Tesla has “recalled” 362,758 vehicles out of concern that the experimental self-driving software may cause crashes.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration posted a recall notice which says that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software may “allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution.”
Additionally, the agency warned that “the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver’s adjustment of the vehicle’s speed to exceed posted speed limits.”
To remedy the situation, Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update free of charge.
Though it is listed as a recall notice by the NHTSA, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed that the word “recall” is an inaccurate description of what is happening.
“The word ‘recall’ for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat wrong!” Musk tweeted in response to a user noting that this is not a typical “recall” situation.
Definitely. The word “recall” for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat wrong!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 16, 2023
The warning impacts certain Model S and Model X vehicles from 2016 to 2023, Model 3 vehicles from 2017 to 2023, and Model Y vehicles from 2020 to 2023 equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.
Owners of impacted vehicles will be notified through the mail by April 15, according to the NHTSA.
Tesla owners can always check their VIN number on the company’s website to see if any recalls impact their cars.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov for more information.
