Another Tesla Software Recall – Pedestrian Warnings

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is recalling 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A factory reset over the air (OTA) muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,” which could increase the risk of collision.* This comes after Tesla said it will raise prices of its Model Y vehicles by €2000 (~$2200) in some European countries on 22 March. Tesla announced last Friday that prices for all US Model Y cars increase by $1000 on 1 April, aka Fool’s Day.

Recalled Tesla models have an Intel Infotainment processor and are or were operating a software release version from 2023.32 up to but excluding a software release with the remedy, when the vehicles received a factory reset. Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge as required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 27 April 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-24-00-006. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 24V153.

*FMVSS No. 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for electric and hybrid vehicles, and the pedestrian warning system (PWS). This is the system through which the pedestrian alert sounds emit. On affected vehicles that are equipped with an Intel Infotainment processor and are or were operating a software release version from 2023.32 up to but excluding a software release with the remedy, when the vehicles received a factory reset to erase contents and settings, including internal cache, the reset inadvertently muted the PWS. The mute value then saved into the internal cache and as a persistent value, which prevents the PWS from complying with FMVSS No. 141.