Over 2 million Tesla cars are under a recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. The issue is connected to the electric car company’s advanced driving assistance system, called Autopilot. A specific feature, Autosteer, is part of the basic Autopilot package that can steer, brake and accelerate on behalf of the driver that comes with all Tesla models, whether it’s a Model 3, Y, S or X. An Enhanced Autopilot is available for $6,000 or a Full Self-Driving Capability package for $12,000.
The notice went up Tuesday after the Texas-based company voluntarily reported the issue after an ongoing investigation with NHTSA into Autopilot safety. Tesla has nine warranty claims between July 2023 and September 2023 that could be related to the Autopilot defect.
A NHTSA spokesperson released an email statement overviewing the two-year investigation into Autopilot and its previous recall of the optional FSD system.
The statement included, “NHTSA’s investigation remains open as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety. 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.”
Other safety advocates hailed the recall.
William Wallace, associate director of safety policy at Consumer Reports, called the recall “long-overdue” and continued, “Tesla should’ve launched a broad recall for Autopilot at least five years ago, and delays like this are unacceptable. We credit NHTSA for its perseverance, but it’s clear the agency needs a greater practical ability to force recalls when a company drags its feet.”
On Tesla’s official X social media account, the company posted ahead of the recall announcement a long explanation of Autopilot’s safety record. “The data is clear: The more automation technology offered to support the driver, the safer the driver and other road users,” Tesla posted on X.
Tesla no longer has a press department.
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What’s This About?
The focus of the recall is on the advanced driving assistance software and a particular feature: Autosteer.
Autosteer is part of the basic Autopilot package that comes with all Teslas to assist with driving on highways and main thoroughfares. However, as a Level 2 autonomous driving feature it still requires full attention of the driver. But the system still functions even if the driver doesn’t pay full attention—a major safety concern. The recall and remedy is supposed to address driver attention when Autosteer is engaged.
In the NHTSA report, the issue was laid out as an opportunity for driver misuse. The human driver may be unable to intervene or know if Autosteer is still in effect or if it can handle the driving situation at hand or not. All this means more chances for a collison.
Who Does It Affect?
Any Tesla with Autopilot software, which is all 2012 to 2023 Model S, 2016 to 2023 Model X, 2017 to 2023 Model 3 and 2020 to 2023 Model Y vehicles. It totals as many as 2,031,220 Teslas, which is nearly all Tesla EVs sold in the U.S.
If you have a Tesla vehicle that was produced before Dec. 7 you likely have a recalled system.
What Do You Need To Do?
For new orders, Tesla Model S, X, 3 and Y vehicles will be produced with the software update. But for longtime or recent Tesla owners, an over-the-air update will be sent out and can be completed at home. At no cost to customers, owners can update their systems with the newest software update 2023.44.30.
The update will add more alerts to prompt the driver to pay attention with eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while using Autosteer. Tesla will make it more visibly obvious that Autosteer is engaged and make it easier to turn the assistance off and on. If a driver continues to misuse Autosteer the feature will be suspended.