a defect with the car’s autopilot feature.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the Autosteer feature in approximately 2,031,220 million Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) lack sufficient controls to prevent driver misuse.
“In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash,” claimed NHTSA.
The Tesla EVs impacted by the issue were all produced between October 2012 and December 2023 and include all 2012-2023 Model S cars equipped with Autosteer and 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles.
Unlike recalls for traditional gas-powered vehicles, Tesla’s issue will be remedied with a software update. Tesla will release this over-the-air software update early next year, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 10, 2024.
“Automated technology holds great promise for improving safety, but only when it is deployed responsibly. Today’s action is an example of improving automated systems by prioritizing safety,” an NHTSA spokesperson said in a statement, per NBC News.
When using Autosteer, Tesla states it uses several controls to monitor that the driver is alert and driving responsibly, according to the recall report.
If the driver attempts to engage the autopilot feature when conditions are unmet, the vehicle will alert the driver, and the functionality will be disengaged. Likewise, suppose the driver is operating the autopilot feature in deteriorated road conditions. In that case, the vehicle will relay visual and audible alerts, then restrict the speed and instruct the driver to intervene immediately.
Tesla owners can contact customer service at 1-877-798-3752 for more information. Tesla’s number for this specific issue is SB-23-00-008.
