Who would’ve thought that the renowned electric car company, Tesla, would see issues in its vehicles? But, here we are. Tesla is ordering back more than 475,000 of its Model 3 and Model S vehicles due to two separate technical defects. According to regulators in the US, these issues could increase the risk of crashes.
What Really Are The Safety Concerns?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently filed a report. It states that there are defects in all Model 3s made between 2017 and 2021 and a few Model S cars manufactured through 2014 to 2021.
The flaw in Tesla Model 3s stems from issues with a cable leading to the rearview camera. The constant opening and closing of the trunk lid causes “excessive wear to the coaxial cable”, according to a document released by NHTSA.
As a result, the rearview camera does not display an image. This affects the driver’s view and increases the risk of a collision.
The other defect is related to the frunk — or front trunk. Some latches in Model S were improperly installed at factories. This resulted in the front hood flying open unexpectedly and blocking the driver’s view of the road.
The Model S issue is especially concerning because the hood can open even while the car is in motion.
How Will Tesla Fix These Issues?
Tesla says that misalignment is the problem in Model S electric cars. So, vehicle owners do not have to worry about a damaged part. Getting the latch device repositioned at a service center can fix the issue.
Meanwhile, Tesla says it will install a new, non-defective cable harness in all Model 3s. The company will also add a guide protector in the affected electric cars.
The best part is that the services needed to fix the cars will be free of cost. Tesla is not going to charge its customers even a single penny to have these problems resolved.
Number of Electric Cars That Are Subject to The Recalls
The recall affects a total of 475,318 Tesla vehicles. These include 356,309 Model 3s, and 119,109 Model S electric cars.
The company manufactured and delivered 499,550 vehicles globally in 2020. Keeping this number in mind, the defective Teslas are actually a lot!
Only 1% of Model 3s have the problem. But Tesla believes that the issue may be present in as many as 14% of Model S cars.
Final Thoughts – This Isn’t Tesla’s First Run-In With The NHTSA
Luckily, there have been no crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the issues cited in the recall. Despite this, Tesla’s shares fell by approximately 3% the morning this news was released, but they soon rebounded.
This is not the first time Tesla has been under pressure from NHTSA. The electric car company recently agreed to make changes to its Passenger Play feature. It allowed individuals to play games on the touchscreen while the cars were being driven.
Tesla took action after NHTSA launched a formal investigation on distracted driving concerns.