Tesla is recalling about 12,000 cars, but owners won’t have to bring their vehicle in for repair. Tesla will fix the problem with a software update, which vehicles can remotely download.
The recall affects certain 2017-2021 Model S sedans, Model 3 sedans, Model X SUVs, and 2020-2021 Model Y SUVs operating software version 2021.36.5.2. The cars are all participating in what Tesla calls a beta test of its Full Self-Driving software.
Tesla Testing the System on Public Roads
Full Self-Driving, despite its name, is not a full self-driving system. There is no full self-driving system available for legal use on American roads. Tesla’s system allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel in limited circumstances. Teslas are supposed to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead of them and guide themselves through turns in the roadway when the system is engaged.
Related: Self Driving Cars – Everything You Need to Know
Tesla began selling cars equipped for the Full Self-Driving system in 2016, with a promise that the company would activate it as soon as it was ready. It activated the system on a test basis for some drivers last month.
Reports of Phantom Hard Stops
Some drivers involved in the test have reported that their Teslas came to sudden hard stops for no apparent reason when the system was engaged. This could lead to an accident.
In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the company explains, “A software communication error may, under a certain sequence of events, result in false forward-collision warnings” that cause the car to slam on the brakes and stop suddenly in traffic.
A Free, Remote Fix
Tesla will fix the issue with a free software update. It’s not the first software update Tesla has pushed out to change some aspects of the Full Self-Driving system. But it is the first time Tesla has filed paperwork with NHTSA characterizing an over-the-air update as a recall. The move comes as some state and federal regulators have expressed concern over the company testing Full Self-Driving on public roads.
Recall repairs are always free. Automakers try to notify every owner when they issue a recall, but they don’t always reach everyone. Find out whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the VIN search tool at our recall center.
