Tesla has issued a steady stream of recalls this month, none of which actually require owners to bring their cars in for repair. We have another to report, and an explanation for the parade of notices.
This latest recall applies to some 2021-22 Model 3, Model S, and Model X , and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. Due to a software problem, the cars’ windshield defrosters may not operate properly. There’s nothing wrong with the defroster itself. But a software issue sometimes causes the wrong valve to open, causing cool air instead of warm air to blow on the windshield.
As with most Tesla recalls, owners don’t need to bring the cars in for repair. The company will fix the issue with an over-the-air software update.
What’s Going on With Tesla Recalls?
So why the formal recall?
Federal law requires automakers to notify owners and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of possible safety defects in cars. A malfunctioning defroster is a safety defect – it could lead to a driver not being able to see properly out of the car.
Tesla has long made a practice of fixing software problems remotely and not notifying the government (or, in some cases, owners) that a problem existed and has been fixed. Facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, the company has recently begun treating these software updates as formal recalls.
That has meant a string of Tesla recall stories in recent weeks. In some studies, Tesla has had more quality problems than most auto brands. The company finished second-to-last in Consumer Reports’ most recent reliability survey. It did not provide enough data for J.D. Power to evaluate its cars in that company’s recent initial quality study. But, based on the limited data J.D. Power did have access to, Tesla would have finished near the bottom of that survey as well if it had been included.
But the recent spate of recalls may not be a reliable data point on Tesla dependability. The vehicles may not be experiencing more problems than they always have. Owners are just getting formal notices of things that were fixed quietly in the past.
Many cars are recalled to fix safety defects, sometimes more than once. While automakers try to reach every owner to ask them to bring the vehicle in for repair, they rarely reach them all. Millions of vehicles on American roads need free recall repairs. To find out if your car is one of them, check the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
