Tesla has deployed a software update to a number of its Model S,
NHTSA detailed the issue in the recall letter on Tuesday, noting that some Model S, The recall applies to 199,575 model year 2023 vehicles running software versions 2023.44.30 to 2023.44.30.6, according to notice.
Tesla immediately shared a software update to fix the issue, and the message says NHTSA will mail notification letters to the owner on March 22. The NHTSA recall number for the issue is 24V-035, while the manufacturer's recall number is SB-24-00- 002. The report also says that Tesla introduced software update version 2023.44.100.1 earlier this month, after evaluating the affected vehicle's condition and software versions.
The latest recall comes as many Tesla and electric vehicle (EV) owners have criticized the use of the term “recall” for issues that can be fixed with an immediate over-the-air (OTA) software update — rather than requiring maintenance by the original equipment manufacturer.
Last month, it was widely reported that two million Tesla vehicles were involved in a recall due to problems with Autopilot's Autosteer system that does not provide adequate safety checks for drivers. In response, Tesla published software version 2023.44.30, which fixed the issues by increasing driver attention monitoring procedures and making warning labels more visible.
Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk himself has commented on the use of the term recall in the past, calling it “outdated and completely wrong” last February to use the word when referring to a software update.
Many of these issues did not cause any injuries, Musk noted in 2022, adding that the term was outdated and inaccurate. Most automakers in the industry also follow Tesla in offering software updates for their vehicles due to their convenience, and some have also faced recalls due to easy OTA fixes.
Despite the criticism, NHTSA still defines these types of issues as recalls, even if they don't require physical maintenance.
At the time of writing, NHTSA and DOT have not yet responded TeslaratiRequested comment on development of new terminology for recalls that are fixed by software updates.
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