Tesla recalls 2 million EVs in the US due to Autopilot defect

KUALA LUMPUR: Tesla is once again making the headlines with a massive recall of 2 million vehicles due to the Autopilot feature. All four models of the electric vehicle giant are involved in the recall, including the Model S, X, 3, and Y.

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The American safety regulatory body, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been looking into Autopilot safety for a couple of years and investigated several accidents involving the brand’s driver assistance feature, Autopilot. 

Though named "Autopilot," the system is not meant to function autonomously without human input. And, according to NHTSA, a drawback of this feature is its failure to accurately ascertain whether the driver was attentive while the system was engaged.  

“In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature’s controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature,” the recall notice states. 

The recall affects a total of 2,031,220 Tesla EVs, including -

• 2012-23 Model S
• 2016-23 Model X
• 2017-23 Model 3
• 2020-23 Model Y 

To fix the issue, Tesla will send notice to EV owners and install an over-air update free of charge to add extra alerts, ensuring drivers remain attentive when Autopilot is activated, and are more vigilant when it disengages. The update will be installed free of charge.

“The additional controls will include, among others, increasing the prominence of visual alerts on the user interface, simplifying engagement and disengagement of Autosteer, and additional checks upon engaging Autosteer,” reads the recall notice.

Tesla has confirmed the software fix has already been incorporated into new cars as part of the production process since December 7, 2023.

No information is yet available on the impact of the Tesla recall in Malaysia.

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