NHTSA Recalls Over 2 Million Tesla Electric Vehicles

In a safety recall report submitted yesterday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the Autosteer feature in Tesla vehicles created an “increased risk of collision.” The recall identifies 2,031,220 vehicles with the software defect, with the Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y listed in the report. Tesla stores and service centers are being notified now, and vehicle owners are expected to receive mailed notices by February 10, 2024.

The report states that “affected vehicles will receive an over-the-air software remedy, which is expected to begin deploying to certain affected vehicles on or shortly after December 12, 2023, with software version 2023.44.30.”

The updated software is reported to “encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged, which includes keeping their hands on the steering wheel and paying attention to the roadway.”

Tesla responded to the recall in a statement posted on X, saying, “Regulators around the globe have a duty to protect consumers, and the Tesla team looks forward to continuing our work with them towards our common goal of eliminating as many deaths and injuries as possible on our roadways.” Tesla cited their best-in-class safety systems, and claimed the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post report is “particularly egregious in its misstatements and lack of relevant context.”