Tesla has issued a recall for nearly 200,000 vehicles in the United States due to a concerning issue with backup cameras not activating when the cars are shifted into reverse. This poses a significant safety risk by disabling a critical system meant to aid drivers.
The recall impacts certain 2023 Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles. With Tesla reporting 1.8 million total vehicles delivered last year, this represents over 10% of the company’s 2023 output.
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What Caused the Defect?
According to a statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the backup camera defect stems from a software glitch. It affects Teslas featuring the automaker’s advanced “Full Self-Driving” computer system and running software versions 2023.44.30 to 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. Owners can check their current software for confirmation.
How Will It Be Fixed?
Tesla says it will correct the issue through an over-the-air (OTA) software update deployed directly to vehicles. This allows the automaker to remotely install fixes without requiring owners to bring cars into service centers.
The company first became aware of the backup camera problem in December 2022 but only decided to formally recall vehicles on January 12th. Impacted owners should receive mailed notification letters regarding the issue before March 22nd.
Is This Tesla’s First Major 2023 Recall?
No – this marks Tesla’s second sizeable vehicle recall announced in early 2023. Just last month, over two million Teslas were recalled due to serious flaws with the company’s controversial Autopilot driver assistance feature. That safety risk was also remedied via remote OTA update.
So far, Tesla reports no known crashes, injuries or fatalities directly tied to the latest backup camera malfunction. But the defect highlights ongoing questions surrounding the reliability and safety of Tesla’s advanced technology capabilities. Software has emerged as both an asset and a challenge for the leading electric automaker.
